Bruins Offseason Roster Thread

lexrageorge

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Bruins need to improve their 5-on-5 game; two years in a row they were majorly outmatched in that area in the playoffs.

If trading DeBrusk does that for them, then sign me up. If they cannot find a trading partner that fits, then bring him back and hope for growth in his game, which may or may not arrive.
 

McDrew

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I see both DeBrusk and Grzelcyk in the same category. Important depth, but movable if it makes this team better. I think if either one is moved, it will be to improve the other end of the ice.
 

cshea

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They can't really trade Grzelyck given they're probably losing Krug and Chara's return doesn't seem certain. That would leave them with Lauzon, Moore, Vaakanainen, Zboril as their LHD depth chart which is potentially very bad.

If they want to shake up the core, I see DeBrusk as making sense. They aren't moving Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, Pastrnak, McAvoy. The next group of core players is probably DeBrusk and Carlo. I'm not a huge fan of Carlo, but moving him in addition to the other D changes would be taking too much of a knife to the defense. That leaves DeBrusk. He's young, posted a few 20 goal rates, and is coming out of an ELC. He should have a ton of value on the market. He is inconsistent and goes in and out of Cassidy's dog house throughout the season. If they are looking to make a move of significance,. like an OEL, then I think DeBrusk has to be considered for part of the return. They don't have a first round pick this year and they have a weak farm system. They are going to have to give to get, I don't think Bjork, Clifton and a pupu platter of prospects and lower draft picks gets them much.

Of course, the problem is say they add OEL and DeBrusk goes. Now they've fixed the back end but opened up a gaping hole at 2LW. They just spent like 7 years trying to find a 2RW solution before the Kase trade. They finally have a full 2nd line and immediately remove DeBrusk. But I think it'd be a bit easier to find some scoring than it is to find a top 4 defenseman.
 

FL4WL3SS

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I see both DeBrusk and Grzelcyk in the same category. Important depth, but movable if it makes this team better. I think if either one is moved, it will be to improve the other end of the ice.
I feel the opposite. I'd like to keep these guys and avoid replacing them with more expensive JAGS.

There's not much to trade on the team, three quarters of the team is either a UFA/RFA or in the last year of their contract. I don't see how they improve the team this year and might need to bite the bullet and wait until next year when they have a ton of cap space.
 

FL4WL3SS

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DeBrusk and Carlo are only 23, there's no need to ship these guys out.

I think you let Krejci and Tuukka walk next year when Backes comes off the books. If the team struggles this year, it's kind of ok you have a built in rebuild on the horizon. You take the high draft pick and go to work.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I feel like I'm always a hater, but I'd explore the market for Krejci (which may be small). If there's someone who thinks they're a 2C away next season, I'd see what the return + cap space could get the Bs.

I kind of think this was their last year with Bergy/Krech/Chara/Tuuka.
 

kenneycb

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I wouldn't hate exploring that (NTC caveats aside). They could move Coyle up to 2C and Studnicka to 3C. Not ideal to have an unproven rookie as the 3C but they're better able to fill the 2C hole more easily than most other positions.
 

cshea

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I think Krejci has more value to them than what he'd bring back in a trade. I'd be a bit leery about moving Coyle up and hoping Studnicka can handle 3C. I don't think he'd bring back enough in a trade to make it worth it. Eric Stall just returned Marcus Johansson so the return wouldn't be great.

With Krejci, I think you run the contract out and see where you are at the end of the season.
 

RedOctober3829

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I think Krejci has more value to them than what he'd bring back in a trade. I'd be a bit leery about moving Coyle up and hoping Studnicka can handle 3C. I don't think he'd bring back enough in a trade to make it worth it. Eric Stall just returned Marcus Johansson so the return wouldn't be great.

With Krejci, I think you run the contract out and see where you are at the end of the season.
Agreed. If they can't get a Pietrangelo or a OEL if they let Krug go, they need to fix the age old question of a big time winger for Krejci. See if Taylor Hall will put his money where his mouth is in terms of wanting to play for a winner over the most money. Maybe a 1-year deal at his value now to get him to market in a supposed better financial market for a long-term deal would interest him.
 

McDrew

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I'd like to keep these guys and avoid replacing them with more expensive JAGS.
Me too. The return for them(+ non roster assets) needs to be a clear upgrade to the active roster, and I acknowledge that both the likelihood and feasibility of actually finding that are low.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Me too. The return for them(+ non roster assets) needs to be a clear upgrade to the active roster, and I acknowledge that both the likelihood and feasibility of actually finding that are low.
The problem is, people are looking around to try and find ways to improve the current roster and it just isn't there, so they talk themselves into trading these guys. I've fallen for this trap in the past.

