If you missed this series, I feel bad for you son. We got some roster problems, but first read part one. Hit me!
Charlie Jacobs has tasked you with making roster moves, which moves do you make?
Bree: Sign: Spooner, Connolly and Hamilton. Spooner is excellent, Hamilton is slowly growing into his role and I don’t even know what Connolly can offer because really, the poor guy was injured for a majority of his time with the Bruins thus far.
Try to sign: Soderberg. I’m fully prepared to let him walk if his number is too high though considering the cap and all of the other things needed.
Bye bye: Seidenberg. Bartkowski. Possibly McQuaid.
Test the Waters: Lucic. At least feel out the market and see what you could get for him. I know, I know, LUCIC IS THA BEST BROOON EVAH AND HE IS TUFF AND FACE PUNCHING….. but guess what? That version of Lucic appears to have exited stage right and I don’t know if he’s coming back. He’s not the guy he used to be and before his play declines even more, I see no harm in merely checking out what you could get in return for him. If the price is right, I’m not afraid to pull the trigger that sends him packing.
Filling the hole that Boychuk left (on the team and in my heart. Dammit Chiarelli.) should be priority. I have no idea who I’d want, but I’d be open to at least seeing what’s available via trade or free agency.
—
Marshall: ● Re-sign: Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Spooner, Brett Connolly.
● If Carl costs a penny over $2M, he can take a walk. So, he’s probably gone.
● Trade Lucic. Granted, his second half of the season was great, but $6M is too steep for a guy that takes three months to show up. There are too many glaring holes that need to be filled, and that salary goes a long way. He’s the best trade card the Bruins have, and it’s time to finally play it.
● If you can find a taker for Dennis Seidenberg, do it. Fuck the return. All that matters is getting rid of a $4M rotting corpse.
—
Chip: I’ll start by saying the big move that I’m NOT going to make, and that’s trading Milan Lucic. Not only did Lucic have a down year from a statistical standpoint, but far too many games he seemed invisible. He wasn’t the Lucic of old, throwing himself around or dropping the gloves to send a message to his teammates or opponents alike. Quite simply, he was a power forward seemingly against the idea of playing a power game. But, I’m not moving him. I realize that he’s entering the final year of his contract with a lot to prove. The bloom is off the rose a bit in the eyes of Boston fans, so he’s going to have to step it up if he wants a future with the Bruins – or anywhere else in the league, for that matter.
A lot of folks have also been calling to move Dougie Hamilton. This isn’t happening, either. In fact, that beeping that you hear is the sound of the Brinks truck backing up to Hamilton’s door, as he’s going to get paid this offseason. Let’s examine why moving him is stupid, shall we? The ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft, Hamilton will play the 2015-16 season at the tender age of 22. Despite that young age, he already has 178 games on his NHL resume. This season’s 42 point output showed that he’s already a productive offensive rearguard, and his defensive play is only going to keep getting better. Most people forget that defensemen typically take the longest to fully develop in the NHL. Zdeno Chara is in the twilight of his career, and without Hamilton there is no potential replacement within the organization.
One big name that I WOULD trade, though, is David Krejci. It’s not that I don’t value Krejci as a player – far from it. It’s the realization that this team has very little cap space to deal with, and two centers in Spooner and Coral who could probably fill the second and third line center roles without much of a dropoff. You know…like they did for much of the second half of this season. In addition, Krejci is someone that could actually bring something of value in return. We here at DOY see the trade ‘ideas’ that casual fans suggest. But, realistically speaking, no GM is going to send away Taylor Hall for Matt Bartkowski. Oh, you’ll throw in Chris Kelly, too?! Still not happening. Not all trades wind up being good ones, but they all at least have some basis in reality.
Finally, let the kids play! Joe Morrow needs to be a full time bottom pair defenseman from day 1. Let Zach Trotman or David Warsofsky fight for the 6/7 spots. Brett Connolly is going to need second or third line minutes (and linemates). Koko should be given a legitimate chance to make the roster. Brian Ferlin and Seth Griffith both flashed potential in different roles for the club this year, and should be expected to make even bigger contributions next year. Take some chances…how else are we going to know what kind of future this team has?
