Boston Bruins VIII-Rumors, Trade Proposals, Speculation, etc.. (rumors must have recognized source/link)

[Gordoff]

Looking over TSN's "Trade Bait List" the guys that interest me are:

M. Ekholm
R. Rakell
K. Palmieri
D. Savard

N. Foligno
T. Pearson
R. Dzingel
B. Ryan

The top group are guys that move the needle for me. The bottom group are guys are good additions, but not moving the needle like the top group. I guess you could also look at it as the top group are guys we need and the bottom group are guys Sweeney is more likely to get

I would love to get Ekholm, Rakell, Foligno. They would be a huge add for this team. But I expect Sweeney to add these (or similar) Savard, Ryan and Dzingel types. Actually more line just Savard and Ryan.

 

[Gordoff]

Mikael Granlund (b.1992) Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Not exactly Connor McDavid

Sounds like Sweeneys big move.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Sounds like Sweeneys big move.

Another guy we could have signed this past off season for nothing. I feel like foresight is not a strength of this management.

 

[compan]

I think the safest bet we can all make right now is that we will be disappointed in whatever happens. Likely will just add some forgettable players and call it a day.

 

[Gordoff]

i think there was zero chance Cassidy made that call on his own. I would be shocked if an ex player would chose Kuhlman over a guy like Backes unless his goal in game 6 blinded him.

Backes was one of the worst signings of all time for this team. He couldn’t play when it mattered (only year three in his deal), then have to give up a first to ditch him, meaning now this years first is probably off the table since I doubt we ever trade trade two years in a row.

So what you're saying is that they were punishing Backes for taking the money? If this was the case, they cut their nose to spite their face.
Not his fault. Sweeney needs to be protected from himself, he made that signing and the onus was on him. Blaming Backes for anything besides getting older, having bad luck with concussions and having to have a foot of intestine removed is just wrong. His contract did screw up the cap for the Bruins but again it's the "genius" in charge who f**cked that whole thing up.
I don't understand what you mean by: "i think there was zero chance Cassidy made that call on his own. I would be shocked if an ex player would chose Kuhlman over a guy like Backes unless his goal in game 6 blinded him?"

 

[bruins4thecup65]

Kase should be moved if possible
Love to see Reinhart here

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

Hard pass. They have no secondary scoring with him. His line has one good game against the worst team on the planet and now people want to extend him?

What is this irrational fear that there is no other center in the NHL that can come here and do a better job as the 2C? The second line has been lackluster for five years now and the one constant is the center, but I know it’s everyone else’s fault

the one constant is the lone guy on the line that's a lock to put up 50+ points no matter who he plays with but sure he's the problem.

what's Backes up to lately? How bout Beleskey? Peter Cehlarik lighting it up somewhere? Do I need to keep going? I'm mean i'll shut this stupid logic down every time I see it but i'd rather not have to because it's exhausting.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

Bruins might have interest in Connor Garland, per Friedman. Clip starts at 9:00.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

the one constant is the lone guy on the line that's a lock to put up 50+ points no matter who he plays with but sure he's the problem.

what's Backes up to lately? How bout Beleskey? Peter Cehlarik lighting it up somewhere? Do I need to keep going? I'm mean i'll shut this stupid logic down every time I see it but i'd rather not have to because it's exhausting.

Krejci is such a polarizing topic.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

here's a brain teaser for you guys who want to run Krejci off the second his contract expires...

Who's the 32nd point per game producer among centers since the 15/16 season? You guessed it, it's your boy David Krejci, lackluster 2nd line center (who apparently outproduces every other 2nd line center in the NHL):
NHL Stats

"But points per game isn't fair!", you say. "Everyone knows he pads his stats on the PP. Points at 5v5 is the only fair metric!" Fair enough, if you limit it to just 5v5 production per 60 since 15/16 he drops to 35th in the league (I limited this to only guys who play 12+ minutes 5v5 so it's a comparison between guys who are used similarly & eliminate small sample outliers)
NHL Stats

So if you limit it to basically the top 62 centers in the NHL (by minutes), ie the 1st & 2nd line center from every team, then you end up with David Krejci at middle of the pack making him a top tier 2nd line center/borderline 1st line center. And just so you think I'm not just being biased I didn't bother to adjust for guys who show up on that list who are now out of the league or guys who are actually wingers but are weirdly listed as centers on NHL.com.