There's a big reset coming for this team next year regardless of the changes they make at the fringe this season. I'd just rather let that play out.
 

kenneycb

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Advocating exploring options is different than advocating trading. Quite frankly if a GM isn't exploring options he isn't doing his job. Sweeney appears to be if the rumors are to be believed. Obviously you don't trade a guy to trade a guy but all it takes is one GM to offer a crazy package.
 

kenneycb

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Well you say we're talking ourselves into trading these guys, which I don't think we are. We're trying to talk through who is more expendable on the roster and what we could get from them.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Wasn't great phrasing on my part, the meta point I was making is that if you're eager to improve the team, there's just not much on the roster that will help do that, so naturally we look at guys like DeBrusk/Carlo/Gryz.
 

FL4WL3SS

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We all agree that this is not an ideal situation.
I actually disagree. I think they are in a great position moving forward. They have been competitive every year and just as their roster is aging, they have tons of cap flexibility and have the option to rebuild around youth.

They need to play the next 12-24 months perfectly, however, or else we could quickly fall into a decade of despair.
 

Dummy Hoy

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And they have a 23 year old Richard trophy winning star up front with a 22 year old number one defenseman to build around; to go along with with guys like Marchy and Coyle who should have a few more premium years left. Agree they need to play it right, but considering they’ve been playing for Cups for 10 years, they’re really not too bad off.

How shocking would nabbing a goalie this year be? The market is flooded and prices will be down.
 

cshea

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Fluto did a trade tiers column at the Athletic. i'm bored so I put one together myself:

Untouchable, Franchise Cornerstone

David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy. Should be pretty obvious.

Untouchable, Old core members/NMC's

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Charlie Coyle

These ones should be pretty obvious too. I lumped Charlie Coyle into this group since he's got a partial NMC and I think he's too valuable to the team for now and in the coming years to consider a trade. Krejci, Rask and Halak maybe you consider trading at the deadline if the team isn't in playoff position, but I don't think you deal any of them right now.

Untouchable, Prospects

Jack Studnicka, John Beecher

With Bergeron and Krejci aging and nearing the end, I don't think the Bruins are in much of a position to be dealing center prospects. Studnicka showed well in the bubble. Beecher's likely another year away from signing so maybe he could be used in a trade but I think it'd be safest to hold for now.

Maybe?

Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelyck

Both players would probably be considered core members. If they are shaking up the core, one of these guys could go. Fluto actually has Carlo as more likely to go because he feels they have internal options like Clifton and Lauzon to step into his minutes. He;s also up for a new deal and raise after next season. We're there now with DeBrusk. Inconsistency hurts both players. Any trade including them would be a hockey deal where they're improving elsewhere.I put Grzelyck in here too but I think the only way he gets traded is if either Krug re-signs or they are getting a replacement LHD,.

Prospects, maybe?

Urho Vaakanainen, Zach Senyshyn, Dan Vladar, Jakob Zboril, Trent Frederic, Oskar Steen, Jakub Lauko, Karson Kuhlman

I think Vaak might be a stretch to put as a maybe but I think if they need a prospect to headline a package, he makes more sense than Studnicka or Beecher because of the depth they have at the position. The rest of the players on this list would be fillers more than headliners.

Sure, but their value isn't high

Anders Bjork, Connor Clifton, John Moore, Jeremy Lauzon, Nick Ritchie, Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly, Par Lindholm

These guys could all be included in a trade but they wouldn't drive the return. Kuraly is entering the final year of his deal, I'd lump him in with Krejci as a possible deadline trade candidate if they are out of position.
 

joe dokes

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Fluto actually has Carlo as more likely to go because he feels they have internal options like Clifton and Lauzon to step into his minutes. He;s also up for a new deal and raise after next season. We're there now with DeBrusk. Inconsistency hurts both players.
Maybe there are numbers that back it up, but I think Carlo is incredibly underrated. He's far from an offensive force, but he's not immobile either. I think highly of Lauzon as a sturdy defense-first defensman, but he's not there yet.. I was disappointed that he regressed a bit late in the year, but this is hard year to judge. But Clifton "Stepping into Carlo's minutes" seems like a pipe dream.
 

cshea

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Mostly agree, but why are the goalies untouchable?
They were the best duo in the league this year and the Bruins don't have any internal options ready to take over for a traded one. I don't think it makes much sense to trade either of them. I'd run it back and then re-evaluate at the end of the season. They could do something crazy like trade Rask and sign a UFA to save some money but I just don't see it.
 

