Bruins
The Bruins doubtless have to clear extra cap area earlier than free company kicks off on Saturday afternoon.
COMMENTARY
The primary domino of the Bruins’ offseason fell on Monday afternoon when Boston dealt Taylor Corridor and Nick Foligno to the Blackhawks in what was largely a wage dump.
The swap greater than doubled Boston’s out there cap area, which at the moment sits at $10.9 million, per CapFriendly.
However with simply 14 gamers signed to NHL contracts (together with one goalie and 6 whole forwards), Don Sweeney nonetheless has loads of work to do in relation to retooling Boston’s 2023-24 roster.
With the NHL Draft commencing on Wednesday evening and the beginning of free company set for Saturday, issues are about to get hectic for the Bruins and the remainder of the league.
So what ought to be subsequent on the docket for the Bruins within the coming days?
1. Clear extra cap area
After liberating up $6 million in cap area on Monday, Sweeney was requested by reporters in Nashville about whether or not or no more money-clearing strikes have been on the horizon.
His reply was a bit shocking.
“No, we’re in a advantageous spot to have the ability to… We’ve at all times mentioned that there’s going to be some turnover related to that,” Sweeney mentioned. “I used to be fairly sincere on the finish of the yr, realizing that may embrace a few of our youthful guys getting a chance or bringing in some gamers that may be searching for that platform or second alternatives and that’s simply the character of the place we’re at proper now.”
As we’ve famous earlier than, Sweeney isn’t precisely probably the most forthright NHL exec in relation to displaying his hand so far as offseason targets.
Nonetheless, it positive seems like one thing’s received to provide in relation to further monetary bloat.
Sure, Boston now has $10.9 million in cap area to work with this offseason following the Corridor commerce.
However that ought to dissipate in a rush, particularly with simply six forwards at the moment signed. Even when Boston was to only re-up its restricted free brokers in Jeremy Swayman, Trent Frederic, and Jakub Lauko, they’re doubtless again to the place they began earlier than dumping Corridor’s contract.
And that’s not factoring in attempting to re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi, addressing the potential vacancies of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, including in free company … want I am going on?
If the Bruins realistically need to shake issues up this summer season, extra gamers are going to must be on the transfer.
With two days left on this present buyout window, each Mike Reilly and Derek Forbort could possibly be choices in an effort to clear cap area. Matt Grzelcyk may be a coveted asset on the proper value.
Arguably probably the most seismic transfer Boston could make this offseason facilities round their 1-2 punch in internet of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
Sweeney signaled on Tuesday that Boston’s prerogative is to maintain the Ullmark-Swayman tandem in place in 2023-24, even when Swayman’s anticipated pay increase will additional complicate Boston’s monetary state of affairs.
“I feel we’re in a terrific spot, if we do resolve [to run it back] and that’s what our indications are proper now, until one thing else materialized between from time to time,” Sweeney mentioned. “It doesn’t imply I gained’t, you guys know me effectively sufficient, I’ve to do my job as to what would possibly current, and the goalie market is an attention-grabbing one proper now.”
The play of Ullmark and Swayman served a key function in Boston’s record-setting run from October by way of April.
However with Ullmark’s worth at an all-time excessive because the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and Swayman a coveted asset given his age and potential, Boston ought to depart no stone unturned in relation to cap aid.
2. Attempt to maintain gamers off the open market
Sweeney didn’t mince phrases when it got here to Boston’s efforts to retain its large swath of pending free brokers.
Clearly, Boston doesn’t have the monetary leeway to retain all of its trade-deadline haul in Dmitry Orlov, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Garnet Hathaway.
However shifting on from an efficient middle-six wing in Corridor can be much more palatable if Boston manages to lock in Bertuzzi earlier than he hits the open market on Saturday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Bertuzzi does have a couple of crimson flags if Boston does decide to him long-term. His defensive recreation left quite a bit to be desired throughout his brief stint with the staff in 2023. His harm historical past is prolonged.