Oh and if you're wondering if he's just coasting on secondary assists, check out what happens when you sort by primary assists per 60:
NHL Stats

9th center in the NHL in primary assists per 60 since the 15/16 season? Damn, that must be a mistake. I was told he doesn't make his linemates better. (He's 17th in that span in primary assists per game among centers btw -- as a f***ing 2nd line center). Oh and if you extend that query back to the 08/09 season (basically his whole career), he's the 10th ranked center in primary assists per 60 (11th in total assists).

The guy is literally a top 10 playmaking center of his generation and has kept it up playing with scrubs for the last half decade and yet literally every day I have to hear some dumbass argument about how "maybe Krejci has been the problem with the 2nd line all along". And I'm not even getting into his playoff numbers where he's actually better.

So yeah, I think the guy has been wasted by having scrub wingers & no stability on his line for nearly 5 years now, and yet he still manages to be one of the most consistent producers at his position in the NHL. Actually the more I look at his numbers the more I think the "he should make his linemates better" crowd has it wrong. I think Krejci is so good that he low key did make his linemates better and a lot of people here just took it for granted. Guys like Beleskey, Backes, Spooner, Cehlarik, etc... those guys would have been even worse without Krejci. Hell not enough is made of the fact that Loui Eriksson's last season here, he put up 30 goals playing mostly with David Krejci, then left for Vancouver and promptly put up 11 goals. So yeah I'm gonna keep beating this drum because frankly it flies in the face of reality when people try to argue that this guy isn't doing his job.

And lastly, before anyone jumps in with the "yeah but he sucks now" stuff. Maybe he's declining...he's still on a 54 point pace and that's with a slow start, but I realize some of his metrics have dipped. This is all still without consistent wingers, but whatever. If he is declining now, that's because he's nearly 35 and that's what happens, but don't be that asshole who uses a player's decline at 35 to try and invalidate their last 12+ years of consistent production (despite a large chunk of that being without legit NHL linemates).

 

[bbfan419]

Seeing you're from Moncton you saw plenty of Garland in juniors; what in particular rubbed you the wrong way? I didn't see him much - he's small and cocky but won the Q scoring title twice.

He was not liked by most of his teammates, me first type of guy. Also when it mattered most like in the playoffs, he was a non -factor, tight checking drove him nuts. Not a guy I want on my team.

 

[bbfan419]

why not? Haven`t seen a ton of Yotes games but have seen a few more since hitting the West coast, kid`s looked very good in the 2 games I caught so far this year, nice hands

Like I have told a couple others, he put of plenty of regular season points, playoffs not so much, disappeared with close checking, but most of all was his attitude, most of his own teammates did not like him, still remember him screaming and freaking out at his own players if a pass was off the mark even did it in an exhibition game.

 

[bbfan419]

Curious: Why?

Young player seems to have improved in each of his three NHL seasons thus far. I'm doubting his actual availability in a trade, but if it's there, I'd take a crack despite some defensive shortcomings.

What do you see that makes Garland a no-go regardless of price?

Saw him plenty in junior here in Moncton. Like I have told a couple others, he put up plenty of regular season points, playoffs not so much, disappeared with close checking, but most of all was his attitude, most of his own teammates did not like him, still remember him screaming and freaking out at his own players if a pass was off the mark, even did it in an exhibition game.

 

[Montecristo]

He was not liked by most of his teammates, me first type of guy. Also when it mattered most like in the playoffs, he was a non -factor, tight checking drove him nuts. Not a guy I want on my team.

its been like 6 years maybe he grew up? And i think hes really strong in close checking situations now. Really good escapability

 

[Blowfish]

Another guy we could have signed this past off season for nothing. I feel like foresight is not a strength of this management.

You are right...