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Fluto did a trade tiers column at the Athletic. i'm bored so I put one together myself:

Untouchable, Franchise Cornerstone

David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy. Should be pretty obvious.

Untouchable, Old core members/NMC's

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Charlie Coyle

These ones should be pretty obvious too. I lumped Charlie Coyle into this group since he's got a partial NMC and I think he's too valuable to the team for now and in the coming years to consider a trade. Krejci, Rask and Halak maybe you consider trading at the deadline if the team isn't in playoff position, but I don't think you deal any of them right now.

Untouchable, Prospects

Jack Studnicka, John Beecher

With Bergeron and Krejci aging and nearing the end, I don't think the Bruins are in much of a position to be dealing center prospects. Studnicka showed well in the bubble. Beecher's likely another year away from signing so maybe he could be used in a trade but I think it'd be safest to hold for now.

Maybe?

Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelyck

Both players would probably be considered core members. If they are shaking up the core, one of these guys could go. Fluto actually has Carlo as more likely to go because he feels they have internal options like Clifton and Lauzon to step into his minutes. He;s also up for a new deal and raise after next season. We're there now with DeBrusk. Inconsistency hurts both players. Any trade including them would be a hockey deal where they're improving elsewhere.I put Grzelyck in here too but I think the only way he gets traded is if either Krug re-signs or they are getting a replacement LHD,.

Prospects, maybe?

Urho Vaakanainen, Zach Senyshyn, Dan Vladar, Jakob Zboril, Trent Frederic, Oskar Steen, Jakub Lauko, Karson Kuhlman

I think Vaak might be a stretch to put as a maybe but I think if they need a prospect to headline a package, he makes more sense than Studnicka or Beecher because of the depth they have at the position. The rest of the players on this list would be fillers more than headliners.

Sure, but their value isn't high

Anders Bjork, Connor Clifton, John Moore, Jeremy Lauzon, Nick Ritchie, Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly, Par Lindholm

These guys could all be included in a trade but they wouldn't drive the return. Kuraly is entering the final year of his deal, I'd lump him in with Krejci as a possible deadline trade candidate if they are out of position.
Whither Kase?
 

FL4WL3SS

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They were the best duo in the league this year and the Bruins don't have any internal options ready to take over for a traded one. I don't think it makes much sense to trade either of them. I'd run it back and then re-evaluate at the end of the season. They could do something crazy like trade Rask and sign a UFA to save some money but I just don't see it.
I don't have the time or resources to look, but I'd be curious if there is a team that has a young promising goalie that we can stick behind Halak/Tuukka for a year that would be a good trade fit.

Both goalies are up next season, they need to address it soon. I'd explore a Tuukka trade for his replacement.
 

cshea

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I don't have the time or resources to look, but I'd be curious if there is a team that has a young promising goalie that we can stick behind Halak/Tuukka for a year that would be a good trade fit.

Both goalies are up next season, they need to address it soon. I'd explore a Tuukka trade for his replacement.
They have Vladar, Keyser and Swayman in the system. They all have promise. Vladar is the closest, he's probably in Boston after next season. I don't think they need to go find a young goalie.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Nice work @cshea

I'd probably put Coyle in the untouchable/cornerstone group just beacuse they've made it clear through words and action that he's a building block for the next 5 years. Marchy maaaybe too. I'd also put Bjork and Cliffy in the Prospects? group because I think there's a decent chance at least one of the 31 GMs sees the ceiling on those guys.
 

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What problem do the Bruins have that Hall solves?

He’s been incredibly injury prone throughout his career - only once playing more than 75 games. He’s only scored 27 goals in his last 98 games. He had a great 2017/18 season but at this point that looks more like an outlier.

I don’t know that Debrusk at 24 isn’t going to be the better player going forward than Hall at 29.
 

jk333

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With Krejci and Bergeron, Hall can help extend the window. I don’t see them competing in 2021 with just a minor adjustment or 2. If Hall can put up 70+ points next to Krejci while Pasta puts up 70+ next to Bergeron, they are a more dangerous team.

Hall comes with risks but they could be worth it.
 

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With Krejci and Bergeron, Hall can help extend the window. I don’t see them competing in 2021 with just a minor adjustment or 2. If Hall can put up 70+ points next to Krejci while Pasta puts up 70+ next to Bergeron, they are a more dangerous team.

