But no reason for CBJ or Washington to do those trades.

If he (and all the other UFAs) don't come back, you don't add Gudas/Hayes to end up with a mediocre team. Also, Hayes isn't a 1C and will regress so you're wasting assets.

I don't disagree with you. If Bergeron doesn't come back this team is going to be extremely mediocre no matter what you do. If you sell off in order to get cap space and assets for a true 1C, the rest of the team is going to be terrible. Or you go out and get another top 6 center with a reasonable cap hit (doesn't have to be Hayes) and hope that Zacha and the other 1/2C can make it work.

Bergeron not coming back means a bleak few years for Boston. Personally I would try to do a quick 1-2 year re-tool, hope you can get a top 10-15 1st rounder and let Harrison, Poitras, Kuntar and Beecher develop and cross your fingers you have a top 6 center in one of them. But Don Sweeney is probably not the best GM to pull that off.

Burgeron will be back. Besides, what makes u think Hayes is a near adequate replacement?

Hayes value is ok. Goalie prospect isn’t necessary. Think we’d want a better prospect and 1 less pick. Hayes for 3 years at 4.5 mill should net something solid for sure.

Take the Hayes $$$ and give it to Bergy for ____ Sake!
It's the B's 100th anniversary - he'll be back as the 100-yr Captain booyah...!

Completely fine with the WSH and CBJ trades, but not much reason for either of them to do those.

Philly deal is the opposite. Hayes is garbage and not even close to a 1C, would ratehr give Zacha the opportunity and spend $ elsewhere.

Really like the Gudas signing although maybe more than 1 year would be better and stick him with Lohrei for his ELC to give him a strong defensive veteran partner so that Lohrei can tap into his offensive skillset for his first couple seasons.