Lenny7
Joined: Jan. 2017
Posts: 13,291
Likes: 11,051
Non-Bruins fan here, but Boston can, and absolutely matches though...they can go over the cap in the offseason, so they'd simply turn around and do what they'll inevitably have to do anyway, which is trim a couple of contracts (Forbort? Grzelcyk? Hall?). Obviously it stings a bit, but they absolutely match this.
As for Laf? Go ahead and OS him. You're likely looking at a Kotkaniemi type offer to get him to accept and the Rangers to not match, which means you've gotta get your 3rd rounder in 2024 back from Chicago. After that? Well...are you sure you've improved enough (without Swayman) to not be a lotto team again?