Bruins Offseason Thread

Salem's Lot

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I'd love him, but as you note, it's it's a pipe dream.

Even if we use the Seguin trade as a template, the Bruins don't currently have a Loui Eriksson or Reilly Smith to offer. We do have a bunch of Matt Fraser and Joe Morrow's though.
Plus it would be very easy for Buffalo’s GM to call up the Kings and get pretty much the same package the Bruins could offer, and trade him to the other conference.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Plus it would be very easy for Buffalo’s GM to call up the Kings and get pretty much the same package the Bruins could offer, and trade him to the other conference.
Does Eichel have any leverage here to influence a trade somewhere?

I imagine he’d prefer coming home to Boston and playing with the Bruins talent vs. going to LA.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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So…

Good for Tuukka for trying to play through it. But that’s criminal malpractice by the coach and front office letting him play.


They should have taken the decision out of his hands and started Swayman.

What a joke.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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So…

Good for Tuukka for trying to play through it. But that’s criminal malpractice by the coach and front office letting him play.


They should have taken the decision out of his hands and started Swayman.

What a joke.
Agreed. Rask, like a starting pitcher in baseball, would never ask out of a game. Imagine the haters if he had done that. Instead Butch kept playing him despite obvious limitations. Really awful coaching.
 

allstonite

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I’m sure he wanted to try to tough out especially after the all the (undeserved) criticism he got in town for leaving the bubble last year. Good for him and I’m a huge supporter but Bruce has to get out ahead of it, start Sway, and tell the media it was 100% his decision
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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So…

Good for Tuukka for trying to play through it. But that’s criminal malpractice by the coach and front office letting him play.


They should have taken the decision out of his hands and started Swayman.

What a joke.
Completely agree. I had a feeling it was something that would require surgery. What the fuck were they thinking? Swayman should have been in from the start of the playoffs.
 

cshea

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Would they accept a Craig Smith? Same same. But different.
Doubt it. Smith is 32 and has 2-years left at $3.1 million.

It didn't work out here but Eriksson was extremely valuable when they got him. He was a 70-point 2-way horse. He was 27 years old and was signed dirt cheap at $4.25 for 4 more seasons. Then he was knocked out by John Scott and that's that.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Completely agree. I had a feeling it was something that would require surgery. What the fuck were they thinking? Swayman should have been in from the start of the playoffs.
Rask was fine for the most part until the end of the NYI series, so it probably flared up on him. Inexcusable decision from Cassidy to start him while hobbled. Not to mention all those strange half-truths and wink winks in the pressers.
 

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Doubt it. Smith is 32 and has 2-years left at $3.1 million.

It didn't work out here but Eriksson was extremely valuable when they got him. He was a 70-point 2-way horse. He was 27 years old and was signed dirt cheap at $4.25 for 4 more seasons. Then he was knocked out by John Scott and that's that.
That was a joke.
 

RedOctober3829

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Agreed. Rask, like a starting pitcher in baseball, would never ask out of a game. Imagine the haters if he had done that. Instead Butch kept playing him despite obvious limitations. Really awful coaching.
If he had been playing with it all year and managing it everyone involved had to sign off on him playing not just Cassidy. If the doctors say he can play it’s tough for a coach to sit him. He was playing as good as anybody in the league in the postseason so I can see why they still went with him.
 

lexrageorge

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The implications of Rask's situation:

I think it's good news that Rask wants to play another season, and to play only for Boston. It means that they do not have to start the season with 2 unproven youngsters (a recipe for disaster if neither one is ready). It means that they do not have to go and find a veteran. They can probably sign him for relatively short money, and LTIR him until February. Still leaves plenty of cap room to retool the middle 6 forwards and add a defenseman.

No real issue with starting Rask up until Game 5. He had played well up to that point, including an outstanding series against the Capitals. But if they didn't have the confidence to start Swayman Games 5 and 6 when it was clear that Rask was going to be immobile, then he shouldn't have been on the playoff roster in the first place.
 

cshea

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Nothing new, but Hall says he sees a fit, wants to stay, hopes they can work something out.

