Every line has a young player on it, with two veterans to cover for them (and their mistkes), and allow us to roll 3 consistent lines that should be able to produce offensively, and be solid in their own end. Lineup, has a lot of versatility in it. Backes starts games as your #3 center (but still gets solid minutes with EV, PP, and PK) and is easily slid up and down the lineup (C --> RW) if needed. With Austin Czarnik winning a spot as the 4th line RW, he is able to get his feet wet a bit, and is a threat to easily slide up into a #3 center spot when Backes is moved up. Riley Nash is also an option to do that (solid numbers playing with a offensively lacking Carolina team).

Defensively, it's not going to be perfect. Hell, the chances of the Bruins even getting a top 4 defenseman (Trouba, Ceci, Shattenkirk, Dumba, Brodin, etc.) is getting slimmer by the day. But for the purpose of the mock, the Bruins acquire a young promising defenseman from Ottawa in Cody Ceci. Ceci has shown solid all around potential, while starting off a lot in the defensive zone. He is very Boychuk-esque. Solid skater, moves the puck well, can play physical, and has a nice shot. Right handed, and would be a solid partner for either, Chara or Krug. With that said, have to spread out the defense a bit. A Chara-Ceci pairing would be too top heavy, imo. Krug can't cover for Colin Miller also (and I don't want Kevan Miller in the top 4). Now, with this mock (as well as some other's I've done) the Bruins have plenty of in-house options in case injuries, or failures happen. If Colin doesn't work out, or Kevan gets hurt, Brandon Carlo should be the #1 call up for the right side. Many ways you can go with that..... Ceci up to #2, Carlo to #4 (or #6 -- Kevan sliding up) or Carlo straight to #6 if Kevan gets hurt...Did i lose you yet? lol....

On the left side, the Bruins prime candidates are Matt Grzelcyk, Linus Arnesson, and (my personal favorite) Robert O'Gara. JML can also play both sides, so if needed, you could leave Carlo in the minors, slide him up (or over) and call up/play one of the two mentioned.

except you traded Joe morrow but have him in your lineup......... krug and Ceci is not a pairing you'll see CJ ever use.... C miller would play 3rd pairing and Ceci may move up to play with chara and K miller would play with krug.

Yeah, i took him out.

Ceci has proven to be a good player in his own zone. Not sure why you think that wouldn't be a pairing CJ would use.

I don't really understand this. Unless your basic reasoning is Spooner can't play wing I see no reason to trade him, especially for a guy who could be our # 6 in 2 years. Carlo, Zboril, Lauzon, O'Gara, McAvoy, Lindgren, could all end up better than Ceci. Then factor in Grzlyck, Benning, Arnesson and Sherman. We have zero need for a young dman.

Well for one, no... I don't think Spooner can play wing. He plays LW for one (when he does), and we have Marchand, Beleskey, Vatrano right now (and hell, who knows; may add Vesey). So no room there. He's not a top 6 winger (playing his off side). So he's expendable. You trade him for a similar young defenseman. Cody Ceci is jus that. He's exactly what this team needs. Right Shot, plays sound defense, can skate and transition, and give you offense. He's 22 years old.... You wouldn't trade Spooner for a legit top 4 (young) dman b/c of our system? That is flawed logic.

"I don't want to trade for a proven player because we have a lot of maybe's in the system." For one, who says any of those guys turn into top 4 defenseman (which Ceci already is)? It is not a given at all. Out of the players you listed, I think Carlo, McAvoy, Lauzon, and Zboril have legit top 4 potential. Lindgren is right there, but lets see how he fares in his first college season.

I love O'Gara, but he (at least right now) looks more like a solid #5/6 and a guy who you can slide up IF NEEDED (like an Andrew Ference...Not play style, but how the Bruins used him). Grzelcyk -- can't be viewed as anything more than a #5/6 PP specialist (what Krug was). Benning is most likely gone (and isn't anything to write home about). Arnesson maybe is a top 4 guy, but he has zero offense. Probably another #5/6 (if he makes it at all.) Sherman, too far away to make any type of projection.

This Bruins team desperately needs a young top 4 defenseman (For now, and the future...). They really have a need for 2 right now, for Christ's sake. The Bruins right side is Kevan Miller -- Adam McQuaid -- Colin Miller/JML .... And you don't want to trade for a solid young T4D b/c of our system? If any of the above blossom to the point where they're bumping Cody Ceci down to a #6 position, then the Bruins probably hit the lottery.

Now that is what i don't really understand......

