From the Boston Bruins Roster
1.) Currently rostered UFA's Erickson, Krug, K.Miller & Stepniak to get re-signed
2.) Currently rostered RFA's Connolly, Randell & Ferraro to get re-signed
3.) Cut ties with Liles (walks), Gustavson (trade exclusive negotiating rights), Morrow (trade) & Trotman (trade)
From the Minor League Rosters
1.) UFA's Talbot, Kemp, Irwin, Breen, DeFazio, Smith all walk
2.) RFA's Ferlin, Phillips, Casto, Sexton - Try and get something back, but likely walk.
3.) RFA's Griffith and Koko traded for picks
4.) RFA's Cross & Chiller re-signed
5.) Sign prospects Grzelcyk, O'Gara, Kuraly, Cehlarik, Chudonev, DeBrusk, Carlo, Vladar, Johansson, Bjork & Heinen
Think Krug is still an RFA.
Here's my predictions:
RFA's
Krug, we should re-sign, but open to moving him only should we get upgrades on defense. Depending on his asking price, I'm open to exploring options to see if it'll be best to invest the money next season. As of now, he's our 3rd best defenseman. If we get players to push him down to 5th best... I think the money should be invested differently. I'd rather upgrade and move McQuaid, and keep Krug, but keep options open.
Randall and Ferraro shouldn't be too expensive to keep around. Neither should Connolly, but I think we are done with that experiment. Worth a shot, didn't work out so well. Still has a chance to have a Benoit Pouliot type of career, but probably not here.
Morrow, Connolly, Trotman, C. Miller, Griffith, Koko we should qualify, but possibly include them on moves for long term solutions. I think all have possibilities to pan out as NHL regulars, but depends what direction we go. Anyways, of all expiring RFA's, package some of them to a team looking to shed salary for cheaper alternatives and return a better play. For once let's be on the better side of the quality for quantity type deals.
UFA's
I don't think Eriksson will be returning unless he takes a hit on what he's looking for. It's the term that's the issue, and I think another term will give him the years. I'd love to keep him, but I think our forwards will eventually need to be restructured should we want to upgrade defense, pay players in upcoming RFA years (Spooner, Pastrnak).
K. Miller should be leaving. Unless we are moving McQuaid. K. Miller will be cheaper, but not better than McQuaid. If we need $$$ for a legit top 4 and/or re-signing Eriksson, I say move McQuaid, keep K. Miller as #6.
Gustavson, Liles, Stempniak likely don't have UFA value, none are big names, and I doubt there is any sort of bidding war to get them before they hit July 1st. Of the three, I think Stempniak has the possibility to be re-signed depending on the $$$ and how he meshes in the next months. Minor league UFA's are a dime a dozen, so likely just amicably walk away.
FYI, the following players have 1 year left to their deal after this. Do any of those teams have cap issues that we could possible exploit to our benefit?
Brent Burns - San Jose
Dmitry Kulikov - Florida
Victor Hedman - Tampa Bay
Kevin Shattenkirk - St. Louis
Zbynek Michalek - Arizona
Of the list, I think only Michalek would be available that would be upgrades to whatever we have now. Shattenkirk may be affordable, but the others are likely not available whatsoever. Would absolutely love to get Brent Burns, but unfortunately, I think that's likely a fantasy at this stage.
If we could package RFA's + picks and/or prospects for Burns or Shattenkirk, I'd be fairly happy with Sweeney.
