Bruins Trade Rumors/Targets

[BigMike]

It might change the priority but I still think there are two gaps that need to be closed.
 
1) Top 4 defenseman - ideally either McQuaid or Miller would play (paired with Krug) but not both as neither really should get second pairing minutes.
 
2) Third line LW - would like someone better than Kelly to play with Yeti and Eriksson which would allow Kelly to be bumped down to fourth line. Also can serve as insurance in case Pastrnak struggles or there is an injury to anyone on the first two lines.

 
I think it is possible to upgrade 3rd line LW.  Maybe you do better, but honestly Chris Kelly gets way to much crap,  and has been a Huge part of that line's success.  Kelly does all the shit the other guys may not want to do.   I think there is great chemistry with the 3.
 
I think it is very likely you could go out and get a theoretically "better offensive LW" from somewhere and end up with a far less productive 3rd line than you have today

 

[LogansDad]

I'm with BigMike on this one, I think Kelly is a way bigger asset to this team than many give him credit for.  
 
As far as forwards I think their best chance to upgrade is to find someone who can send Campbell to the moon, but I think the potential is there to upgrade the defense, as one of McQuaid or Miller could easily be upgraded... the question is what do the B's have to give up to do this (and also, I happen to think Bartkowski is better than both of them, but I'm obviously not the coach).

 

[kenneycb]

Michael Ryder

Right PSK?

Where do you want it?

 

[BigMike]

The Bruins could still use a Stafford type if they can get one at a decent price. 
 
I could live with the forwards we have, but they could really use someone who could slot in there on the 4th line,  or potentially move up to the Bergeron line if they want to give Smith a wake up call for a couple games.  Or could move up to the first line if they give Pastrnak a day off.
 
Maybe Kassian fills that role, but I really don't believe he can really fill in on one of the top 2 lines

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I'm with BigMike on this one, I think Kelly is a way bigger asset to this team than many give him credit for.  
 
As far as forwards I think their best chance to upgrade is to find someone who can send Campbell to the moon, but I think the potential is there to upgrade the defense, as one of McQuaid or Miller could easily be upgraded... the question is what do the B's have to give up to do this (and also, I happen to think Bartkowski is better than both of them, but I'm obviously not the coach).

He could still be an asset to the team if they replaced him on the third line - because the fourth line has been such a disaster.  In principle, pick up a 3rd line winger, let Kelly center line 4, and spot him as needed on other lines.  There will be times, particularly in the playoffs, where Julien may not want to run Pastrnak out there - better that those shifts should go to Kelly than anyone on our current 4th line.  

 

[j44thor]

I'd like to see them acquire a 3rd-4th liner.  Someone with better scoring touch than Paille is required as this team has zero depth in the top 9 right now.  If any of the top 9 go down this team isn't going far with Paille as the top option.  Acquisition cost shouldn't be prohibitive and this team shouldn't be selling the farm this year as I'm not convinced the defense is good enough but adding a quality depth forward should keep them very competitive.  They should be in get in the tourney and hope for some breaks mode this year.

 

[burstnbloom]

If the new rumored cost of Kassian is middle depth players, then I love him as a potential acquisition.  He can either push Kelly to the fourth line or provide a little snarl to the third, though I am with the majority here that Kelly has been an asset on that line.  It also gives them some scoring depth on the right side. 

 

[Reardon's Beard]

From everything I know, Kassian would be a perfect fit on this team if you slot him as the 4th line RW but implement him as depth for the right side across the team. On nights off for 88, move him to the first line and you get a little more bruising. Botton line: he can play Bruins hockey, provide depth, and give you line/roster flexibility. I do not see any downsides here if you can make the numbers work.

 

[j44thor]

Noticed that Capgeek no longer exists, does anyone have a good alternative?  That site was invaluable come trade deadline time.

 

[TFP]

Nhlnumbers.com isn't bad but not nearly as comprehensive as capgeek was.

 

[j44thor]

Thanks TFP, looks like slim pickings this year.
Best reasonable option might be Jiri Tlusty.  He has some goal scoring ability and size.  CAR not likely to resign him given how cheap they are.  
 
I'd offer one of the Boychuk 2nds for him but probably not much more.

 

[cshea]

We're less than a month from the deadline, so it is silly season. Kypreos last night said Spooner-for-Stewart could be a possibility.

http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worthreading/2015/2/5/kypreos-bruins-spooner-may-be-in-play-to-land-sabres-stewart

Personally, I'd stay away from Stewart unless Buffalo is eating his entire cap hit, which I don't think is possible. During the intermission last night, McKenzie said they're still after a forward. I'm all aboard the Kassian bandwagon. Cost controlled, cheap acquisition cost, young, right shot with size, top 9 Pastrnak insurance policy. Perfect. Kassian hits all the check marks. Kassian is cheap enough that they could acquire him and have cap space and assets leftover for what, in my opinion, is their biggest need- a top 4 D. They desperately need to do something about the Seidenberg/McQuaid pairing. McQuaid isn't very good, he can't be getting those minutes.