But when Boston is seeking to construct a basis for the post-Bergeron period (particularly earlier than the cap ceiling jumps subsequent summer season), Bertuzzi is an intriguing constructing block.
Not solely is he youthful than Corridor, Bertuzzi’s playmaking capabilities on the netfront added a much-needed (and sought-after) dynamic in Boston’s lineup.
His chemistry with Boston’s point of interest on offense in David Pastrnak is hard to disregard.
Even when Krejci hangs up his skates this summer season, a second line of Pastrnak, Bertuzzi, and Pavel Zacha ought to do loads of harm in 2023-24 and past.
If Bertuzzi does hit free company on Saturday, he can simply be priced out of no matter Boston has submitted to this point. Sweeney can’t let him get to that time.
3. Assess the state of the middle place
It’s an offseason goal simpler mentioned than accomplished.
Neely and Sweeney’s feedback on Tuesday weren’t precisely all that encouraging when it got here to the way forward for each Bergeron and Krejci in Boston.
“Yeah, I imply for us, we’ve to form of plan like they aren’t coming again till we hear in any other case,” Neely mentioned of each facilities. “We might not be doing the group a service if we deliberate that they’re coming again after which they weren’t.
So for us it’s form of two paths, taking place two paths. Hopefully we’ll hear one thing quickly, however we’re definitely going to provide these guys the time that they want.”
The hunch right here remains to be that Bergeron returns as Boston’s captain for the Authentic Six franchise’s centennial season, bailing out the staff as soon as once more by means of an inexpensive, one-year contract.
But when each Bergeron and Krejci do name it quits, Boston goes to seek out itself in a severe pickle.
The Bruins’ high brass was inspired by the play of Zacha and Charlie Coyle after they crammed in as Boston’s top-six facilities throughout Video games 3 and 4 in opposition to the Panthers. However it’s quite a bit to ask of Coyle to serve in such a task for a complete 82-game stretch and past.
If Boston wants to amass a top-six heart this offseason, there isn’t a complete lot working of their favor. Buying a confirmed expertise will sap their restricted cap area, doubtlessly placing them out of the operating for a pending UFA like Bertuzzi.
Dealing for a rumored commerce goal like Elias Lindholm or Mark Schiefele can even require a hefty return, together with each invaluable prospects and key contributors on the NHL degree.
In a great state of affairs, Boston can roll with him and Zacha as its top-six facilities and kick the middle dilemma down the street till 2024-25 when extra cap area ought to be out there.
Relatively than surrender belongings like a Mason Lohrei or Jake DeBrusk in a deal for Lindholm, they could have the ability to signal him in free company the next summer season.
After all, little appears to have gone proper for Boston since late April.
4. Attempt to regain draft capital
If the Bruins need to verify off a number of offseason targets in a single swoop, dealing a participant like Ullmark or Grzelcyk could possibly be an avenue Boston takes in an effort to restock a barren cabinet of draft capital.
Boston has solely drafted within the first spherical twice because the 2018 season. As of proper now, they gained’t draft once more within the first spherical till 2025. Their subsequent second-round choice gained’t come till 2026.
Despite the fact that a blueliner like Grzelcyk doubtless gained’t get you into the primary spherical, Ullmark may get the job accomplished, saving Boston $5 million in cap area within the course of.
If Boston goes to proceed to commerce away belongings this offseason, the NHL Draft stands as the perfect stage to take action.
“A tough job on the doorstep, however we’ve had some conversations,” Sweeney mentioned Tuesday of buying and selling again into the primary spherical. “I don’t essentially know; it’s going to take lots of traction between from time to time and also you simply by no means know.
“We’ve had, definitely some alternatives, however clearly we made a transfer yesterday that form of put us in pause movement for a bit of bit when it comes to a regroup and the way we’re going to fill the remainder of the roster out on account of actually dropping two high quality people.”
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