I don’t think Vancouver gives up on a young 24-year-old defenseman under control for two more years and will be an RFA.
Not to mention, Gavrikov, and Stillman are both LD. Boston has no place to put all that LD goodness on the ice… (Unless Monty is such a mad genius he can break all the rules and have 5 LD’s in the lineup all at once!)

This... isn't impossible. Riley Stillman isn't getting traded, but the Gavrikov to BOS return is somewhat plausible.

Yeah, this is mostly reasonable, but a very late fourth seems a reasonable price to dump Smith’s salary and get back nothing in return. If there were no “charge” to dump Smith, the Bruins would send him and these three picks to CBJ and be done with it.

Blocking out the noise from BOS fans, seems to me Boston needs to just sack up and pay the price to rid themselves of both Smith and Mike Reilly, maybe even Nosek too. Should cost the equivalent of at least a second (I know BOS doesn’t have a 2nd until ‘25…I said equivalent). Is that really too much sacrifice for insurance and wiggle room for the Cup favorites?

*CBJ should target BOS picks in 2025, when Bergeron and Krejci are gone. Higher upside, CBJ already has many recent draftees, and BOS retains more current capital, for the teams and GMs that insist on looking only to the present. Won’t happen because teams insist on looking only to the present.

Bruins perspective: They shouldn't be in on Gavi is this is the price. Which is rumored to be the case. It makes no sense for a number 5 or 6 dman.

Canucks perspective: They aren't trading Stillman in a cap dump move, they essentially paid a second for him remember. Also I don't think a 4th is enough to take that contract. If you swapped the 3rd to CBJ with the 4th to Van then I can see it.

Bruins should NOT be in on Gavrikov as a 5 or 6 (or 7 for the truly delusional) D-man. If they are, then unlike some ‘round these parts, BOS brass see him as a 3 or 4.

Boston has been the most dominant team in the NHL. A less torrid pace or only internally known injury concerns could prompt them to go big game hunting at the deadline. (Or, not giving a darn about putting too much value on picks/prospects when this could be the last chance with Bergeron/Krejci…or last chance to convince them to sign on for another ride.)

Yet that aside, if they believe their players top-to-bottom are as good as I am constantly told, actively PURSUING ••anyone•• should be off the table. BOS sits in position to wait until the eleventh hour, right at the deadline, and take what the market has left to offer. Some GM(s) will be left with UFAs they cannot lose for nothing and be forced to accept what little the Bruins offer.

If the perspective projected here from BOS followers is right, that must be the path. Yet with a deal all but done, we will see.

I replied to you elsewhere, you mostly answered my questions on Gavrikov above. Bruins fans are terrified of the Gryz they saw in playoffs last year, some are idiots and ignore that he was hurt; Sports radio here basically tells you Gryz sucks and is a playoff liability.

I don't agree with that, I think Gryz-McAvoy will stick in the playoffs outside end of game scenarios. But that's the theory.

Very fair, honest, REASONED assessment and analysis. Much appreciated.