Are the Boston Bruins shopping David Krejci? Will Jimmy Vesey sign with them? Will the Anaheim Ducks trade Cam Fowler? Read on for the latest.
BRUINS
Could the Boston Bruins swap David Krejci for a top-two defenseman?
SI.COM: Allan Muir recently said he doesn’t buy into the buzz claiming Boston Bruins center David Krejci could be trade bait. One factor is Krejci’s contract, as he’s entering the second season of a six-year, $43.5 million deal with a full no-movement clause through 2018-19. Another is the pressure upon Bruins management to win now, noting the clubs that could offer immediate help for Boston’s blueline (St. Louis’ Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim’s Cam Fowler) don’t seem to be good financial fits.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur. Krejci could be tempting to clubs with blueline depth in need of a top-line center, but his contract is a major stumbling block. Even if he agrees to waive his movement clause, there aren’t many clubs that can comfortably afford his salary. Unless the Bruins pick up a significant chunk of his $7.25 million annual cap hit, or take on a big contract in return. I doubt he’ll be moved anytime soon.
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty reports Buffalo Sabres prospect winger Jimmy Vesey claims the Bruins are on his short list of potential free-agent destinations. Vesey is eligible for unrestricted free agency on August 15. “I’ve said it all along that Boston is definitely on my list of teams that I’d like to talk to. It’s a team that I’ve rooted for all my life, and it’s a team that I watched win the Stanley Cup in 2011,” said Vesey. He said he’ll definitely meet with the Bruins in August. Haggerty speculates the Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils and perhaps the Pittsburgh Penguins could also be on Vesey’s list.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Once the arbitration period ends on August 4, we’ll likely see a significant increase in the Vesey speculation leading up to August 15. I doubt the uncertainty over where he’ll sign will stretch beyond that date. He’ll have his mind made up by then. I think it’s between the Bruins and Leafs, but the Sabres have a promising young team and they could be tempting. The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers are also believed very keen to sign him.
DUCKS
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Steve Fryer recently noted the offseason moves by the Anaheim Ducks, trading away goalie Frederik Andersen, bringing in netminder Jonathan Bernier, signing defenseman Korbinian Holzer to a one-year deal and selecting Max Jones in the opening round of the 2016 NHL draft. He speculates the Ducks probably aren’t done, pointing out they have nine defensemen under contract for 2016-17. He cited the recent trade rumors swirling about defenseman Cam Fowler, suggesting he could be moved for a left wing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Of late, Fowler has overtaken the Blues’ Kevin Shattenkirk as the most-speculated defenseman in this summer’s trade rumor mill. While the asking price for either guy is expensive, there’s a sense Fowler could be dealt before Shattenkirk. He’s younger (24), signed through 2017-18 at $4 million per (Shattenkirk’s eligible next summer for UFA status), lacks a no-trade clause and the return for him could be more affordable compared to what the Blues seek for Shattenkirk.
I think Vesey is joining his brother and Father. It seemed like his plan all along.
If that’s the case I hope he’s totally prepared for the ongoing scrutiny and circus atmosphere that will follow.
I think wherever he ends up, people will be disappointed. Again I’ll say, I don’t understand how this guy escapes a Drouin / Lindros reputation. He was offered a top 6 role with a playoff team, but chose this route. He obviously doesn’t really care about winning. I can’t wait to see him choke!
But… what if he ends up with The Rangers?
It’s his collective agreement right to explore UFA. This is nothing like the Lindros or Drouin situations.
I don’t see that happening. But if he does, I don’t think AV will be offering a top 6 role. And I still hope he chokes anyway!
Nyr4Life,
You get to choose where you work, why shouldn’t he? If anything, he hurt himself by not playing last year as he’ll be one more year away from his first contract after ELC. This is the risk GM’s take when drafting players and it’s part of the combine process to vet all prospects
Now, I agree that he isn’t making it easier on himself for any team he joins as he’s going to be expected to step into a top 6 role and produce immediately
I don’t get the Drouin/Lindros comparison, heck I don’t get why you put Drouin and Lindros in the same sentence. Totally different situations. Drouin didn’t refuse to play for Tampa he just wanted an opportunity to prove himself. Lindros said before being drafted he wouldn’t play for Quebec. Why didn’t Nashville make more of an effort to sign Vesey to a contract in the previous 3 years. This guy isn’t a kid no more he’s 23 and waited a long time for his opportunity. I was puzzled why he didn’t take the Nashville offer, top 6 minutes, playoffs and burn a year off his elc but there was something he didn’t like. He may fail we will know soon enough.