 

[TheRealness]

We're less than a month from the deadline, so it is silly season. Kypreos last night said Spooner-for-Stewart could be a possibility.

http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worthreading/2015/2/5/kypreos-bruins-spooner-may-be-in-play-to-land-sabres-stewart

Personally, I'd stay away from Stewart unless Buffalo is eating his entire cap hit, which I don't think is possible. During the intermission last night, McKenzie said they're still after a forward. I'm all aboard the Kassian bandwagon. Cost controlled, cheap acquisition cost, young, right shot with size, top 9 Pastrnak insurance policy. Perfect. Kassian hits all the check marks. Kassian is cheap enough that they could acquire him and have cap space and assets leftover for what, in my opinion, is their biggest need- a top 4 D. They desperately need to do something about the Seidenberg/McQuaid pairing. McQuaid isn't very good, he can't be getting those minutes.

 
Is Spooner's stock really that low? The fact Buffalo would want more than him for Stewart seems absurd to me. Am I prospect f***ing here?

 

[cshea]

Yeah, I think his stock is pretty low. It is a combination of him regressing this year, being injured, and teams realizing the Bruins basically have no use for him. I personally think he should've been traded after last season and the Bruins handling of him this year has helped crater his value. I wouldn't trade him for Stewart though, but maybe he'd be a piece for a Kassian deal.

 

[BoSoxFink]

I know people love Kassian here but I have no interest in him. I already am not a huge fan of Lucic and Kassian seems like he is Lucic light.

 

[Bill Mueller High Life]

I would try and pry Erik Cole away from, Dallas, UFA after the season. Veteran, won a Cup and still has some scoring touch left.

Also rather rent Chris Neill than trade for Kassian. Bruins are going to still have cap issues after this season and I don't see them taking on long term salary at the deadline. Marchand or Ericksson, I could see being moved at the draft. Poor drafts and to many long term contracts have really prohibited the Bruins with roster moves.

 

[kenneycb]

Per LeBrun, the B's have interest in Atkinson from CBJ, who's an RFA next year.  On phone so no link but you can trust me.

 

[The Napkin]

trust but verify...
 
But given the potential of injuries and the grind of the stretch run and playoffs, adding another forward is still the plan.
Another name to throw in the mix is Cam Atkinson from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The winger is a pending restricted free agent, so the Jackets certainly don’t have to move him, but they’re listening. I don’t sense Atkinson is a top-of-the-list guy for Boston, but the two clubs have chatted about him and he’s on the Bruins’ radar at the very least.
There’s renewed interest in winger Chris Stewart from the Buffalo Sabres -- or perhaps it never really went away. But the hulking winger, a pending unrestricted free agent, has played better of late and the Bruins still view him as a decent fit.
Toronto center Mike Santorelli, another pending unrestricted free agent who can also play wing, is among several other names I think the Bruins like.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I do not have any confidence in Chia. The best I'm hoping for is acquiring a 6th-7th defenseman or a 4th line winger. Granted they don't have a ton of room under the cap but no one ever put a gun to his head to sign some of these guys to ridiculous contracts.

 

[TSC]

Why not? Jagr, Recchi..he's made some great deadline deals before.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

The linked article notes a perfectly acceptable top 9 winger who can be packaged with an impending UFA like Fedor Tyutin.

Hate on Chia all you want - I'm less than thrilled with his choice of Campbell and Paille over Boychuk - just don't do it for a deal he hasn't made yet.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

The Bruins have enjoyed their best run of success in 30 years and people are still not happy. Good lord.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

The Bruins have enjoyed their best run of success in 30 years and people are still not happy. Good lord.

 
Considering the Cup win, it's closer to 40 years.

 

[Toe Nash]

The Bruins have enjoyed their best run of success in 30 years and people are still not happy. Good lord.

By this argument, SoSH shouldn't exist. Except the Celtics forum I guess.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

By this argument, SoSH shouldn't exist. Except the Celtics forum I guess.

 
Because the only point of this message board is to bitch and complain and be a nancy about everything?

 

[McDrew]

Might as well change it from "Rick Middleton's Pron Stache" to "The Sodium Chloride Hangout."  We're all way to salty this season.
 
/Science joke!

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I like science jokes, just next time make it funny.
 

 

[Ed Hillel]

Why not? Jagr, Recchi..he's made some great deadline deals before.

 
Hell, Kelly helped them out quite a bit in 2011 in the playoff run. The subsequent extension and terms of the contract is another story, of course.

