Team: 2022-23 Boston Bruins

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 27, 2022

Published: Jul. 27, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Anaheim needs to add salary and get three good players who don't have clear spots on the Bruins roster, especially given the cap crunch, and won't clear waivers. Reilly is probably worth a 3rd as a reliable starter, Steen a 4th or 5th as a younger, upside forward, and Nosek is a great defensive forward but his poor production and cap hit make him worth closer to a 6th or 7th. Add all of that together and account for the Ducks' needs and the B's get their 2nd rounder back.

Bergeron and Krejci sign for $2.25MM base + $2.75MM bonus
Kessel signs for $1.75MM base + $2.5MM bonus

Kessel can fill in for Marchand on the top line early in the season and then bounce around the lineup as an injury sub or to provide an offense boost as needed. Under Montgomery, he could thrive regardless of where he plays, especially with a regular PP role. If the team stays healthy and he settles in on a line with some combination of Foligno, Studnicka, Frederic, or other Providence standouts, that could act more as a third scoring line with Zacha-Coyle-Smith being the shutdown line. It would be refreshing to see the Bruins roll out four lines that can score. Even with the limited cap space, there is room for any of the Providence defenders to be the No. 8. As a righty and offensive D, Carrick makes sense as the first option but Ahcan, Renouf, or others could get a chance or perhaps a PTO makes the team on a veteran minimum deal. Regardless, once the team is healthy with Marchand, McAvoy, and Grz back and out of LTIR, being under the cap allows them to start accruing space to either make a deadline move or to cover some of their bonuses.

Opening Night Lineup:
DeBrusk-Bergeron-Kessel
Hall-Krejci-Pastrnak
Zacha-Coyle-Smith
Frederic-Studnicka-Foligno
McLaughlin/Wagner

Lindholm-Carlo
Zboril-Clifton
Forbort-Carrick
Ahcan

Swayman
Ullmark