Not to mention, to say he doesn’t care about winning is foolish. And to hope he fails is even worse
Foolish? I guess that depends where he ends up playing. To say he has a better chance of winning in Toronto or buffalo (today) over Nashville would be foolish!!!!
@Caper,
Honestly, I’d say Nashville did make an effort to sign him. What more than a promised top 6 role for a 3rd round draft pick can you expect? The money is going to be the same anywhere, so something else had to be the problem.
I never understand comments like “He hasn’t proven a thing” He needs to go the traditional route like everyone else.” Who the heck does he think he is?”, “Just another entitled youth.”
These kids and Adults, Vesey is 23. have been playing hockey their whole lives. I honestly didn’t start training for my current profession until I was 21. I graduated high school, went to university and then switched to what I am doing now after a couple of years. I didn’t practice every day through out my child hood, teen years and young adulthood so that by chance someone may deem me worthy enough for a job. Infact their was many a class on Friday morning I never showed up for as Thursday is the day the bars and restaurant deemed they could get more money out of students.
As far as I am concerned these kids have earned the right to use what ever coarse is available to them to go whatever direction they like in their careers.
Some have to take what is offered to them. Others are good enough to be able to apply a guiding hand to their own futures. They can do that and accept whatever repercussions come their way if it turns out to be the wrong decision. They are entitled to nothing but neither is the sport.
George, shut up. I’m sure he knows with how many times you say that a week!
Shawn, the whole purpose of the draft in pro sports is to achieve some sort of parity and give ALL franchises an equal opportunity for them to give their fan-base the best possible product. Without a universal draft hockey (and no cap) hockey would wind up like baseball whose draft does not extend to places like Japan and Central/South America, meaning the best players there can pick and choose where they want to go if playing in the major leagues is their goal. No thanks.
Urbestbet – shove it where your proctologist does his/her best work.
George O, yes that is exactly what the draft is for and I’m not saying to take it away by any means. But, as agreed on by both the NHLPA & NHL this is a course of action that any prospect drafted that attends and completes a four year university can take. If that prospects wishes to play out four years for his university and put his NHL dreams on hold, he has every right to choose his own destination that is right for him. The GM’s know the risk and know that this is a possibility. Vesey isn’t doing anything ground breaking here. He isn’t the first, and he won’t be the last. To wish for his failure and claim that he doesn’t care about winning is mind boggling to me. He is a professional athlete, of course he cares about winning. He has been training his entire life to be given this opportunity and he’s taking the time he earned through the CBA to make the best decision for his future career and aspirations
Players coming out of College; age is a factor, don’t have to sign 3 year deals like players drafted out of Jr. 2 years is the min so he lost 1 but regardless of years of NHL service players can become UFA’s if 27 by the cut off date. Don’t know the cut off date the NHL has several for different issues.
That means Vesey can be a UFA again in potentially 4 years.
Not to mention, it’s easier to make it out of the East than the West. And for anyone that truly believes that both Toronto and Buffalo are that far from breaking through needs to seriously open their eyes
George O you are 200% wrong about the draft. It’s a control of player movement and costs. You sound just like Bettman the weasel
So you advocate throwing it wide open, sign where you like process?? With that you can expect a reduction in franchises that would make your head spin.
Caper.
I’m sick & have been bed ridden for 3 days, dam asthma but Didn’t Drouin to do just that. He demanded a trade out of TB, well under contract & withheld his services refusing to play for TB which includes their minor league team as the CBA allows for TB to decide where & when he plays.
I certainly don’t want to get drawn into this debate again ideally.
As for Nyr4life’s viewpoint.
Nyr4life is entitled to it, it just differs from some of us. Mine is simple. If you want to play in the NHL you have to be a member of the NHLPA, you then give up your individual rights & allow them to negotiate on your behalf & live by the rules mutually agreed to with the NHL under the CBA.