1st round draft selections
Risky year end trades (i.e. Nash, Kase)
Off-season missed opportunity signings (Granlund)
Off-season poor signings (Backes)
Identifying forward talent

Strengths...
Identifying D talent
Player contracts
Coyle is the only talented forward acquisition under this management group

With the Tampa's being significantly better that the bruins and if the current core bruin D is not healthy for a cup run it's best to consider a mini rebuild leveraging Rask and Krejci. Both could be resigned after Seattle freebee.

I'm set on rebuild.

 

[BruinDust]

Hard pass. They have no secondary scoring with him. His line has one good game against the worst team on the planet and now people want to extend him?

What is this irrational fear that there is no other center in the NHL that can come here and do a better job as the 2C? The second line has been lackluster for five years now and the one constant is the center, but I know it’s everyone else’s fault

I don't know Lou, the Bruins have a beggers/choosers situation going on when it comes to offensive ability. I don't want to say offensive talent because some of the young guys have that but haven't shown much of it this year. which is the problem overall. I'm just not sure saying bye bye to Krejci solves anything for next year, and my guess is the Bruins (whether Sweeney is at the helm or not) are going to try and ride the Marchand/Bergeron express right to the end of the line.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Saw him plenty in junior here in Moncton. Like I have told a couple others, he put up plenty of regular season points, playoffs not so much, disappeared with close checking, but most of all was his attitude, most of his own teammates did not like him, still remember him screaming and freaking out at his own players if a pass was off the mark, even did it in an exhibition game.

Garland is a Greater Boston kid. Do you expect
anyone to believe he is going to walk into
Boston's locker room with 37,63 and 46
and not defer to them?

You watched him 5 years ago at age 20, so
I almost 100% certain his "attitude" will
not be an issue.

Now his ability to PO produce absolutely
can be an issue. Better players like
Gaudreau and Atkinson have had
issues scoring goals come PO time.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Yeah, they do.

The Coyotes have Hill and Prosvetov, plus Tendeck. Not a need, and certainly not in return for their top scoring threat.

Not a great proposal.

Adin Hill

2016-17	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	0	-	-			|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	40	3.16	.906	1	16-14-6	|
	Rapid City Rush	ECHL	5	3.59	.890	1	1-3-1	|
2017-18	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	4	3.49	.891	0	1-3-0	|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	36	2.28	.914	5	19-11-4	|	Playoffs	9	2.12	.922	2	4-5-0
2018-19	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	13	2.76	.901	1	7-5-0	|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	36	2.61	.906	2	16-15-6	|
2019-20	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	13	2.62	.918	0	2-4-3	|	-	-	-
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	20	2.40	.918	2	15-5-0	|
2020-21	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	5	2.78	.908	0	1-3-1	|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	2	4.13	.864	0	0-2-0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Ivan Prosvetov

2019-20	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	0	-	-			|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	27	2.88	.909	1	14-10-2	|
	Rapid City Rush	ECHL	5	2.40	.930	1	4-1-0	|
2020-21	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	0	-	-			|
	Tucson Roadrunners	AHL	8	3.24	.906	0	5-3-0	|

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Lets compare them both to Daniel Vladar:

2016-17	Providence Bruins	AHL	8	2.62	.921	1	4-0-3	|
	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL	18	3.89	.887	0	5-9-2	|
	Czech Republic U20	WJC-20	2	3.97	.864	0	0-2-0	|
	Czech Republic U20 (all)	International-Jr	5	3.73	.873			|
2017-18	Providence Bruins	AHL	4	2.23	.924	0	2-2-0	|
	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL	41	2.96	.911	0	17-18-2	|	Playoffs	3	3.10	.917
2018-19	Boston Bruins	NHL	0	-	-			|
	Providence Bruins	AHL	31	2.73	.898	2	13-13-5	|	Playoffs	1	2.00	.926	0	1-0-0
2019-20	Boston Bruins	NHL	0	-	-			|	Playoffs	1	6.27	.800	0	0-0-0
	Providence Bruins	AHL	25	1.79	.936	3	14-7-1	|
	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL	1	2.00	.909	0	1-0-0	|
2020-21	HC Dynamo Pardubice	Czech	6	1.29	.956	1	4-2-0	|
	Boston Bruins	NHL	1	1.00	.971	0	1-0-0	|
	Providence Bruins	AHL	5	2.01	.923	1	2-2-1	|

