Above is an option (including the two most recent signings of Kevin Miller and Seth Griffith at their new contracts. Even I have mixed feelings about this roster and am not sure what the next move is- which to start the season may not be a bad thing.

Biggest Benefits:
-> LOTS of cap space- gives you room at the deadline to take on ALMOST any contract of someone who might be available
-> the following season- the cap SHOULD be increasing even just a little which would add to the $24 million cap space you'll have to sign the 7-10 players you'll need to fill in roster
->gives you a season to see what some younger guys can do at NHL level
-> you still have $8.9 million in cap space- allows you to reach for a guy like Okposo, Yandle, Backstrom, DeKeyser, Eriksson, or Versteeg etc you can (even a guy like Stampkos could get paid if you change a few things up- ei use Subban/McIntyre to back up Rask instead of a proven veteran who costs more, this is a bigger gamble but still an option)

Worst Drawbacks:
-> potential HUGE holes on the 3rd and 4th lines
-> huge question: will you compete for a playoff spot?? Possibly (very probable) not
-> this seasons $8.95 million in cap space is 1/3 of your cap space for the following season- do you spend it on a single guy and limit yourself the following season?

Looking to have discussions on the other potential options and positives and negatives.

I think this roster is what we will see come opening night. MAYBE you see them re-sign Stempniak in place of Griffith, but I don't see big fire works this offseason like I hoped for after they went and resigned Kevan Miller to such a brutal contract. I feel we will see 'more of the same,' from management and results on the ice...Actually, it will get worse on ice.

That defensive core has bottom 10 potential. This roster could very well push for a bottom spot in the league (and a top 8 pick). I think this team/management group need a first real season of total suck hockey that they haven't had in a long time. Last two years have been mediocrity-central. They need a season where they are completely out of it come March, and HAVE to sell at the deadline, instead of trade assets for useless plug-ins like Stempniak (could have signed him for nothing) and JML (a good Number 6/7 on a playoff contending team).

I personally feel Sweeney and Neely need to go. This has, "old boys club," written all over it. Kind of like what Edmonton suffered through before they hired Chiarelli to try and fix things.

Now, the cap space is nice, but with this roster, they won't need it. This team will not compete for a playoff spot. If they somehow do, we will see them miss and land at #14 once again, sitting in mediocrity land.

I wouldn't totally hate a resigning of Stempniak because he played well with Marchand and Bergeron when he got here after the trade and he gives you a good penalty killer.

You may be mediocre to start the season but you'll know where you're weak and where to improve at the deadline.
If you get a defenseman like Versteeg, DeKeyser, or Trouba (JUST EXAMPLES) then you'll know forwards will be your deadline focus. All these guys are RFAs so you need to make sure you have the right draft pick to sign them but you can make them offers their current teams can't match.
You'll have prospects and picks to acquire someone at the deadline if you're in the midst of a playoff spot like you were last season at that time.

You could go into a full tank mode for a season. Trade with Wild (for instance, team I know best) for Scandella, take on Vanek contract for a year, and pay less than full price for Scandella. Lockup you FA's during the season, trade whatever isn't in the longterm plans at the deadline (i.e Vanek). And the kids get to grow up some and make the mistakes to get better.

Or you could trade: Spooner, picks, bucket of pucks, ect... to the Wild for Scandella and Zucker.

Being on the edge of playoff race another year is almost worse than being out of it (again the Wild could be any team/s for trades).

Bruins would never go full tank mode for even a season. Too much of a hockey market and the Jacobs family lives and breaths off their home playoff games (even for just one round) if Boston doesn't make the playoffs this season it's pretty widely thought that Julien, Sweeney, and even Neely would be out of work come next season.
If ever was a time for full blown tank would have been when they had veterans who were worth something.

I would say there is no chance they start the season with $8+ mill in cap space. Neely/Sweeney/Julien are feeling the pressure to win next year. I expect them to make at least one big signing and a trade. Even if it harms them for the 2017-18 season.

I would think no team should be entering a season with that much cap space. Maybe 3-4 million at most. The question with this scenario though becomes what move(s) to make next?

Trouba for a long term high paying deal might make the most sense if you have the proper draft picks to compensate In return. But if you can sign both Versteeg and DeKeyser doesn't that help too? Just differently? Team chemistry becomes a factor too. I can't answer that question.

I don't see Winnipeg giving up Trouba for draft picks. I actually don't see the Bruins being able to pull off a trade for Trouba. Winnipeg has plenty of cap space to resign him, so I think they would need to be blown away by an offer, in which case, it would mean the Bruins lost the trade.

Minnesota looks primed to move either Brodin or Dumba. Especially if Minnesota gets Okposo. You could see one of those young dmen packaged with Vanek or Pominville to make room for Okposo.

The problem with those two players is their term sucks as well as the salary (cap hit). Unless Minny retains 50% of those salaries, they just aren't worth it to a team like the Bruins to take on. I also don't think that Minnesota will really add a stud defenseman in Brodin/Dumba to get rid of one of them.

meh, Vanek is a 1-year deal (expensive but still a 40+ wing). Pommer is 3 more years (brutal if his output is the same as last year). I hope Wild don't sign Okposo, too much for too long contract, that breaks them long-term cap-wise.

Brodin, Scandella, Spurgeon, Dumba (maybe) will be on the block for a center (imo).

A Spooner for Brodin swap seems to fit both teams pretty well.

Trouba would be obtained by draft picks because he is a Restricted Free Agent and Winnipeg would have to match or beat any offer he gets in order to retain him. The problem is that Winnipeg has a lot of room with their cap too so they could match the offer. The problem would be for Winnipeg when it comes to signing everyone else they need for their roster. The deal would have to be so ridiculous it's better for Winnipeg to let him go for the picks. I don't think he's worth doing that for. The Bruins could use the money to do so many other things.