Bruins in 18-19

veritas

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To echo cshea, Koko went back to Russia well before he had a chance to fail. A dominant AHL season and 5 lackluster NHL games at 22. Then a top 5-10 forward in the KHL at 24. I'd say that roughly should translate to at least a borderline 3rd liner in the NHL, but it's a very different league. And also why I'm skeptical of giving Kovalchuk any significant money/term, as much as I loved him as a player. The floor on an NHL veteran like Rick Nash is higher IMO.

Who? :D

In all seriousness, I'm not sure I'd put McAvoy up there, offensively, with Krug. He's miles and miles better overall, and in their own end it's like comparing an NHL defender to some random ECHL player. But on the PP? and in the attack zone in general? I'm not so sure.
Yeah, it's funny, McAvoy has had the reputation for being more of an offensive defenseman. Between the stats and what I've seen, that's wrong. I think he's already an almost elite defensive defenseman with a great transition game. But he hasn't been anywhere near Krug as far as *directly* generating offense in the offensive zone. He generates offense the way Bergeron does, by being really good at keeping the puck out of his own end, and in the other team's. He has the skill though, and I'm expecting him to develop that part of his game.

The data for him on the PP is not enough to come to any conclusions. He played on the 2nd unit mostly, and they were not great. I have no reason to believe he's any part of that problem.
 

cshea

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To echo cshea, Koko went back to Russia well before he had a chance to fail. A dominant AHL season and 5 lackluster NHL games at 22. Then a top 5-10 forward in the KHL at 24. I'd say that roughly should translate to at least a borderline 3rd liner in the NHL, but it's a very different league. And also why I'm skeptical of giving Kovalchuk any significant money/term, as much as I loved him as a player. The floor on an NHL veteran like Rick Nash is higher IMO.
I think Kovalchuk and Nash’s floor are roughly the same, but Kovalchuk has a higher ceiling as the more prolific goal scorer. Nash will obviously have the better defensive game. The veteran guys that leave the NHL to go to the KHL and come back have all seemed to work out, albeit the sample size is small. Jagr has no problems coming back. Radulov and Dadonov have had success recently. The NHL game has changed a bit since Kovalchuk left, but I think he’d be just fine. He can still shoot the puck with the best of them and from what I recall from the Olympics, he can still skate. I wouldn’t expect him to be the monster 45 goal 45 assist player he was prior to leaving, but I see no reason he couldn’t settle in as a 25 goal 25 assist top 6 winger for the next. 2-3 years.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Samsonov didn't flame out, he suffered a wrist injury which really messed up his career. He played junior with the Detroit Vipers before getting drafted, and played 8 more seasons after getting traded from Boston. There's no way he flamed out. Kvartalnov, sure he flamed out (1 good year and that was it), but not Samsonov.

There did seem to be a perception among the players that Claude wasn't a fan of Russians; Dobby has made some comments that have alluded to that a bit. But I don't see that as a problem going forward.
 

cshea

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Unless I’m missing someone, the Bruins only had Khokhlachev and Yuri Alexandrov under Julien. Koko may have a gripe about not getting a chance, but he did have warts. Alexandrov never really amounted to much.

The Julien hates Russians thing comes more from his return to Montreal. They had the great Russian Purge after the 16/17 season- letting go of Radulov, Markov, Emelin, Nesterov and trading Sergachev. More coincidental than anything else, 4 free agents left and Sergachev was used as a trade chip.
 

cshea

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They had Dobby too, twice and he's said Cassidy has confidence in him, as opposed to....
Getting a bit off topic, but I don’t think that is fair criticism of Julien. Julien has him in the lockout year and Khudobin had 14 appearances out of 48 games. Seems a reasonable amount for a backup. Khudobin left as a free agent after that season and returned in 16/17. Upon his return he gave up 8 goals in his first 2 games, .849 save percentage and then missed a month to injury. Returning from injury, he got 6 starts between 11/25 and 12/23 where he posted a .898 save percentage. That was it until Cassidy came, and Khudobin did a stint in Providence. Julien was coaching for his job, and I think he had every reason not to trust Khudobin that season.
 

jk333

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Yeah, it's funny, McAvoy has had the reputation for being more of an offensive defenseman. Between the stats and what I've seen, that's wrong. I think he's already an almost elite defensive defenseman with a great transition game. But he hasn't been anywhere near Krug as far as *directly* generating offense in the offensive zone. He generates offense the way Bergeron does, by being really good at keeping the puck out of his own end, and in the other team's. He has the skill though, and I'm expecting him to develop that part of his game.

