Bruins, my take
Chara – Gets props for playing while obviously injured but had lost step(s) and was hurt by rule changes even prior to injury. Still barring massive overpayment (which isn’t coming) I keep the captain. Just because he isn’t as dominant as he was doesn’t mean a healthy chara still can’t be a very good player. I for one totally agree with Orr who says Chara better defensively in his prime than either he or Bourque. Even 75% of that dominant prime level pretty darn good for couple more years. Hopefully with health the snarl returns too, it has been missed.
Krejci – One of the biggest Krejci fans here but he just can’t stay healthy, if his frame was as big and as strong as his heart he would be an elite player but just can’t produce over 82 games. Glad to keep him, I’m a rare bruins fan who believes his “A “ game is actually better than Bergeron’s but Krejci’s “A†game is often on the injury list…. Glad to keep but certainly willing to trade if right package coming back.
Speaking of Bergeron – Team and media have made him the face of the team in many ways and he is a fine player (who will not be traded) but for the record he is over-rated in Boston. I know that's not popular opinion but that's how I see it. Let me repeat….good, even very good player (you can be GOOD and over-rated) but not elite since his offensive game is a couple of notches minimum below that level. His post concussion offensive numbers tell the story (his post Olympic goal scoring spree in 2014 seems to be the anomaly) and it is a long track record. And don‘t give me the he is too busy playing defense to score more…..he gets a lot of shots so unless he is shooting from his own zone that ain’t the problem ..the problem isn’t shots, it’s that they only go in 9-10% of the time and he isn’t a particularly creative center either. Glad to have him as a bruins but shouldn’t be considered untouchable. No 55 point player on 9th place team should be.
Eriksson – Pretty good player who probably has couple of good years left. So as branch rickey would say, trade the guy a year too early and get something. Smart good defensively plays multiple position gets his share of in tight goals but not fast, not physical, and not a pure scorer. Happy to see him healthy and re-establish his career but should continue it elsewhere. Hopefully get back a physical winger who can play or maybe Dman.
Riley Smith – I sometimes cringe at the softball interviews felger does with seabass (who deserves much more heat for seguin debacle than he has received) but felger knows his hockey better than critics acknowledge and he is right on about this player. What does Smith do well? Average size and speed, probably below average d and playmaking. Allergic to contact. Of course he is better than he looked this year and has a good shot but his ceiling is good 3rd liner on good team. I assume he was signed to be traded.... so trade him.
Lucic – Key number for him not 17 but 21, as in 18 goals plus 3 fights = 21. Overly simplistic stat sure but sums up Looch. Needs goals plus fights in the 30 plus range to justify contract. Looch with 24-28 goals and 8-10 fights and lots of hits a very rare and valuable player. Not only rare but maybe unique. Looch is one of my all time favorite bruins. Would I trade him for a young always hurt unprovem taylor hall? Yes, of course I would are you crazy? Hell I’d drive him to the airport for Hall. But would I trade him for the much more likely standard mid first, a decent prospect and cap savings? Wouldn’t even consider that. Gladly keep looch barring a major young star coming back.
Seids – Should be better and healthier and likely wouldn’t get much for him at this point so ok with giving him another year. But if someone offers a fair deal, I would move on even knowing a healthy Seids could have a couple of solid years left.
Hamilton – Very good player, likely top pair dman. Scored lots of points, happy to have him. Can’t believe I am saying this though I actually sort of agree with Milbury here, not sure he has feel for the game to be an elite Norris trophy type player. However he is all the talent in the world and “feel†comes with experience so would take a boatload to trade him. But not quite untouchable.
Campbell – Great bruin but no longer an asset, skating poor and breaking down, we need to thank him for great run and move on.
Paille - His problems mental and confidence, can still skate and defend. If he’d stay for 850k - 1 million 1 yr I’d keep him around as depth. I know that is unpopular but I’d keep him on the cheap.
Bart – I know people hate him but he can skate on a team that lacks speed. Has no feel for the game and lacks confidence but those things can change, even at 26. If he can be signed cheap I would do so and see how he does.
Krug – a rare bruin…..very under rated. Has weaknesses but absolutely dynamic with puck and you would not get full value for him. Keep and extend.
Mcq – Keep if you can, team lacks toughness and he is mean and plays a decent d first game.
Rask – One of best goalies in the league and as we learned when we played our backups, if your goaltending is bad.... you lose. Cap hit is big and if someone sent a good goalie back plus other good assets sure I’d probably do it but goalies don’t get that type of haul in trades so more than glad to keep a guy with his talent and production. And only 28. Tuuka not perfect but one of the best.
