Quoting: BreKel
My mistake. I added him to the list. 8 total guys will be RFA’s that year and I usually miss someone when writing it out.
I could see them going a few ways with that 3rd line. Backes to center with Bjork on the RW is a possibility. Personally think Bjork is better off starting in the minors (unless he has a big camp). I think that this season started off well for him, but the injuries set him back. It wouldn’t hurt to have him start in the AHL and get some serious playing time in all situations. Heinen and DeBrusk both benefited from that.
With Grzelcyk, I went back and forth between giving him more money. If he continues to play the way he is, locking him into a 2-2.25M deal for 4 years or so could be a serious steal. He could definitely be a top 4 guy. Khudobin, I could see getting a bit more money as well. Bruins will need to make a decision in net for the back up though. Next year, McIntyre will be waiver eligible and if he doesn’t make the team out of camp, you risk losing him for nothing.
It would benefit Bjork to start in the ahl like you’ve said, but I think he’ll have another great camp. If you were to ask me who to bet on I’d pick Bjork over JFK because he’s already done it once.
As for Khudobin, I don’t think McIntyre has a lot of bearing on the situation if they were willing to pick Khudobin over Subban, then I’m not sure why they’d have a change of heart when given the option of McIntyre instead. If Khudobin will accept Sweeney’s price set for him, then he’ll be the guy for 2 or 3 years imo.
Grzelcyk for 4 years would be nice, but the reason I prefer 2 is that he’s still an rfa, meaning he won’t have as much leverage at 26yrs as he would on a 4yr deal taking him to 28 When he resigns. Also factoring into that is he’ll likely be a better at 28, so his price could go up in that aspect as well. I agree he could make a good top 4 defender and maybe even make Krug expendable if we were to resign Holden (I doubt we will) but how much stronger is a Chára, Krug Grzelcyk unit than Chára, Grezelcyk, Holden unit? If anything Holden gives us better defense while not sacrificing that much puck movement skills. Krug basically leads the team in unhelpful icings every year by not connecting on his stretch passes sometimes. I’m content with keeping Krug, but how genius would it be if Sweeney signed Holden to a 3 x 3 deal and then moved Krug in a deal for a Stud like Mark Stone or even Mike Hoffman?