Hall comes with risks but they could be worth it.
The dude has put up 70 points twice in a 10 year career. That's not exactly a reasonable ask for a dude coming off of season where he was playing at a 63pt/82 game clip - when he almost never plays 82 games.
 

Salem's Lot

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The dude has put up 70 points twice in a 10 year career. That's not exactly a reasonable ask for a dude coming off of season where he was playing at a 63pt/82 game clip - when he almost never plays 82 games.
We also have to take into account the return that they would get for DeBrusk. If they can get a similar age LHD with some size and enough skill to play with McAvoy for DeBrusk, then sign Hall to play with Krejci and Kase, it has the potential to make them a better team overall.
 

cshea

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He's better than DeBrusk and it let's them use DeBrusk to address the defense.
The dude has put up 70 points twice in a 10 year career. That's not exactly a reasonable ask for a dude coming off of season where he was playing at a 63pt/82 game clip - when he almost never plays 82 games.
He's played on disasters and hasn't had the same coach for 2 years straight. He's also been asked to be "the guy," and here he wouldn't be.

He's a better player than DeBrusk and it'd free them up to use DeBrusk to replace Krug's vacancy.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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He's better than DeBrusk and it let's them use DeBrusk to address the defense.


He's played on disasters and hasn't had the same coach for 2 years straight. He's also been asked to be "the guy," and here he wouldn't be.

He's a better player than DeBrusk and it'd free them up to use DeBrusk to replace Krug's vacancy.
He's also going to cost significantly more than DeBrusk and they could use the difference in cash for a UFA.

He's also 29 and injury prone. I'm not sold that signing him makes the Bruins better over an 82 game season.
 

jk333

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To those that don’t like it, what’s your plan 1, 3 year plan(s)?I don’t see how they compete next year without improvements.

As mentioned they can hope for improvement from Debrusk, Kase, Bjork but most gains are likely to be modest. More importantly, those gains are likely to be offset by declines from Bergeron (35), Krejci (34) and Marchand (32). They’ll remain useful top line players decline from their status as league leaders. (as two way players)

It’s legitimate to go with that they have for another year. And then your rebuild for a year or 2 but I just see them getting toward a Chicago type of team.
 

cshea

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Since he left Edmonton, he's been pretty durable. Hand injury wrecked one year, but he's played 82, 72, 76, 33 (hand problem), 65 games in the shortened season this year.
 

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To those that don’t like it, what’s your plan 1, 3 year plan(s)?I don’t see how they compete next year without improvements.

As mentioned they can hope for improvement from Debrusk, Kase, Bjork but most gains are likely to be modest. More importantly, those gains are likely to be offset by declines from Bergeron (35), Krejci (34) and Marchand (32). They’ll remain useful top line players decline from their status as league leaders. (as two way players)

It’s legitimate to go with that they have for another year. And then your rebuild for a year or 2 but I just see them getting toward a Chicago type of team.
I mean, trading a 23 year old RFA to sign a 28 year old UFA isn’t exactly building for the future.
 

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Since he left Edmonton, he's been pretty durable. Hand injury wrecked one year, but he's played 82, 72, 76, 33 (hand problem), 65 games in the shortened season this year.
Look at his shooting% numbers from before and after the hand injury.

He’s not the guy I’m signing to a 6+ million dollar multi year deal.
 

FL4WL3SS

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To those that don’t like it, what’s your plan 1, 3 year plan(s)?I don’t see how they compete next year without improvements.

As mentioned they can hope for improvement from Debrusk, Kase, Bjork but most gains are likely to be modest. More importantly, those gains are likely to be offset by declines from Bergeron (35), Krejci (34) and Marchand (32). They’ll remain useful top line players decline from their status as league leaders. (as two way players)

It’s legitimate to go with that they have for another year. And then your rebuild for a year or 2 but I just see them getting toward a Chicago type of team.
I don't believe they should sell out the future for marginal improvements next year. They have to reset going into 2021 anyway and trying to extend that by a couple years is not going to end well.
 

jk333

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You may be right.

I think they’re in rough shape in 22’ and 23’ whether they keep Debrusk/Carlo/Gryz or not. So, if they can get an upgrade next year, I would sacrifice those guys for the right guy.

Completely possible Hall is not that guy. Also possible he is.
 

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I don't believe they should sell out the future for marginal improvements next year. They have to reset going into 2021 anyway and trying to extend that by a couple years is not going to end well.
Not to mention, DeBrusk has scored more goals over the last two seasons (both actual, and projected if Hall plays a 82 game season in 18/19) than Hall.