Team: 2021-22 Boston Bruins

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 22, 2022

Published: Feb. 22, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The Bruins biggest need long-term is a top-pair LHD and their biggest need short-term is a RW for the top line that allows Pastrnak to stay with Hall and Smith to stay with Coyle. The only real option for one-stop shopping is Arizona, who is looking to sell Chychrun and Kessell, a dynamic young LHD who is just having a down year on a terrible team and a veteran star RW who has familiarity with the Bruins. The price to get both (plus some bottom-six depth in Larsson) would be exorbitant, but not impossible.

More than anything, the Yotes want draft picks. Recent trades have shown that. In this deal they get one locked-in first rounder, likely two firsts and a second, and potentially three firsts. Meanwhile, the Bruins have some security if everything falls apart. They are locked into a playoff spot this year, but if for some reason they miss next year and/or the year before, they retain the first-rounders they would need to start the rebuild. They also keep their two top prospects in Lysell and Lohrei, both of whom could push for NHL action as early as next year. That's not to say they don't lose other good piece though, as Steen has shown he can be an NHL regular this season and Olson is a leading scorer for one of the best teams in college hockey.

Arizona has said that they are happy to continue taking on salary, but only for the right caliber of player and not just the Andrew Ladd cap dumps of the world. DeBrusk and Moore fit the bill. DeBrusk is young and had shown potential, but the QO offer he is owed is well beyond what he is worth right now, except maybe to a team like the Yotes with cap room and top-six ice time to spare. Moore has never been as bad as his usage in Boston makes it seem. He's obviously overpaid, but is a roster player nonetheless in Arizona. The team also nabs Clifton, who is NHL starter material for some teams but in my opinion is starting to wear out his welcome in Boston and would play behind lefties Vaakanainen and Zboril at RD3 next season if not moved.

Yes, the Bruins possibly give up three first-round picks, but only if they win a Stanley Cup. That's a trade-off worth taking. Chychrun and Kessel make the Bs a legitimate contender this season and a Chycrun-McAvoy pairing could be elite for a long time, making the post-Bergeron era transition easier once it arrives. Even if you don't win a Cup but make the playoffs all three years, would giving up two firsts and a second for Chychrun long-term, a top-flight rental in Kessel, and moving Moore's contract really be an overpay? I don't think so.

This also works cap wise. The B's can add $6.7MM in full-year salary at the deadline and the offsetting salaries in this deal adds just $5.8. Which means the B's also have just enough cap space and roster spot to make up for the depth losses on D of Clifton and Moore by adding Pysyk.

Coyotes 2022-23 Lineup (w/o any UFA or trade additions)

DeBrusk-Schmaltz-Keller
Crouse-Hayton-Guenther
Ladd-Boyd-Steen
Ritchie-Fischer-Carcone
Jenik

Gostisbehere-Timmins
Moser-Clifton
Moore-Mayo
Capobianco/Soderstrom

Vejmelka
Prosvetov

Is it great? No. Is it better than this year? Clearly. With a couple off-season additions they could have the semblance of an actual team given the influx of depth and youth from Boston.

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