 

[TheRealness]

 
Hell, Kelly helped them out quite a bit in 2011 in the playoff run. The subsequent extension and terms of the contract is another story, of course.

 
Kelly has been solid this year, but I agree the extension has caused them problems. Without Kelly, they keep Boychuk for this season, no?
 
For this year, I'd be pretty pissed if they traded anything of value for someone like Chris Stewart. I just don't see how somebody at that skill level is going to improve what they already have. Pastrnak may be a kid, but is trading Spooner for Stewart worth the marginal upgrade? I say absolutely not. 
 
Very interesting deadline though. Chiarelli must see the lack of value in a trade, but also is likely under a lot of pressure to make a run into the playoffs. Unless Seidenberg and Chara round into form, it's not happening. I just don't see them beating Detroit or Montreal in a 7 game series right now.

 

[lexrageorge]

I agree this will be an interesting 18 days.  
 
On one hand, you have Charlie Jacobs basically putting everyone (Chiarelli, Julien, perhaps Neely) on notice that their jobs are on the line if the Bruins don't make the playoffs.  Then you have the fact that this is likely to be a very slow deadline to begin with.  Add in the fact that there's noone available to suit the Bruins needs that doesn't absolutely destroy their cap next season, and you've got a potentially troublesome outcome.  
 
The list of culprits on this season's team go beyond Seidenberg and Chara.  Lucic has become a corpse himself, Marchand has tailed off, Reilly Smith and Loui Erickson are big time busts, and Paille and Campbell are showing their age. The lack of new blood from the draft (aside from Hamilton and Pastrnak, and possibly Krug) has really killed this team.  There is no quick fix that makes this team become a playoff favorite.  

 

[kenneycb]

He sucked at the start of the year but Marchand has been one of their better players IMO the last month of so.

 

[TFP]

Loui is 3rd on the team in points. He is far down the list of people not pulling their weight this year.

 

[McDrew]

This team was without its #1 defenseman and #1 center for approximately 1/3rd of the season so far. 
Since Krecji has returned, the Bruins are 13-6-4 for a possible 30 points out of 46 possible(.652).  Over a full season that's a 105 point pace, which would have put them at the top of the Atlantic, and the #2 seed in the playoffs last season. 
Since Chara has returned, the Bruins are 13-7-6 for a possible 32 points out of 52 possible(.615)  That's still easily in the playoffs last season (if extended over the season).
 
The B's are a much better team with Chara and Krecji, and now that they're both back, this team is going to have a much better second half than first.    The B's will do better than 20-15-6 in their second half.  They're 8-4-1 so far. 
 
Hell, we had a TOTAL of 2 gamethreaders in January.  This team is doing way better than how they started. 

 

[McDrew]

Also:
Last season, 93 points was good enough to get into the playoffs.  Going 40-30-12(1st half *2) gets them 92. 

 

[Salem's Lot]

I like Loui on this team for $4 million. I think the guy they should really be looking to move is Lucic. He's got value around the league even at his $6 million cap hit. They gotta make a decision on him this summer whether or not they want to extend him. If the answer is no they're better off making him available now.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I have no idea what they will do at the deadline. I would not at all be surprised to see guys like Spooner, etc dealt, but what is a Spooner really going to fetch at this point? Can't be much.

 

[burstnbloom]

At this point, I'd be shocked if they do anything significant.  Chia doesn't appear willing to move players off of the roster and they are so cap strapped that they won't be able to add anyone with any salary at all without doing that.  I think we see a depth forward and maybe a depth defenseman, both of which we will feel were too expensive.  

 

[FL4WL3SS]

At this point, I'd be shocked if they do anything significant.  Chia doesn't appear willing to move players off of the roster and they are so cap strapped that they won't be able to add anyone with any salary at all without doing that.  I think we see a depth forward and maybe a depth defenseman, both of which we will feel were too expensive.  

I haven't ready anything that says Chia isn't willing to move players off of the roster. Where are you seeing that?
 
He typically doesn't trade anything off of the roster, but why would he, the team is in contention year in and year out. This year is different, they've tread water for the better part of the season, he may be willing to shake things up a bit.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I haven't ready anything that says Chia isn't willing to move players off of the roster. Where are you seeing that?
 
He typically doesn't trade anything off of the roster, but why would he, the team is in contention year in and year out. This year is different, they've tread water for the better part of the season, he may be willing to shake things up a bit.

The closest thing to a shakeup he's done before is probably Wheeler for Peverley. It's hard to imagine what sort of a shakeup he'd do now, given salary constraints. Smith, Lucic, Marchand seem like the only guys likely to move in a big shakeup. On D, maybe Krug though it is hard to see how that makes them better. Soderberg has been noticeably less productive without Eriksson, so I don't see Louis being dealt.

I really have no idea whatsoever what to expect at this deadline.