You & your agent are free to negotiate on your behalf as it relates to salary under said CBA rules but that’s it. Those bindingly negotiated rules & the choice of the team moving forward determine your fate. Getting to play for whoever you really want to isn’t your choice. Although I don’t like Lindros’s choice nor him as an individual as it relates to his time in the NHL. He wasn’t under contract & he did what he felt was right. Quebec could have made him rot but they took a very good offer to let him walk. Making the best of a bad situation.
Numerous other players have refused to sign new deals pending a trade & that is their right & option. I don’t necessarily like it personally but if not signed you are free to do so.
Vesey is completely different scenario. Under the current CBA he is with in his rates to become a UFA. I may or may not like his choice but I don’t look at his situation as even remotely close to the same as the other 2. Drouin’s being by far the worst as he was under a contract; Lindros wasn’t, he & his agent negotiated & he reneged. In the real world if you break your contract your going to get sued & Drouin was clearer guilty.
In all honesty, I never had a problem with Lindros, or Drouin. It just kind of irks me a little that somehow this 3rd rounder not only has the “you know what’s ” to do this, but somehow escapes the same ire of the other two… And some others. I know NY has been rumored to have interest, and I hope they stay away. This guy has earned absolutely nothing! Never mind negotiations to be a top 6 forward in the NHL from any team.
Big deal, Hobey Baker award? So did Matt Gilroy. How did that work out?
I don’t like it either. Didn’t like it when Schultz did it, Reily in Minny, etc. It will always taint me opinion of the player but I believe in rules & Vesey hasn’t broken any.
As a hockey player having stashed him on 2 of my prospects lists. I hope he tears it up.
If he signs in Boston plays with Krejci & does so even better.
Can’t blame him for wanting to play for the Black and Gold with the centers they have Wow Krejch Bergie Backes and Spooner.
To Striker
Drouin did refuse to play and as a result he did not get paid. That is how his contract works.
Actually Jeff that’s not how it’s meant to work, just 1 of numerous remedies under the CBA written in should a player not honor his contract; which is your word & promise to uphold as soon as you put pen to paper.
Contracts are bidding, all standard contracts are written to be upheld & holding out is not written in as an option but remedies should you go back on your word are. There are numerous others TB could have exercised as well, this was just stage 1.
Again I don’t really wish to beat this dead horse & only respond as you imply it’s allowed, it’s not but what’s done is done. I will never see Drouin as anything more than a selfish, self serving individual who cares about no 1 but himself. I hold Lindros in higher regard but that isn’t saying very much at all & the only reason is Lindros wasn’t under contract & used that to leverage his way out. I don’t like it but that is his right he’s not signed & 1 of his few options. Had Quebec made he rot he would have signed eventually.
It’s all there for you to read on the NHLPA website in it’s entirety should you choose to do so.
At the end of the day is it really any different? At least Lindros was upfront about it prior to being drafted. Any idiot that drafted him was at least well aware of where he stood. And Lindros was a generational player, not a 3rd round turd! Maybe Vesey IS within the rules, however the rules suck!
I can’t wait to see him choke! Like it or not. I also can’t wait to see the team that signs him choke. Including the Rangers.
If 3rd round draft picks can do this….. What’s next? I think this guy is WAY over hyped! Once again, I’ll be a broken record…. He has literally earned nothing! Zero! Top 6 forward? Please! The worst team in the NHL would wipe their butt with the best college team!
If he succeeds , I’ll puke!
Totally agree nyr he plays in a college league that is a big step away from the nhl and has proved nothing Shultz did the same thing and now he’s signing for under 2 million and is a 6th dman
Besides the concept of earning your way. Is what Drouin did any different than Datsyuk leaving Detroit after he signed a contract to play out next year but said no and left to play in Russia? Or any other player who renags on their contracts and go to Europe or Russia.
Would it not be funny thought since the perceived front runners are Boston and Toronto, if Montreal some how signed him. That crack me up. To bad it doesn’t really have a chance of happening.
Jeff, i don’t like your sense of humor! but if he was to fall flat on his face, then i’ll be happy with him signing in Montreal.
LOL, I thought I was funny.
Hope so!
It’s Boston, Toronto does not give bonuses and he can make more money with the Bruins, also if Anaheim is looking for a scoring winger, why not offer up JVR? Similar cap hit and Toronto isn’t going anywhere for awhile.
