Bruins are supposedly about to sign Sway to a new deal around 7mil AAV. Love it, good contract IMO that he deserves. But it does mean the writing is on the wall for Ullmark, he needs to get moved between now and the start of next season. 12mil is too much money allocated to goaltending. So if I'm Sweeney I call the Devils and see if they're willing to pivot to Ullmark after the Markstrom deal fell through. Holtz would be tied for top 5 in 5v5 scoring on the bruins rn, if I get a long term piece like him back for Ullmark I'm happy.
From there I'm looking at the rest of the trade market. Bruins biggest need is obviously top 6 centers, but that isn't getting filled at the deadline. And frankly I think Coyle and Zacha can be a good enough top 2 centers to win a round or two if we strength the rest of the roster and Sway gets hot. 2nd biggest need IMO is a LHD that can play big minutes against tough competition to put next to McAvoy. Hanifin is the biggest name to fill that, but he seems like he has his heart set on Tampa. Next best name maybe on the market is Marcus Pettersson, and tbh he might actually be a better fit then Hanifin is. His defensive results are much stronger, and he's a better PKer so we could finally kick Forbort to the curb. Moving Lohrei would suck, but you have probably a 5ish year window where guys like McAvoy, Pasta, etc. are all gonna be in the heart of their primes. Can't afford to be too patient with a work in progress, no matter how high his ceiling is, and I think it's really, really high. So Pens get a young guy with top 4 upside to replace Pettersson, and a future first. With Forbort included as a cap dump.
That gives you enough cap to recall some bodies from Providence. First guy up is Beecher for me, I think his ability at the dot is legitimately missed on the PK and that bringing him back can go a long way towards limiting Marchand's minutes throughout the playoffs since we won't need him killing 2 min on the PK a night. Also I don't think Beecher was nearly as bad as his underlying numbers make it seems, Monty was giving him like 13% ozone starts with lauko and steen as his linemates to start the season, was a self fulfilling prophecy.
After Beecher, I also want to give Regula a look. Based on his play in Prov this season, I think he could be a legit third pair option next season for us, and I want to give him some games to see if he could be a Shattenkirk upgrade right now as well. Plus I think he could be a good partner with Gryz as a bigger defenseman, no harm in trying IMO.
Then I look at the rental market. With Poitras out for the year, I think they need to sure up the center depth a little. No disrespect to Geekie, but being one injury away from him being a top 6 center is kinda terrifying. Wennberg would be one of the few rentals I'd be onboard for, he's good defensively and has a bit more offensive upside then I think he's shown this season cause of how hard his deployment has been. You put him between Freddy and JVR, and I think that's a really good 3rd line.
If the Pens are moving Pettersson I assume it's cause they want to get younger and recoup some assets. Get a promising young LHD to replace him and a future first.
Bruins have been linked to Wenneberg, and I think he's one of the few guys I really wouldn't mind as a rental to sure up our center depth. Have absolutely no idea what he ends up costing though, likely more then this.
Because multiple insiders are stating Dubas is listening to offers for anyone without a full NMC. Which means everyone except Rust, Crosby, Karlsson, Letang, and Malkin. And he should be. Now there are a few that should only be traded for overpayments as they have been good. Pettersson and Jarry are two I would categorize there. And I don't think this is close to an overpayment for Pettersson. Forbort is zero value to PIT. Lohrei is minimal value. The 2025 1st could be good, but doubt another team couldn't beat this offer.
it's rumored the Pens are shopping him I think, could be BS but also if the Pens are doing a legit tear down around their core guys it kinda makes sense too
Hanifin is better but relative to contracts, Pettersson is probably superior value. Much like Buchenevich to Guentzel IMO.
Hanifin is the better offensive player, but I think the difference between Pettersson’s and Hanifin’s defense is a pretty big delta. Petterson is more physical and better at positioning / dispossessing players.
Hanifin is the better offensive player, but I think the difference between Pettersson’s and Hanifin’s defense is a pretty big delta. Petterson is more physical and better at positioning / dispossessing players.
I think Pettersson is the better fit next to McAvoy as well, if he really is available I think it makes a ton of sense for the bruins to really go all in on him.
I think Pettersson is the better fit next to McAvoy as well, if he really is available I think it makes a ton of sense for the bruins to really go all in on him.
If Hanifin makes it here via FA, he’d be ideal next to Carlo with Lindholm moving up to McAvoy. I don’t think this team should be doing anything but hockey trades right now (maybe variations of them). I’d take the 2025 and 2026 first off the table … and keep them for next years run
I agree with you On Pettersson’s fit next to McAvoy
If Hanifin makes it here via FA, he’d be ideal next to Carlo with Lindholm moving up to McAvoy. I don’t think this team should be doing anything but hockey trades right now (maybe variations of them). I’d take the 2025 and 2026 first off the table … and keep them for next years run
I agree with you On Pettersson’s fit next to McAvoy
I don't think that 2025 first is off the table if it gets you a potential long term solution like Pettersson would be, it'd basically lock down your top 4 for the next 3 years assuming Pettersson re-signs.
Because multiple insiders are stating Dubas is listening to offers for anyone without a full NMC. Which means everyone except Rust, Crosby, Karlsson, Letang, and Malkin. And he should be. Now there are a few that should only be traded for overpayments as they have been good. Pettersson and Jarry are two I would categorize there. And I don't think this is close to an overpayment for Pettersson. Forbort is zero value to PIT. Lohrei is minimal value. The 2025 1st could be good, but doubt another team couldn't beat this offer.
Devs could (and should) beat that. Bahl, a '24- 1st (higher than their own, which they keep, but the one from trading Toffoli!) & some adds to get there
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