Don't see a fit for Hudler in Boston and especially with Krejci and Vesey, too many playmakers with nobody to shoot the puck. Maybe with Marchand and Bergeron as they both like to shoot. Hudlers skating is a minus.

Heinen left school early with his sights on a RW spot this year wouldn't surprise me to see him on the big club by Christmas. Acciari would have last year but got hurt, that's why the Kemp, Rinaldo experiment continued so long and the waiver pickup of Ferraro happened(I believe Czarnik to be the reason Ferraro won't be back). Bruins like signing College FA because they are more mature, they will give them chances early to prove themselves.

Hayes stays to be exposed in the expansion draft(that means no Hudler). McQuaid probably stays for depth on RD. Killer or McQuaid will miss significant time this year, you know it and I know it.

Ceci would be a good fit. Spooner + Morrow + a DP would be an acceptable view for Boston. I'm sure Sens fans would have an eye for Lauzon or Zboril though.

Still think the Bruins need a left handed C/LW in the bottom 6 FWD'S for FO's and PK. I have no clue who it could be. That's their biggest weakness at FWD, plenty of young scoring options.

Maybe Tim Schaller is supposed to be that guy.

We only need a RHD because you traded McQuaid, which isn't likely to happen. Can Carlo play in the AHL this year? If he has to be returned to juniors it is very likely he makes the team. He's not going to get better playing against 17 and 18 year olds when hes already got man strength. I think Carlo is the guy this team needs to play with JML or Krug. As for Spooner, he could easily be 2nd line LW. He's superior or tied with Beleskey in everything but hitting. Vatrano will likely get first shot with Bergeron and Marchand at RW.... the spot he played at last year. If we sign Vesey either him or Spooner will be 3rd LW and Beleskey can play the type of role hes suited for on line #4.

This team needs a RHD b/c Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid aren't top 4 defenseman. This team needs a top 4 RHD. Carlo can play in the AHL.

I don't understand how why so many people put Vatrano with Bergeron and Marchand. SOG last year: Bergeron 282, Marchand 250, Vatrano NHL/AHL 286. They all like to shoot.

Vatrano is the shooter, he didn't play 80 games and still got more. He played with them last year, do you really want Hayes with them or something? We had our chance to sign Stepniak and passed. I don't think we passed planning on Hayes taking top6 RW.

So why not put Vatrano with Krejci, a playmaker, and put Pastrnak, Heinen, Vesey, Backes or Nash with Bergeron and Marchand? Lots of options besides Hayes.

I agree with this a lot. Marchand just scored 37 goals. Is he going to do it again? I doubt it, but he can easily reach 30 if he shoots as much as he did last season. Last year, Marchand had 250 shots. That was the most he's taken in his career (single season wise). So with that, he needs a guy that will get hiim the puck, not another looking 'shot first'.

Krejci is definitely the best pure playmaker on the team, and his passing should work with Vatrano. That said, i wonder if Vatrano's style would fit with Krejci. David is methodical and slow moving when it comes to playing offense. He's not one to go 100 MPH. Vatrano is a fast skilled guy who plays an uptempo game. I'm not saying that they wouldn't work, but I'd want to see how it works out.

Marchand -- Bergeron -- Pastrnak
Vatrano -- Krejci -- Backes

Pastrnak plays a high tempo game also. He and Krejci seemed to have decent chemistry together. Pastrnak still seems like more of a playmaker then scorer to me, so with Vesey signing I'd like to see:

Marchand - Bergeron - Nash/Heinen
Vesey - Krejci - Vatrano/Pastrnak
Beleskey - Backes - Pastrnak/Vatrano
Nash/Heinen - Spooner - Acciari/Hayes

Late game with a close lead Backes would move up to RW.

Nash on the first line is like slitting your wrist and giving up. He's a 4th line or AHL foreward.

Pretty dramatic statement. If Bergeron and Marchand can have career years with Connolly on their wing they can do just fine with Nash. He's not an AHL forward, he's on a one way deal. Nobody signs UFA's to one way deals to play in the AHL. Please at least try to present a compelling counter point when you post. Nash is as good or better then Connolly. I also believe Spooner could play RW on that line, they've had success with left handed RW's before (Smith, Recchi).

You seem very confused as to who played RW with Bergeron and Marchand last year. In this thread alone you've mentioned Stempniak, Spooner and Vatrano playing there. So which is it? I haven't checked but I'm pretty sure Connolly played the most minutes with them. In your last Bruins mock you had Hayes on the first line with Bergeron and Marchand then ridicule the point I made of the poor decision to put 3 shooters on one line with this post.



Try and stay consistent, make accurate points and don't make such outlandish statements if you want to be taken seriously.