I would probably help them even more if Gauthier were available

Does the 2024 Boston pick have any top 10 protections on it?

It is top 10 protected, yes. Does that protection matter on the Boston pick? Probably not

It kind of does. They're loaded to win this year. If they win the cup, I could easily see Bergeron and Krejci retiring.

Given the protection on the Boston pick the Flyers would have to decline. Other's will pay for Konecny. He's the one chip that if they do trade has to be for the maximum return even if they have to retain and take salary back to get it.

Bergeron and Krejci are not the only reason they're on such a tear, though they do play a significant role. I just can't see Boston going from where they are this year to a bottom 10 team next year unless *a lot* goes wrong.

You're right they're not the only reason. But they anchor the center position for that team. Take away any team's top 2 centers and they will plummet. I suspect that Bergeron and Krejci retiring will also cause other pending UFA's to go looking for top dollar elsewhere. The Bruins have a lot of pending UFA's. They've also just locked up Pasta for almost double what he makes this season. Not that he's not worth it but it causes an issue for their cap as well.

I don't disagree. I could see ROR coming in as a C to chase the Cup, and he would be relatively cheap. Beyond that it's a weak FA class, but ROR would certainly help.

I'm sorry but thinking Boston could drop into the bottom 10 next season is just silly. Boston has 9 regulation losses and the next closest team is 9 points back and the next closest in conference is 17 points back. They currently have a +104 goal differential and Carolina with +59 and NJD with +53 are the closest. You don't put up numbers like this based on 2 players. If that were the case then why hasn't Edmonton had season like this? They have had arguably the 2 of the best players in the world for 7 seasons. Now yes losing Bergeron and Krejci will hurt but moving Coyle into the 2C spot and you probably won't even notice Krejci is gone.