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Lets boil it down to AHL and NHL careers so far:

Prosvetov

AHL

2

35

2.97

.909

1

19-13-2

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

No Awards

Hill

AHL

6

138

2.69

.909

10

67-50-16

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

NHL

5

35

2.81

.907

1

11-15-4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

• Alberta Cup Champion 10/11
• WHL Best SVS% 14/15

and now Vladar:

Vladar

AHL

5

73

2.32

.917

7

35-24-10

|

1

1

0

1-0-0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

NHL

3

1

1.00

.971

0

1-0-0

|

1

1

0

0-0-0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

• 
  
  
  • 2013-2014
    • U18 WJC Silver Medal
  • 2014-2015
    • Hlinka Memorial Silver Medal
  • 2019-2020
    • AHL Best GAA (1.79)
    • AHL Best SVS% (.936)

Your right, it's not even close to a good deal. Vladar is clearly and by far the better goaltender both currently and throughout his career.
Hill and Prosvetov have not even crested a 0.909 Sv% in the AHL yet nor achieve a GAA under 2.50. Both rather pedestrian prospects
compared to an AHL leading and NHL ready Dan Vladar.

For the sake of readability, I will end this post here. I can go into Jakob Zboril in a following one and the value comparison of the offer for Garland and why it is not a good deal for Boston.

 

[LouJersey]

the one constant is the lone guy on the line that's a lock to put up 50+ points no matter who he plays with but sure he's the problem.

what's Backes up to lately? How bout Beleskey? Peter Cehlarik lighting it up somewhere? Do I need to keep going? I'm mean i'll shut this stupid logic down every time I see it but i'd rather not have to because it's exhausting.

We already know he doesn’t make other players much better anymore. He’s the highest paid player on the team which people forget.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

its been like 6 years maybe he grew up? And i think hes really strong in close checking situations now. Really good escapability

If he has, why is Arizona not resigning him?

 

[LouJersey]

So what you're saying is that they were punishing Backes for taking the money? If this was the case, they cut their nose to spite their face.
Not his fault. Sweeney needs to be protected from himself, he made that signing and the onus was on him. Blaming Backes for anything besides getting older, having bad luck with concussions and having to have a foot of intestine removed is just wrong. His contract did screw up the cap for the Bruins but again it's the "genius" in charge who f**cked that whole thing up.
I don't understand what you mean by: "i think there was zero chance Cassidy made that call on his own. I would be shocked if an ex player would chose Kuhlman over a guy like Backes unless his goal in game 6 blinded him?"

There is no way a coach is the sole determiner of who plays in a game 7 Stanley cup finals. Sweeney and Neely had just as much input

 

[LouJersey]

I don't know Lou, the Bruins have a beggers/choosers situation going on when it comes to offensive ability. I don't want to say offensive talent because some of the young guys have that but haven't shown much of it this year. which is the problem overall. I'm just not sure saying bye bye to Krejci solves anything for next year, and my guess is the Bruins (whether Sweeney is at the helm or not) are going to try and ride the Marchand/Bergeron express right to the end of the line.

the GM needs to swing a hockey deal for a younger faster line driving 2C.

 

[PlayMakers]

Yeah, they do.

The Coyotes have Hill and Prosvetov, plus Tendeck. Not a need, and certainly not in return for their top scoring threat.

Not a great proposal.

No offense, but if those two guys were the Bruins top two goalie prospects I'd still be looking for a goalie of the future. Neither has been better than .910 in the AHL, and .910 is barely adequate. Sub .910 gets you sent down. Hill is right on the line with a career .910 in the AHL, and is sub-.910 in 35 NHL games. Prosvetov is .908 in the AHL.

