BreKel
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,537
Likes: 460
Is a mock of what you think will happen next season or what you would do? Kind of changes how I'd view this. I'll just assume that it's a mock of what will happen:
I don't see how Chara isn't back next year. He's still able to play at a top 4 level and will come in around what, 4-5M AAV for a year or two (max)? No way Boston lets him walk. He will retire a Bruin, and it isn't happening after this season ends. Sub Chara in for De Haan.
Switch McAvoy and Carlo. McAvoy is this team's top defenseman and will play on the top pair from here on out. Carlo is best served as a 2nd pairing guy. If you're trying to do this based off complimenting the other partner, fine...Switch the pairings completely (DeHaan/McAvoy -- Krug/Carlo). Krug/Carlo is not a top pairing on a winning team.
Czarnik and McQuaid trades are fine, regardless. McQuaid could very well be a cap move this off-season.
Zboril isn't a 7th defenseman. He needs to be playing full-time. Whether that's in Boston or Providence, sitting him just doesn't make sense, which is what he'd be doing more as a #7.
The bottom 6 is blah. Riley Nash more than likely prices himself out of Boston. As good as he has been this year, 2M wouldn't be a great move for the Bruins. They're going to need as much cap space as possible moving forward with all their young players. I see him getting more anyway.
Of your 4th line, only JFK makes sense there. The other two are skilled players. Bruins have yet to go with a skilled 4th line, and I don't see that changing. Kuraly is a good 4th liner who will come cheap, and I would prefer he comes back cheap in a 4th line role. I would slide up JFK or Donato to the 3rd line center, and switch Backes and Heinen. Danton has proved this season to be a top 6 forward and should be given a shot, if they don't re-sign Rick Nash or another veteran type top 6 forward.
My forward lineup:
Marchand -- Bergeron -- Pastrnak
DeBrusk -- Krejci -- Heinen
Bjork -- JFK -- Backes
Schaller -- Kuraly -- Acciari
If Donato signs, he may very well find himself somewhere in the above lineup, but he would need to show he's NHL ready. Until then, he starts in the AHL learning the pro game like Heinen, DeBrusk, and JFK did. Bjork may very well start in the AHL next year, as his season was derailed by injuries. However, if healthy, I'd give him the look at this point.