—
Jon: Easier said than done, but I try to find a “replacement” for Boychuk finally. Chara is almost 40 and coming off a fractured leg and has a permanently torn PCL. Chara is inhuman but he was starting to show his age even before that. Douglas Hamilton (Dougie is a name for a baby and an incredibly stupid “dance”) is going to be a beast (already is really) but beyond that the Bruins don’t have too much. Krug is an offense dynamo but he’s not exactly a defensive force (which is fine, you need defensemen who can score). McQuaid is almost constantly injured. Kevan Miller is a fan favorite but not exactly a top four defenseman, and that’s putting it nice.
Seidenberg went downhill so fast it was ridiculous. The Bruins need another minute eating, responsible defenseman to pair up with Hamilton that can shut down other team’s top lines. Bruins were lacking that big time this season.
I definitely see if I can get some cap floor team to take on Seidenberg (if Seidenberg is willing as well thanks to Chiarelli handing out no trade clauses to EVERYONE). Yes, hard, virtually impossible sell I know but even if the Bruins don’t get anything even remotely worthwhile back (like when they essentially traded Thomas’ contract for string) freeing up Seidenberg’s cap space would help grab a decent free agent d-man and not having that anchor on the ice would immediately improve this team.
I let McQuaid walk. He’s been a good soldier but the injury issues are too much. Pack up your mullet and go McQuaid. I also give Joe Morrow a good chance at the start of the 2015-16 season.
And despite what the average Bruins fan says/wants, I explore the trade market for Lucic HARD. He’s not going to take a discount on his next deal and $6 million is already a gross over payment. Bruins fans seems stuck in the past (much like the organization) in that they still have this image of Lucic as this imposing, game changing winger. Lucic hasn’t been anything close to that since he got paid and I think the Bruins need to trade him while some teams around the league still think he can be that. And maybe with a change of scenery he can be. But teams don’t fear Lucic like they used to. They laugh at him. And his play continues to decline.
—
Pez: First lets deal with the caveman on the table: Milan Lucic. I would explore a trade for Milan Lucic. If the right package came along, I would trade him. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t. Do you see how easy this is Peter? I’d be looking for a forward who can score goals consistently and maybe a draft pick or two. I would include Malcolm Subban if needed because Tuukka Rask isn’t going anywhere and you can find backup goalies virtually anywhere. If Lucic does stick around, I make him play out the final year of his contract. It is okay to let a player go into a lame duck year. If he plays lights out, great. If he doesn’t, see what you can get for him at the trade deadline. There is no way Lucic takes a pay cut next year and he’s already making too much money for the inconsistencies we’ve witness throughout his career.
Players to re-sign (in order of importance):
– Dougie Hamilton
– Ryan Spooner
– Brett Connolly
– Matt Bartkowski
– Yes, I would bring back Matt Bartkowski. Bartkowski is a good 7th defenseman and that’s all you need him to be. Unfortunately, the problem with the Bruins is they had a lot of 7th defensemen this season (see: Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Matt Bartkowski) playing out of position (like 2nd pairing).
Players I drive to Logan Airport:
– Adam McQuaid
– Dan Paille
– Carl Soderberg (unfortunately and lovingly)
Players I shoot into the sun:
– Gregory Campbell
Last but not least is Dennis Seidenberg. Seidenberg is signed for three more seasons at $4M per season. Last year he looked like a shell of himself. In fact, that is a disgrace to shells. Dennis Seidenberg looked fucking horrid in a Bruins uniform. There was not one moment where I watched him play hockey and said to myself “Zee German hammer iz back, yes” in my stereotypical “bad guy from Die Hard” voice. I would trade Seidenberg for pennies on the dollar. Sometimes the cap relief is more important than the return.
Tomorrow we finish with Part 3: Free Agent class and the NHL Draft!
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