Bring Cam Fowler home to Detroit Ken Holland, Something around Tomas Tatar+Riley Sheahan should do it. With Holland resigning Helm i would think that Sheahan could be used as trade bait here.
Tatar or Nyquist is definitely a good start, but I don’t see Sheahan being the sweetener that gets this trade done. Anaheim isn’t desperate for third line players. Fowler is at 2/3 quality defenseman already and those have been very expensive to get. He would instantly be in the running for Detroit’s best defenseman.
Detoit would have to add a high quality prospect (Svechnikov/Mantha) or a 1st round pick to complete that trade given Tatar/Nyquist aren’t first line talents. If Larsson required Hall, this is the new reality.
In addition, with expansion looming, Anaheim could want futures or young expansion proof players. Tatar/Nyquist would have to be protected and Anaheim may want to take the 8 skater option given the strength of their defense even without Fowler. Bieksa has a NMC and they may want to protect Despres on top of Lindholm and Vatanen.
That deal was proposed by a Duck fan on the Hockey Futures board and pretty much all Duck and Wings fans agreed with this proposal. No way is Holland including either one of Mantha or Svechikov with either Tatar or Nyquist for Fowler that’s over payment for Fowler. Tatar+Sheahan is fair value for Fowler. With Holland resigning Helm that pretty much means Sheahan could be used for trade bait can’t see Holland holding on to both Sheahan and Helm that doesn’t make to much sense here. I can see Holland dangling Sheahan with Tatar rather it be for Fowler or maybe Shattenkirk Sheahan could easily take the spot of David Backes in a year or two. As both are big hitters. Not saying that a Tatar+Sheahan would be a final piece for Fowler but i wouldn’t be surprised that if Holland doesn’t make a trade for Fowler that those pieces aren’t included in the deal.
I’m neither a Ducks nor a Red Wings fan and really don’t care either way. However, I don’t see how getting Nyquist/Tatar and Sheahan benefit Anaheim long term with Expansion looming. They either lose Despres in the 7F/3D model or one of Nyquist/Tatar, Silfverberg or Rakell in the 8 skater model where they protect 4D. Getzlaf, Perry and Kesler would be protected anyway, but all have NMC’s.
This trade would be great for Detroit as Fowler is easily in their top 3D and they wouldn’t lose a defenseman of major consequence to expansion. Even without expansion, I would want more than just a third line player on top of Nyquist/Tatar when giving up a very good young defenseman with upside (Fowler’s only 24).
The Ducks could also request Bieksa to waive his NMC so that they could expose him which would make this more of a possibility. They can also make a deal with LV for futures that they won’t select one of the players they will be forced into exposing
I see Fowler as a #1. Lindholm may be better, even Vatanen but Fowler lead Anaheim in TOI/GP, PP TOI/GP & was nominally behind Despres & Vatanen seconds for SH TOI/GP. I guess it’s a question of how you want to claify #1’s. He’s certainly not a #3 & if a #2 a very high end #2.
By zone starts it’s no contest. He started 44.3% of his zone starts in the offensive zone the lowest on the team by a significant margin. Not even close. He did virtually all the heavy lifting. Vatanen stated 51.3 % in the O, Lindholm 49.7.
Helm didn’t play C last year so if he’s playing the wing again why is keeping him & Sheahan an issue?
I could certainly make an argument for Tatar & Sheahan moving for Fowler with expansion looming.
Under the 7 forward option Anaheim doesn’t have any where near 7 keepers at forward currently. They have 5. Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, Silfverberg & Rackell.
Point of interest, Rackell started last season as a LW & played a bunch of games there early. His doing so again solves the #1 LW issue potentially allowing for Sheahan to C the 3rd line.
I don’t see Murray taking Tatar unless resigned for reasonable money & term 1st. Murray likes cost certainty.
Should this happen, Tater being resigned in or around 4 mil for at least 3 years this trade proposal has merit.
Those 7 forwards are protected,Bieksa, Lindholm, Vatanen & Gibson.
Anaheim loses Despres or Manson.
I think the biggest question would be whether Anaheim wants to lose a defenseman like Despres (guaranteed assuming Fowler is traded in the 7F, 3D format) or if they want to lose Tatar/Silfverberg/Rakell. Despres is a top 4, young defenseman on a good contract and those aren’t as easy to find as top 6 wingers.