The data for him on the PP is not enough to come to any conclusions. He played on the 2nd unit mostly, and they were not great. I have no reason to believe he's any part of that problem.
I think he’s been effected by his pairing. To this end, Krug was bad in the playoffs but so were his partners. Similarly, McAvoy’s defensive numbers are likely so elite because of his pairing with Chara. (Look at Carlo with and without Chara)

I do agree that he’s not yet a Krug replacement. I just think he’s a pretty balanced two way defender rather than elite defender. It would be nice to be wrong on that though.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Speaking of Dobby, Fluto has an article in the Athletic (pay site) about the Bruins' desire to have him back, his desire to stay, and his need to possibly kick the tires in the market anyway

Re-signing Khudobin may look like an airtight and straightforward transaction given the desires of both parties. But while a multi-year extension is the terminus, the process includes stations that Khudobin and the Bruins could be visiting.

Kent Hughes, Khudobin’s agent, has a job to maximize his client’s earnings. General manager Don Sweeney’s mission is to keep Khudobin’s average annual value as low as possible to maximize the robustness of his roster.
.
 

RedOctober3829

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BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins plan to speak to the agents for Ilya Kovalchuk, general manager Don Sweeney said Wednesday.

"We're going to just talk to his camp," said Sweeney, who said Kovalchuk was likely to be at the meeting but didn't say when it would take place. "He's got things that he's looking for and we'll see where it goes."

Kovalchuk, a 35-year-old forward who played the past five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, reportedly cannot sign with an NHL team until July 1 but can agree to a contract before then.

He reportedly has met with the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks. The Los Angeles Times reported that he met with Kings president Luc Robitaille and general manager Rob Blake on Friday, and TSN said he met with the Sharks on Monday.

https://www.nhl.com/news/ilya-kovalchuk-will-talk-with-boston-bruins-gm-don-sweeney-says/c-299053284
 

cshea

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Some Bruins tidbits from Dreger:


Getting some action on Krejci though they may be reluctant to move him. B’s would also like to move Backes.

Backes is a no-brainer. Krejci...I get from a salary cap standpoint, but if they move him they are probably looking at losing both their 2nd and 3rd line centers, so they’d have to wade into the free agent/trade market for at least 1C, maybe two if they aren’t comfortable with a rookie C.

Edit: Krejci and Backes both have NMC’s too.
 
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lexrageorge

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As both Backes and Krejci may be difficult to trade, I can see why the B's would explore trades for both. At best, only one of them is likely to be traded this offseason, if that.
 

PedroSpecialK

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I disagree.

If they got Tavares, I’d give up picks to move Backes and Krejci with nothing coming back. Granted I think there’s a 0% chance of any of that happening
 

McDrew

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I think the problem with Krecji is that some of us (myself included) hold him to the "PLAYOFF KRECJI" mold he was in during the '11 and '13 runs. I believe he led the playoffs in scoring both times.
Since then, he's put up decent 2nd line center numbers, while earning 1st line center dollars, and that mismatch has led people to target him as a possibility for replacement in this lineup.
 

kenneycb

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That and a $7.25M cap hit (13th highest center in the league) for three more years is a lot to be paying for a 2C in his early 30s.
 

TheRealness

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Krejci is a good player, but I really wonder what their options are for another top 2 center. Tavares is fun to think about, but there aren't many realistic center options for the second line internally or in the FA market if they deal him.

He's overpaid, but moving him likely creates more problems than it solves.
 

jk333

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Krejci is a good player, but I really wonder what their options are for another top 2 center. Tavares is fun to think about, but there aren't many realistic center options for the second line internally or in the FA market if they deal him.

He's overpaid, but moving him likely creates more problems than it solves.
I agree, ignoring Tavares, they don’t have any depth options for at least next season. It’s one reason bringing back Czarnik is interesting. Backes has said he’s not a center for the Bruins system.

Longer term, Frederic is their only real fIrst line center prospect; and that’s optimistic, he’ll probably be more of a second line guy. I’d love to be wrong but JFK looks like a great 3rd line center if things go well and a decent 4th line guy otherwise.
 

Murby

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Text of tweet from Bruins Network today at 6:55pm: "Nothing imminent at the moment, but hearing the Bruins have real interest in J.G. Pageau of the Senators. Bruins want to create three dangerous lines and with two-years remaining ($3.1m AAV) on his contract, Pageau makes for a perfect fit at 3C."
 

