This will easily be my most unrealistic mock for the offseason. I do think it's interesting that you could theoretically ice a pretty solid team if the Bruins could shed some contracts. I don't think any of the moves are unrealistic, more-so all of it happening in one offseason. I'll take the backlash from you guys haha. A year later you'd roughly be looking at 12-13M (didn't factor in a potential cap increase) to re-sign Fowler and find some bottom 6 players. Obviously this lineup has some fire power, but the left side is pretty unknown and boom or bust. That defense would be a lot of fun to watch though. Have at it haha

Oshie is a bad contract. Your trades are nice, but Fowler won't go for that little. Plus if you get Fowler you will be cap poor after next season as you have $60M tied already for 2018-19 and Fowler needing a contract, plus Riley Nash and you will only have $6M after you sign Fowler for $7M to spend on Nash and 4 more.

1) I think it's slated to go up 1 mil so you're right there. I think they were talking about a 2 mil increase but players don't want that because of the escrow involved so I think a 1 mil increase is pretty realistic.
2) McQuaid is a pretty good fit for Dallas especially if he ends out being partnered with Lindell or Honka. Idk if they accept a 3rd but I think a pick gets it done.
3) Steep price for Beleskey but I honestly think that's their only option. No other team would want to take Beleskey on.
4) Fowler's a pretty good move but by the sounds of it they're shopping Vatanen 1st so we'll see
5) I think Hayes goes for nothing as a waiver claim
6) Pretty crazy that enough cap was free'd up for Oshie. Good signing but makes me worried about a few years down the line with McAvoy, Carlo, Fowler needing to be signed even though Chara would be coming off the cap. If Bruins want a cheaper 2 year option I say they go with Sharp but thats just my opinion.

What do you think Fowler is going to get in a trade? That deal is giving them a top end LHD prospect, a 1st, and two forwards with some upside (one being a 40-50 point centerman in the NHL). So 7M to sign Fowler, and then 6M to replace 2 4th line forwards? I doubt Kuraly (if he had a good season) would break the bank much. Nash is replaceable. The Bruins have guys in their system who could come up and fill his role the year after this, or just sign another cheap bottom 6 forward for under 1M. Then the remaining spots are a bottom 6 defenseman (once again, a position that can be filled in-house) and two extra players (1D and 1F) -- two positions that arent' back breakers.

Oshie isn't a great contract down the road, but he's still a very good player who could fit with Bergeron and Marchand perfectly. He'd be 35 at the time that deal ends. Is his game really going to fall off a cliff by then?

Seems like you're commenting without much knowledge on the Bruins. 6M isn't a lot to replace the pieces they'd need after this hypothetical season.

Yeah I went for the "big fish" winger for the offseason. I'd easily settle for a cheaper veteran option and save some money down the road. Wonder what Justin Williams gets? He'd be an even better fit.

That's another guy in the same "genre" yea. I think he'll get a bit more than Sharp because he's been pretty healthy for the past couple years and depending on if he's "Mr. Game 7" this playoffs again will only increase his value.

What I'm talking about is their cap situation that YOU are putting them in.

You will have next year $50M tied into 7 guys and if you get Fowler for let's say $6M, you're at $56M for 8 players, you still need 14 players and only have $17M of cap space, you have top guys and bottom guys and nothing in the middle.

@Dragongrave

Cap situation would be tight but Oshie doesn't need to be the guy signed in that case. Could easily go out and sign a vet RW for 2 years like Sharp, Williams, Marleau.

Agreed. Just saying what he has done will screw up their cap going forward.

Oshie is going to be the big winner in free agency, the team that signs him will be the big loser because they will be the next Eriksson.

I think that could be true. Only time will tell but you're right, he could be the next Eriksson.

Signing a 30 year old to a 5-7 year deal for $6M per year always works well. Eriksson, Clarkson, and so many earned those deals, lol.

The one thing I'll give Oshie is that he's actually willing to give more to win than Erikkson does so I mean signing him would be good the first year for a team actually competing but other than that it's just going to be a bad situation.

So why put yourself in that situation if you're Boston? Makes no sense.

Once again I agree that the veteran root is probably better.

I like the Justin Williams idea, he's older and will cost you less $$ and less time.

I think he'd be a pretty good fit with the Bruins. Only issue is his contract will depend on how much more success he has in this playoffs right, so he's one we'll have to wait and see.

True.

I like the shedding of salary and aggressiveness to obtain a top pair LHD that can play with McAvoy. While Oshie would help short term I would rather see them sign vets in the 2-3M range for 1-2 years so B's have flexibility till the kids are ready like Debrusk, Senyshyn, Heinen, Cehlarik, and Bjork. Maybe Stafford, Vrbata, Vanek, etc. I really like RFA LW Tanner Pearson with the Kings or try to pry Coyle from the Wild who might take futures to alleviate cap crunch. Should be a fun offseason.

I like the idea behind it. I'm think I'd stay away from Oshie for that cap hit. I think the Fowler deal is close for a guy whose a UFA next season. Probably would have to swap out someone like Spooner for DeBrusk, but all in all not bad.

Yeah after signing Oshie I realized the Bruins could get better "bang for their buck" signing a veteran for cheaper and less term.

Thanks for the feedback.

True, but your cap will always be messed up and any "kids" that become stars you won't have the $$ to sign them.

If the Bruins went cheaper in this mock instead of Oshie how would the cap still be messed up? They don't have to worry about bigger pieces like Carlo and McAvoy until 2 years from this. Cap will go up and players deals will be up. Bruins have a deep system and they'll be able to continue to implement young players in the system.

I like it