 

[TheRealness]

The closest thing to a shakeup he's done before is probably Wheeler for Peverley. It's hard to imagine what sort of a shakeup he'd do now, given salary constraints. Smith, Lucic, Marchand seem like the only guys likely to move in a big shakeup. On D, maybe Krug though it is hard to see how that makes them better. Soderberg has been noticeably less productive without Eriksson, so I don't see Louis being dealt.

I really have no idea whatsoever what to expect at this deadline.

 
I don't either, and it's the first time I really don't have a read on the situation in the past few years. 
 
I could see Smith being dealt. I could see Loui being dealt. I could see them trading AHL players like Spooner, Koko or Subban. I could see them doing nothing. I could see them adding depth on defense. I have no idea, really, what to expect. This west coast trip may dictate what happens though. With the Kane deal with Buffalo, I'd imagine some dominoes are going to start to fall quickly and likely before the deadline. 

 

[TSC]

Now that Kane is gone - what other impact players are available to be traded?
 
Hall? Yakupov? Is Toronto looking to deal?
 
There's not a lot out there, and even less that can help this years Bruins. 

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Now that Kane is gone - what other impact players are available to be traded?
 
Hall? Yakupov? Is Toronto looking to deal?
 
There's not a lot out there, and even less that can help this years Bruins. 

I'm sure the Bruins would back up the truck for Hall, Lucic (to balance salaried) plus a load of picks/prospects, but I doubt the Bruins have what it takes to make that happen without including Dougie (Chia is nowhere near dumb enough to do that).

Yakupov doesn't strike me as the kind of fit who could pay immediate dividends to the Bruins.

 

[mwonow]

Now that Kane is gone - what other impact players are available to be traded?
 
Hall? Yakupov? Is Toronto looking to deal?
 
There's not a lot out there, and even less that can help this years Bruins. 

 
The word here in TO is that Shanny has the go-ahead to blow up the Leafs, so sure, they're looking to deal. Problem is, their players aren't very good...

 

[kenneycb]

Now that Kane is gone - what other impact players are available to be traded?
 
Hall? Yakupov? Is Toronto looking to deal?
 
There's not a lot out there, and even less that can help this years Bruins. 

Jiri Tlusty but I wouldn't exactly call him an impact player.  More of a third line depth guy in the mold of a Chris Kelly than an impact one though.  Really pulling at straws though.

 

[veritas]

 
The word here in TO is that Shanny has the go-ahead to blow up the Leafs, so sure, they're looking to deal. Problem is, their players aren't very good...

 
Winnik is a guy I'd like for forward depth but it sounds like a lot of other teams do too. Rumor has it the Leafs are asking for a 2nd rounder which is outrageous and why he hasn't been traded yet.

 

[cshea]

 
The word here in TO is that Shanny has the go-ahead to blow up the Leafs, so sure, they're looking to deal. Problem is, their players aren't very good...

I'd have interest in a few of their guys, mostly Santorelli and Franson. Santorelli is a versitle right shot forward that Julien could deploy pretty much anywhere in the lineup. $1.5 million for the rest of the year, UFA. Plays center and wing. Franson would be more expensive, but he's an upgrade on McQuaid/Miller and would balance the defense out a bit. $3 million cap hit, UFA.
 
Winnik is a B's type of player but he's a lefty.

 

[mcpickl]

If the Bruins were going to try to make a big move at the deadline, I'd be checking in on Colorado to see if they'd be willing to trade Jarome Iginla back while retaining a good chunk of his salary/cap hit.
 
They must know they're in rebuild mode and it seems wasteful to hang on to a veteran like Iginla.
 
How much would the Bruins need to give up for Iginla, at say a 3M cap hit? Would the Bruins even be interested?
 
The last time he was dealt, Calgary got a #1 and two marginal prospects for him as a rental. Could Boston get him for a  #1 ,Reilly Smith and like a Zach Trotman level type? Is that too much? Too little?
 
(I know that I sound like Nick Cafardo with the questions, but I have a hard time putting a value on Jarome at 37 years old)

 

[burstnbloom]

I haven't ready anything that says Chia isn't willing to move players off of the roster. Where are you seeing that?
 
He typically doesn't trade anything off of the roster, but why would he, the team is in contention year in and year out. This year is different, they've tread water for the better part of the season, he may be willing to shake things up a bit.

 
Consider the source of course, but Haggs said this yesterday on T&R before he went crazy and suggested trading Chara without acknowledging his NMC. 

 

[TSC]

Haggs is a fucking moron.

Has anyone listened to his full segments on T&R? Lots impossible for his to answer a question without rambling for about 5 minutes after. T&R make fun of him for it somewhat, but he's completely unlistenable.

 

[TFP]

It's also funny how the entire group of Bruins beat reporters all get along extremely well and absolutely hate him.