TheRealness

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I agree, ignoring Tavares, they don’t have any depth options for at least next season. It’s one reason bringing back Czarnik is interesting. Backes has said he’s not a center for the Bruins system.

Longer term, Frederic is their only real fIrst line center prospect; and that’s optimistic, he’ll probably be more of a second line guy. I’d love to be wrong but JFK looks like a great 3rd line center if things go well and a decent 4th line guy otherwise.
I have much higher hopes for JFK. Last season was marred by injury, but he’s a very smart player and I see him as a 2-3 center long term. I’m not sure about Frederic at this point. He’s got a ways to go but he’s got higher offensive upside.

As for Pageau, I guess we will see if the Sens will trade in the division. Must really suck to be an Ottawa fan right now. The taint on them runs deep.
 

McDrew

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Given how much Vegas just paid the league to join, I bet Melnyk would want all of that for himself if he sold the team so they could be moved to Quebec City or Seattle.
 

pedro1918

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The Caps just announced they will open their season on October 23rd against the Bruins. Which sucks for me, as tickets to one of two Caps games I'd like to see just got more expensive.
 

cshea

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Cap is going to be $79.5-$80 million. Should give the B’s ~$12-12.5 million in space to work with. Kuraly is the only RFA on the NHL roster to deal with, so they do have some room to add.

 

cshea

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Offers starting to come in to Kovalchuk. Dreger thinks the Kings are pushing, Sharks B’s and Vegas also in the mix. I guess the B’s are the only East team, so we’ve got that going for us.

 

veritas

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I was always a big Kovalchuk fan. Signing him to a multi year deal for more than a few million is a terrible idea.

He's 35 years old. His last 3 seasons in the NHL were not even that great on a per-minute basis, he put up a lot of counting stats by playing 25 minutes a night. He's not doing that for the Bruins, especially as a 35 year old who hasn't played in the league in 5 years. If you look at their rate stats, Rick Nash has been better the past 3 seasons than Kovalchuk was from 2010-2013.

I'd be interested to see what Paul Stastny is looking for. He'd really be a perfect fit for this team if he's not looking for a huge length contract. Matt Cane's salary predictor has him at 3 x $5.5m. I would do that in a heartbeat. I think he could get somewhere around 4 x $6.5m though.
 

BoSoxFink

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I will not get excited, I will not get excited, I will not get excited......



I’M EXCITED!!!

And yes I’m well aware the odds are very low he comes here and the contract may be absurd and look very bad at the end, but I can’t help it.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I will not get excited, I will not get excited, I will not get excited......

I’M EXCITED!!!

And yes I’m well aware the odds are very low he comes here and the contract may be absurd and look very bad at the end, but I can’t help it.
Maybe, but otoh the contracts that really kill you are your classic Chiarelli overpays—too many years and/or close to elite money (and definitely a NMC)—for guys who may fit your system but are second tier guys like Lucic and Eriksson (to name a couple recent dodged bullets) who are a lost step or two away from tanking a lot of your flexibility.

In the case of a guy like this, I agree you happily eat a hypothetical bad year or three on the back end to get 5ish years still in the prime while a lot of your roster is comprised of cheap young guys and with your current core mostly locked up long-term already. And for the truly elite talents, the back end may not end up looking so bad.

Either way, nice to get in the room. The Bruins had to have opened some eyes this year and Cassidy has brought an air of excitement to the table.
 

Salem's Lot

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If they actually have a shot at signing Tavares they shouldn’t hesitate to do it and worry about moving a contract later. Elite talent in its prime doesn’t become available often. You usually have to really suck and draft it high, or trade for it.
 

cshea

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B’s headed to LA for a face-to-face meeting. Nice to have a seat at the table, though the list seems to grow by the minute. LeBrun confirms that Boston, Dallas, Toronto, Tampa, San Jose got the invite to LA. 2-3 other teams are on the phone list and may get an invite out to LA. Islanders have set up up shot in LA to see this through.

 

TFP

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Sure for next year. But Toronto's will go down the year following when they re-sign Matthews, Marner, Gardiner (maybe) and fill out the rest of their roster. They only have 9 guys under contract for 19-20.

After this is all said and done, I think he ends up back with the Islanders.
 

cshea

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I think he is going back to the Islanders too. They have overhauled their entire organization over the past month or two in an attempt to appease him. It’s going to be very, very hard to pry him away.