Rask also says he think he'll continue to play and wants to for Boston.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Rask was fine for the most part until the end of the NYI series, so it probably flared up on him. Inexcusable decision from Cassidy to start him while hobbled. Not to mention all those strange half-truths and wink winks in the pressers.
If the guy needs hip surgery, they should have just gotten out ahead of it and shut him down. Then there’s no BS media speculation, no keeping him in a game when he obviously can’t move. It was coaching malpractice.
 

jezza1918

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Rask was fine for the most part until the end of the NYI series, so it probably flared up on him. Inexcusable decision from Cassidy to start him while hobbled. Not to mention all those strange half-truths and wink winks in the pressers.
As good as Rask until game 5, I have to think medical/coaching staff would've known a flare up was likely to happen playing basically every other night. As such, I really think they should've either looked to get Swayman playing time to give Rask additional rest, or just called on Swayman from the beginning? And I say that as an ardent Rask fanboy...
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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If he had been playing with it all year and managing it everyone involved had to sign off on him playing not just Cassidy. If the doctors say he can play it’s tough for a coach to sit him. He was playing as good as anybody in the league in the postseason so I can see why they still went with him.
Rask says part of managing the hip was working through other stuff in compensation for it including his back locking up. I think that's what happened in the middle of the NYI series, his back locked up.

I mean, the consensus here was that he was playing hurt in Games 5 and 6. No earthly reason to play him.
 

lexrageorge

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If the guy needs hip surgery, they should have just gotten out ahead of it and shut him down. Then there’s no BS media speculation, no keeping him in a game when he obviously can’t move. It was coaching malpractice.
But Rask was fine when he returned and was outstanding for the Capitals series. Seems to indicate that with proper management there was real hope he could play through it, which he did until he couldn't. The problem wasn't shutting him down in March; it was starting him in Games 5 and 6, a decision that did not have to be made as there was a clear alternative.
 

cshea

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Recovery time on a torn labrum is 6-months. So if Rask is back he won't be ready to play until January/February.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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But Rask was fine when he returned and was outstanding for the Capitals series. Seems to indicate that with proper management there was real hope he could play through it, which he did until he couldn't. The problem wasn't shutting him down in March; it was starting him in Games 5 and 6, a decision that did not have to be made as there was a clear alternative.
On second thought, you’re right. He was managing it up until game 4 when he obviously aggravated it again. The real malpractice was starting him in games 5/6. Cassidy at that point should’ve pulled him and made it clear to the media that he wasn’t healthy enough to play, coaches decision.
 

Ferm Sheller

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The implications of Rask's situation:

I think it's good news that Rask wants to play another season, and to play only for Boston. It means that they do not have to start the season with 2 unproven youngsters (a recipe for disaster if neither one is ready). It means that they do not have to go and find a veteran. They can probably sign him for relatively short money, and LTIR him until February. Still leaves plenty of cap room to retool the middle 6 forwards and add a defenseman.

No real issue with starting Rask up until Game 5. He had played well up to that point, including an outstanding series against the Capitals. But if they didn't have the confidence to start Swayman Games 5 and 6 when it was clear that Rask was going to be immobile, then he shouldn't have been on the playoff roster in the first place.
Well, if Tuukka's out until February and they're not going to acquire a veteran, then it does mean that they'll have to start the season with 2 unproven rookies.
 

IronManny

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I know it's a pipe dream. But fuck it, I need something to take my mind off the Bruins choking in game 6.

Imagine the Bruins with Eichel? It's not impossible. Just improbable.

If they don't bring back Krejci. If they don't bring back Ritchie. If Tuukka retires. They have the cap space. This is where Don Sweeney has actually excelled. Reasonable contracts for Pasta, and Marchand, and Bergeron have given the Bruins a pretty favorable cap situation.