Vladar has a career .916, is .936 in 25 AHL games this year and was brilliant in his first career start against the Penguins (.971), and even he isn't considered a sure thing in terms of being a future starter here.

When I made that proposal I looked at your goalies and thought Hill looked like he'd be a quality backup, but there were no potential stud starters in the pipeline. I also saw that FIVE of your defensemen are UFA's and figured you could use a young, cost controlled top4 defenseman, which is what Zboril has been for the Bruins most of this season. Garland is a local kid a year away from free agency which is why they're listening to offers. The Coyotes fill two big holes with guys who can play in the NHL right now, not picks or prospects 3 years away, guys who immediately fill roster spots with quality minutes and still have upside. If I were the Coyotes, and I had EIGHT guys scheduled to be UFA's and a history of having trouble signing free agents without overpaying, I'd be all-in on young, cost-controlled players who are NHL ready.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Yeah, they do.

The Coyotes have Hill and Prosvetov, plus Tendeck. Not a need, and certainly not in return for their top scoring threat.

Not a great proposal.

D Jakob Zboril

AHL

3

182

11

46

57

0.31

122

35

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

NHL

2

28

0

5

5

0.18

10

-1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

While his NHL stat line is not yet impressive the fact that he stepped into NHL duty seamlessly and has held his own just fine in his rookie season shows he is NHL ready.
He is a projected second pairing D with good skating, passing, and a tricky and aggressive shot we have already seen in the NHL. While not necessarily a goal scorer he sets up transition
and makes smart plays in both zones. He uses his quick snapshots to set up rebounds and tip-ins, or at the very least keep the pressure on the defense and goaltender.

Vladar and Zboril are NHL-ready players with good upside.

Connor Garland

Scoring	Goals	Assists	Shots	Ice Time
Season	Age	Tm	Lg	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	EV	PP	SH	GW	EV	PP	SH	S	S%	TSA	TOI	ATOI	FOW	FOL	FO%	BLK	HIT	TK	GV	Awards
2018-19	22	ARI	NHL	47	13	5	18	1	12	9	4	0	2	3	2	0	118	11.0	179	601	12:47	10	8	55.6	17	33	25	10
2019-20	23	ARI	NHL	68	22	17	39	1	20	18	4	0	5	11	6	0	158	13.9	257	962	14:09	4	7	36.4	20	26	30	27
2020-21	24	ARI	NHL	31	9	16	25	4	14	7	2	0	1	13	3	0	82	11.0	156	551	17:47	4	9	30.8	13	14	16	12
Career		3 yrs	NHL	146	44	38	82	6	46	34	10	0	8	27	11	0	358	12.3	592	2115	14:29	18	24	42.9	50	73	71	49

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]

Garland has had a decent first few years. He crested 20 goals once and has not yet gotten 40 pts. Stats show a 3rd line forward at this point.

Garland is an RFA this summer, so he is team-controlled. Doubtful he goes to arbitration as he has one good year and so far has been projecting down.

He is listed as 5'10" and 165lbs by CapFriendly. Which shows he is very undersized.

While I do not know how he is personally now, he has a history of attitude problems and being a locker room issue.

What we do know is that if he is being shopped in his RFA year, that alone speaks volumes.

This is not a player Boston needs nor wants. He provides no better scoring than what we already have, smaller size, and possible locker room issues.

I would say the offer for Zboril/Vladar for Garland is not only an overpayment for Garland, but a deal that has a large possibility of being a bust for Boston. Zboril and Vladar are all trending up, Garland is trending down. Boston loses two good young pieces to their team and only gains one back that does not move the needle offensively any more than what we have now.

Your right again, this is just a bad offer and bad deal.

Boston says no.

 

[Bodit9]

He was not liked by most of his teammates, me first type of guy. Also when it mattered most like in the playoffs, he was a non -factor, tight checking drove him nuts. Not a guy I want on my team.

They should definitely look into where's he at now. Perhaps he's matured and is not the same kid. Seems to put up good numbers and plays hard. Plus he's from Mass and they love their Mass boys. He is interesting to me.