That said, if I’m Sweeney, I think the he needs to push hard on having the core in place and signed long term. Tell Tavares he comes in and they’ll be contenders for the next 3-4 years without any major heavy lifting. Sure, they’ll have to clear some salary, but they have Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, Rask and Krug locker in place for multiple seasons. McAvoy needs a new deal after the season, but he is a rising star. Some of the other teams can’t offer that kind of stability. The Bruins existing core is one that led the team to a 112 point season and is in place for multiple years.
 

burstnbloom

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DO IT! They'd certainly have to move some salary but what a coup it would be. I love that the Bruins are on the short list for both Kovi and Tavares. That means their profile across the league is up. There hasn't been a talent on the market like Tavares since Stamkos and before that, I don't even remember. You make your best push and hope to land a premier talent who will likely be good for 5 of the 7 years of the contract.

The leafs could sign him but it would mean they lose someone important. They have to sign Nylander this year and Matthews and MArner next year. That will likely take more than the cap space they have available now to satisfy. Adding Tavares makes that situation very precarious.

I think Cshea's point is a good one. The Bruins offer Tavares the chance to join a championship level team that has a chance to still be good when he is old. He would look amazing between Debrusk and Pastrnak.
 

RedOctober3829

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"So it’s the main five and, as my colleague Pierre LeBrun noted on Monday, some phone monitoring with other teams, Nashville at the top of the list. The Leafs were believed to have kicked off the meeting process on Monday and they figure to be the toughest competition for the Islanders on Tavares — as reports have noted, the Leafs could make a max one-year offer of $15.9 million and then come in with a lower value, seven- or eight-year extension in January.

As for the Bruins and Lightning, those are intriguing teams simply for what they can offer in the short term: Winning. Toronto fits that category too; Boston and Tampa would have some shuffling to do to make the cap situation work with Tavares, but the idea of fitting into a veteran core on either team where Tavares doesn’t have to be The Man night after night is definitely intriguing.

The Sharks and Stars would love Tavares and have the cap space to make what might be the best seven-year offers. Tavares is still friendly with Evgeni Nabokov, the longtime Shark and onetime Islander who now works in the San Jose organization. That’s in addition to all the Team Canada experience Tavares has with various Sharks.

The Predators were initially not on Tavares’ list, but a phone chat with GM David Poile apparently intrigued Tavares quite a bit. Poile is one of the most respected execs in the league and Tavares may want to give the Preds a longer look as this week unfolds.

It is still the Islanders’ game to win. Lamoriello’s consistent contact with Tavares since the president and GM took over a little more than a month ago, coupled with Tavares’ desire to lead the Isles to prominence and a Stanley Cup, cannot be overlooked. This week will be stressful for sure, however."

https://theathletic.com/407832/2018/06/25/staple-tavares-remains-main-focus-as-islanders-attend-to-other-business-during-contact-period/
 
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Murby

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Thanks for pouring a few gallons of ice water on me. I'm at peak Stamkos-level I was at this time last year. Fully expect to lose the player, again.
 

FL4WL3SS

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So it’s the main five and, as my colleague Pierre LeBrun noted on Monday, some phone monitoring with other teams, Nashville at the top of the list. The Leafs were believed to have kicked off the meeting process on Monday and they figure to be the toughest competition for the Islanders on Tavares — as reports have noted, the Leafs could make a max one-year offer of $15.9 million and then come in with a lower value, seven- or eight-year extension in January.

As for the Bruins and Lightning, those are intriguing teams simply for what they can offer in the short term: Winning. Toronto fits that category too; Boston and Tampa would have some shuffling to do to make the cap situation work with Tavares, but the idea of fitting into a veteran core on either team where Tavares doesn’t have to be The Man night after night is definitely intriguing.

The Sharks and Stars would love Tavares and have the cap space to make what might be the best seven-year offers. Tavares is still friendly with Evgeni Nabokov, the longtime Shark and onetime Islander who now works in the San Jose organization. That’s in addition to all the Team Canada experience Tavares has with various Sharks.

The Predators were initially not on Tavares’ list, but a phone chat with GM David Poile apparently intrigued Tavares quite a bit. Poile is one of the most respected execs in the league and Tavares may want to give the Preds a longer look as this week unfolds.

It is still the Islanders’ game to win. Lamoriello’s consistent contact with Tavares since the president and GM took over a little more than a month ago, coupled with Tavares’ desire to lead the Isles to prominence and a Stanley Cup, cannot be overlooked. This week will be stressful for sure, however.

https://theathletic.com/407832/2018/06/25/staple-tavares-remains-main-focus-as-islanders-attend-to-other-business-during-contact-period/
Colleague? Did I miss something?