Also, I don't think the package for Eichel is going to be insane. 1.) He's injured. 2.) Everyone knows he wants out.

Pasta / Bergeron / Marchand
Hall / Eichel / Smith
Frederick / Coyle / Kase
Kuhlman / Wagner / ???

I'm assuming DeBrusk gets dealt. Maybe in the Eichel deal. Maybe for a 4th line RWer who can bring something a little different. But I imagine Buffalo is going to want both NHL ready now players, and futures. So sending DeBrusk, maybe Studnicka or Steen or Beecher or Lohrei, maybe Vaak, and a couple of 1sts or a 1st and 2nd.

Again, it's a pipe dream. But damn if that team doesn't immediately become a Cup favorite over night.
Marchand / Bergeron / Pastrnak
Hall / Eichel / Smith
Frederick / Coyle / Kase
??? / Wagner / Kuhlman

You have some of your left/right wings mixed up. Fixed it up for you above. One issue is that Kase really needs to be replaced with ???. Sadly I don't think we can even pencil him in, he's only played 9 games over the past two seasons. One of the Bruins biggest problems in the postseason was getting anything at all out of the bottom two lines, I think doing anything like this for Eichel would completely wipe out the bottom 6.
 

RIFan

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I'm sure Rask's agent loved that press conference. Good for the Bruins. If they can sign him for around $4.5M and LTIR for half the season they can pickup $5M or more in cap space. Depending on the market for Halak they could bring him back as a camp invite as insurance. I think Halak will have better offers, but they'll probably keep in touch.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I'm sure Rask's agent loved that press conference. Good for the Bruins. If they can sign him for around $4.5M and LTIR for half the season they can pickup $5M or more in cap space. Depending on the market for Halak they could bring him back as a camp invite as insurance. I think Halak will have better offers, but they'll probably keep in touch.
Halak stinks. I'd rather they move on.
 

RSN Diaspora

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I made the mistake of reading the comments on WEEI's Facebook post about Tuukka's injury. I'm starting to wonder if there's an NHL fan base I hate more than ours.
 

RIFan

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Pasta / Bergeron / Marchand
Hall / Eichel / Smith
Frederick / Coyle / Kase
Kuhlman / Wagner / ???
Curtis Lazar is signed for $800K. I suppose he could be traded back in an Eichel deal, but Buffalo gave him away for basically nothing so I don't think he moves the needle on a package to get Eichel. They could possibly move him to RW, but he's going to be in the lineup.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Hall "sees a fit" and "doesn't care about maximizing his value"

:kitty:
Hopefully this isn't "I only care about winning" part 2.

Marchand / Bergeron / Pastrnak
Hall / Eichel / Smith
Frederick / Coyle / Kase
??? / Wagner / Kuhlman

You have some of your left/right wings mixed up. Fixed it up for you above. One issue is that Kase really needs to be replaced with ???. Sadly I don't think we can even pencil him in, he's only played 9 games over the past two seasons. One of the Bruins biggest problems in the postseason was getting anything at all out of the bottom two lines, I think doing anything like this for Eichel would completely wipe out the bottom 6.
On the other hand, if building an elite 2nd line wipes out a bottom 6 that did nothing anyway, then how much do you really lose by going dirt cheap and young and seeing what happens?
 

ColdSoxPack

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So when Cassidy said "Tuukka's healthy, he is reedy to go", what he meant to say was, "Tuukka has a torn labrum, requiring surgery, he can't play, next man up, Swayman is in net tonight".
 

kenneycb

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If he was going to play him what would you prefer he say? "Our goalie is injured and can't go side to side due to a hip injury but I'm still planning on playing him. Definitely don't use that information Islanders players though."
 

burstnbloom

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I made the mistake of reading the comments on WEEI's Facebook post about Tuukka's injury. I'm starting to wonder if there's an NHL fan base I hate more than ours.
Its a tie with the leafs for me but as I get older I find myself hating bruins fans more.

