Edited Mar. 3, 2022 at 10:25 a.m.
Quoting: CMcAvoy73
Few things that conceptually I think need to be addressed.
The bruins could absolutely be a bottom ten team with McAvoy, Pastrnak, and Swayman. That’s a great start, but without a center in the mix, that’s hardly a gaurantee of being competent. Also, Swayman has been stellar, but he wouldn’t be the first goalie to start off hot and regress quickly.
There’s no guarantees Pastrnak is in a bruins uniform much longer. UFA after next season. If the bruins take a step back next year - very possible, it could make a lot of sense to trade him. Heck, if for some reason (i think there’s next to no shot of this) Bergeron retires in the off-season, it might make sense for the bruins to move him at the draft. Him being a long term part of the core is not guaranteed.
If the plan is to trade for a young center, either a close to NHL ready prospect, or a guy just getting his feet wet in the NHL, there has to be a step taken before that. Fire Cassidy. Cassidy is not a coach thats meant for a retool.
As for as the players you mentioned, I like Hertl. Term scares me with him, but if he can be had for six years, I think the bruins should overpay to address the need. Strome sucks. Trochek is an interesting 2C option, but I think that’s only if you know Bergeron is coming back for the next two seasons.
I kind of like the idea of going old, and setting up for a significant re-tool in two years. Go get pavelski. Similar age to bergeron, and run those two guys as your top six centers. In two years, you’re without any centers, and you take a step or two back. That plan gives the waning year of the marchand/bergeron window a chance, while not committing to contracts for guys until their in their mid-30s.
I agree there are no guarantees that BOS won’t be bottom team in near future but I don’t see It happening, but hey any team can beat you any night in this league and you can go from cup contention to basically bottom tier in a quick minute to do anything is possible but based off what we have in front of us right now, with team we have currently there’s no reason to think BOS will be bottom tier in next 3-5 years safe to say so ya 10 might have been a stretch but still possible
Could be very beneficial for BOS to look at trading Pasta, it’s hard as obviously none of us have the inside scoop, but if there’s any question if he wants to not stay in BOS then he should be Dealt for a very good return. Personal opinion is if BOS approchs him with good offer and a good future plan for cup contention then he has no reason to leave. But again that’s all hypothetical
As for center it’s a tough spot to be in, but I to agree that if Hertl would take 6 year contract that should be the target but I don’t think he does, maybe like you said if they can throw in extra Million a year to take less term then possible for sure.
Signing older UFA is going to hard cause I assume they’re all still going to way 4 year deals so possible ride them for 3 years and flip them at 4th year but sween seems to hand out NMC like it’s candy so that has to be corrected so that they can actually be moved in final year which is going to put some guys off for sure. But same boat as hertl if you can overpay a couple years for less term then that be great. Pavs is option, not sure his worth at C but also Malkin and Giroux this year as 30+ year old UFA’s, then you got next year, Toews out of CHI who’s UFA next year only mention him cause of ChI “supposedly rebuild coming” but with all the conclusions and I’m assuming him wanting to retire in CHI, kinda unlikely, a lot of these older guys are going to want to resign where they currently are so going to be hard.
I think a rebuild is all but guaranteed to be needed here in the next 5years personally, I think that would be best option for longevity, I mean look at the pipeline it’s not good. Few bright spots in Lysell, Lohrei, Harrisson,, few dim bright spots and a lot of just fillers that will probably never be anything
But does BOS do that? Or do they do a half A$€ retool so they stay in the middle of the pack and try to make playoffs every year knowing they aren’t true cup contenders but saving their jobs and for The Jacobs Family $$$$$piggybank$$$$$
Could 1 top 1-2C save the rebuild and turn a retool into a viable option though? Idk, I mean take a 20-24yo top center and slap a young 1LW with him and Pasta up front along with the others and I think you have a playoff team but does it really get you into cup contention? I think could be possible
I to think Butch would have to go for a rebuild as he’s a spectacular coach but doesn’t entrust any young players but maybe if you told him this is the ways it’s going to be and it’s ok to not make the playoffs maybe his coaching style could change, IDK honestly and I’m not 100% sold on sweeny to be honest with you, he’s keeping BOS in the playoffs and that’s his job but is he really the GM you want to setup the future??
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