Team: 2020-21 Boston Bruins

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 12, 2021

Published: Apr. 12, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I wanted Hall this summer and I've wanted to buy low all season. Love the trade value, especially with Lazar thrown in (who in my opinion is better than Bjork). I don't mind the Reilly trade, but I see him as 5/6/7 guy on this team. With all of the current blue line injuries and every game being important down the stretch, I think the B's need another D and specifically a D-first guy who can play top-four minutes.

In projecting this lineup, I'm being optimistic that Kase can return, but if he can't that's even more LTIR cap space that the team could use. For now though, the B's have less than $1MM to use to make the cap work in the long run with Moore going on LTIR and everyone else getting healthy (probably even less with so many current short-term injuries). Fortunately, the target I have in mind is an affordable one.

Kulikov has quietly had a great year in New Jersey. Playing top-four minutes, putting up good possession numbers, and playing his typical sound defensive game, Kulikov is a safe acquisition at a minimal cap hit. By adding Tinordi into the deal, the salary expenditure is close to zero. This would be a great way for Sweeney to wrap up the deadline in my opinion. And the Devils will accept because a) anything is a net gain for a one-year, low-salary rental chip on a losing team and b) they are short of the Expansion Draft exposure quota at forward. Kuhlman just needs nine games and he can fill the quota. He will have more opportunity in New Jersey as well.