The news on Rask is interesting from a roster building standpoint. It seems likely he signs a 1 year deal at short money right? The Bruins would be foolish to commit multi-years to pay for him to rehab and hopefully be good, but they'd also be foolish to leave it up to chance. I'd pay him $3m to rehab, LTIR him until Feb and consider him a deadline acquisition. So do they start Swayman and Vladar? That is terrifying. I woder if they sign a guy like big save Dave or Reimer to be Swayman's partner. Short money, fungible but reliable veteran.

I really think they can reload this team and keep everyone on short money and still have some room to add. I just wish they had some prospects worth trading.
 

burstnbloom

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Eh wake me up when Bruins fans call the cops on a hard hit or attempt to assault the commissioner over a suspension.
It used to be habs fans, for sure. But their relevance in all of our lives has dropped significantly in the last few years so I can't give them the same hate I used to. They will be back.
 

TFP

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So when Cassidy said "Tuukka's healthy, he is reedy to go", what he meant to say was, "Tuukka has a torn labrum, requiring surgery, he can't play, next man up, Swayman is in net tonight".
When Cassidy said "Tuukka is ready to go" he meant "Tuukka is ready to go".

Tuukka was clearly capable of playing Game 6, and he played fine. The defense gift wrapped 4 goals for them, 3 of which Tuukka had zero chance on (a save on the breakaway would have been nice). He's had a torn labrum literally all season and has played through it. So yes - he was ready to go.

The clamoring for a guy who's played 20 mins of playoff hockey and got beat on the first shot he faced is wild. You can second guess the decision but acting like it was a sin against humanity is just absurd. It was probably a 50/50 play and he went with the guy the whole team was behind and has been at worst the 2nd best goalie in recent franchise history (after Cheevers). I'm not going to kill Cassidy for it especially in a game they got so thoroughly outplayed otherwise.

Team loss, and well deserved.
 

jezza1918

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When Cassidy said "Tuukka is ready to go" he meant "Tuukka is ready to go".

Tuukka was clearly capable of playing Game 6, and he played fine. The defense gift wrapped 4 goals for them, 3 of which Tuukka had zero chance on (a save on the breakaway would have been nice). He's had a torn labrum literally all season and has played through it. So yes - he was ready to go.

The clamoring for a guy who's played 20 mins of playoff hockey and got beat on the first shot he faced is wild. You can second guess the decision but acting like it was a sin against humanity is just absurd. It was probably a 50/50 play and he went with the guy the whole team was behind and has been at worst the 2nd best goalie in recent franchise history (after Cheevers). I'm not going to kill Cassidy for it especially in a game they got so thoroughly outplayed otherwise.

Team loss, and well deserved.
This is all true, and what I've come around to (for now anyway, I've done about seven 180s the last 36 hours). The only thing I'm wondering, in hindsight obviously, is whether or not playing Swayman for a game here and there would have been the right move from a risk/reward standpoint. Especially given how they treated him during the season. He played 24 games in about 3 months during the regular season, and 8 games down the stretch in 25 days. Playoffs he played 11 in 25 days. The risk of playing Swayman is clearly a large one, but maybe the payoff of having a healthier Rask is worth it. Not conventional, but then again neither is trying to make a Cup run with a goalie who has a torn labrum.
Either way, I admit that I very much felt like the bolded when the news dropped this morning, but now am very much on board with your line of thought and reasoning (50/50, 2nd best goalie, etc etc).
 

TFP

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The only thing I'm wondering, in hindsight obviously, is whether or not playing Swayman for a game here and there would have been the right move from a risk/reward standpoint.
This is a very fair question to ask. and I'm honestly not sure the right answer there.
 

jezza1918

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This is a very fair question to ask. and I'm honestly not sure the right answer there.
That's because there isn't a right answer. Despite what the Mike Felger's of the world want you to think...off this board I text regularly with a couple groups that includes 7-8 (relatively speaking) legit, amateur hockey players. And it's pretty much a split decision amongst that group as well.
 

cshea

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