I doubt Bieksa would waive his NMC as he would be the top candidate to be picked by Vegas under the 7F/3D model. Maybe he would rather live in Vegas, but he cornered Vancouver into trading him to Anaheim and needed an extension to stay there for more than a year.
I had that very argument else where Van & the consensus was Rackell ahead of Despres, as most feel Manson will be solid #4 defensive Dman in the future & they also have Theodore & Montour coming. Not very many young forwards as advanced as Rackell.
I have concerns about Despres. He was brutal upon returning from injury. It may be just a blip due to the concussion but there are always concerns as concussions are unpredictable.
expansion is coming its a fact. why anyone with defense would trade it without accounting for it is ridiculous
if detroit wants fowler let them trade young exempt players like athanasiou and mantha. otherwise why would murray even think about detroit
there are numerous teams that would give picks for fowler which wouldnt have to be protected giving full value to anaheim. why Should they have ti sacrifice to help detroit
Murray has a tough job on the expansion front as he is a victim of his own drafting/trading success. Whether it is Despres or Rakell/Silfverberg, that is a good young player he is losing to expansion. He can’t expose Fowler as he is simply too good a player to get nothing for.
Bill: Completely agree. No need to do Detroit or anyone else a favour by giving up the most desirable asset in the NHL right now (top 2/4 defensemen). I think Holland will regret not taking Chychrun in the draft as I have a feeling he’ll be the stud many projected over the past 2 years.
I’m sure someone mentioned this before, but how bad was the draft trade of what ended up being Biggs for Rakell and Gibson? Biggs looks like he won’t even make the NHL while Rakell is a potential top 6F and Gibson a starting goalie. Ouch!
You need not tell me expansion is coming Bill. I have been preaching such for well over a year on this very site taking flack from many. I have even tried to engage Lyle to weigh in on it that entire time & he wasn’t willing to discuss it till it was essentially a fact. Which is all good. I’m a much more forward thinker & I mean years even decades into the future. That’s a big part of my job in the real world. Staying way out in front of everyone else.
I assume your comments are directed else where & not at my comments specifically.
Anaheim isn’t in a bad position. I assume teams will gladly take a Dman any time they are available there so hard to get, especially of the quality of a Fowler or even a Despres but Anaheim has 5 keepers at forward & currently 5 potential keepers at D
If they are kind of locked into 5 forwards & I’m not saying they are, that means they could potentially risk taking on 2 as they have no other forwards other than Cogliano; who has been a fabulous 3rd wheel with Kesler & Silfverberg forming 1 of the best shut down lines in hockey. Losing Cogliano isn’t awful. Should they choose the 7 forward option.
If you had to make a choice who would you prefer to lose Rackell or Despres?
to me its very easy, there is no more valueable asset in todays game than quality defense. Detroit, Boston, Edmonton,NJ, Toronto, Montreal, Vancover, Buffalo, Dallas,are all in desparate need of defense some of them may not think they do, but none of them are going anywhere without improvements on D,
losing Rakell will suck but the value of quality defenseman was never higher, and with a stagnant cap, that is exacerbated because teams that have it to trade can afford to wait for the right deal
If Im murray I tell detroit look elsewhere unless theor willing to offer exactly what I want and that is not Tatar or Nyquist…. for me its either Larkin, who isnt going anywhere or both Mantha and Anathasiou, since they are exempt
it doesnt help anaheim at all moving Fowler and getting Nyquist or Tatar back
Interesting, your on the exact same page as I am really.
I would keep Fowler as well. Protect Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, Selfverberg, Lindholm, Vatanen, Fowler, Bieksa & Gibson.
Exposing Despres at D & Rackell at C.
I would certainly ask Bieksa to wave his NMC so as I could protect Despres instead but post expansion draft I think Dman will be even more valuable than they are today & would return far better player than Rackell if lost.
People wanted to tar & feather me or worse on Hockebuzz for such blasphemy.
The real issue is the internal cap. Fowler being 2 years from UFA status looking at a substantial raise, 2 solid young D options in the wings & needing a #1/2 LW on a good contract with term.
Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Theres no reason to rush for anaheim, their losing a good player either way to expansion. but they can only lose one in either case
Detroit on the other hand barely made the playoffs and their core is getting older they NEED fowler or someone desparately
Hollands job is on the line and zetterberg and Howard have a stranglehold on needed cap space.
holland knows he needs to keep Larkin Athanasiou and Mantha if he can, they are the future I and everyone else knows that. which is why if im Anaheim I hold out for it…..
nothing else on detroit interests me if im anaheim
The C. Miller & Morrow signings were both expected and good signings for the B’s. The only thing now is that they have 7 defensemen signed to one-way contracts. Of those 7, there still isn’t a #1 or 2 guy. Both Krug and Chara are more of second pairing defensemen now. If this is the crew they go into the season with, I’d like to see one of McQuaid or K. Miller moved out to give C. Miller & Morrow more playing time
As it currently Stands Krug will lead the team in TOI/GP at D in Boston next season & Chara will be 2nd. Krug will log the lions share of the O & Chara the D although Krug will see more SH icetime & a ton of ES & Chara will retain his #2 PP time ideally with C. Miller. Krug is going into his 4th season & ready for even more responsibility. Not an ideal #1 but better than a ton of teams in the NHL. Size being the only real issue, although his decent body weight. He’s never going to be a serious physical threat which makes it hard for any of us to truly perceive him as a #1 but those guys that can do everything are in very short supply.
Krug does two things well, he skates & gets assists, can’t score goals can’t get the puck up ice to the forwards coming out of the D zone he’s more of a D-D passer, can’t play the body effectively because of his size, can’t play against the bigger forwards in front of the net …..they may pay him like a top 2 Dman but he’s not, they give him #1 DMan minutes he will wear down & probably get hurt at some point
I disagree with all almost all of that. Go look at shots by NHL Dman & his previous goal totals. Scored 14 as a rookie, 12 the next season. Any chance the shoulder injury played a part in this years goal totals?
Just a kid finishing his 3rd season. Go run his minutes played in all situations over those 3 years & tell me what you see?
3 years from being full developed at the NHL level & already 1 of the best offensive Dman in the game & his 2 way skills are coming rapidly. Sound positional, active stick greater skater & he angles out & ties up his man. His skating ability far off sets his ohysical play but he isn’t afraid just never going to be that Dman.
He is a better version of Brian Campbell. He doesn’t play the body either. Campbell was a solid #1 Dman right up until last year. He left 2 mil on the table to go joing Chi where he can pklay 2nd line D minutes with Seabrooke, just nominallly less than Keith & Hjalmarsson. At least at even strength.
Lets talk about Krug in after 2 more full seasons & see what you think then.
Sorry should read until the end of last season. Had he stayed in Florida he would have lead them in TOI/GP again.
I’ll start by saying I absolutely don’t agree with JOE in the statement the kid can’t pop goals. It felt the pressure this year but that is no way indicative of how I see his career advancing. This was his first full season playing against other teams’ top lines, 1st pairing minutes in all situations, and all on a bum shoulder. The goals will be there
I like Krug as a player. The kid plays with heart night in and night out. Ideally, he is a second pairing defensemen or a low-end #2 in my eyes. I agree that he is going to log the highest TOI this upcoming season, unless another move is made, and that’s what scares me. To no fault of his own, he just doesn’t have the body to go up against other teams’ top lines night in and night out and then have more to give while turning his game up a notch in a postseason run. Remember that his breakout in the 12/13 playoffs he came in fully rested and was getting bottom pairing minutes and PP time. In 13/14 playoffs, even more points after a full season but was only getting bottom pairing minutes and PP time
I don’t currently have Boston making the playoffs. I have them as a bubble team. Final decision won’t come until late September or early October.
I simply think it’s way to early to say what Krug will be. No raw still.
Striker, I have them missing the playoffs as well which makes things really interesting…
First, if they are out of the playoffs by the trade deadline, do you ask Chara to waive his NMC? I say absolutely. He will help a contender in the playoffs if they have the ability to use him how a 40 year old defenseman should be used and his $4M cap hit next year will give that team a solid 2 year window to win a cup
Second, I take everything Jimmy Murphy says as false but apparently it’s playoffs or pound sand for Sweeney & Neely this year. Do we know when the expansion draft will take place? If these guys get the ax, will there be enough time for a new GM to come in here assess the situation and move forward?
Shawn.
Don’t see how the playoffs can be the goal. When Sweeney was hired for me this team essentially started a transitional rebuild. Tons of changes were made; kids brought up or in & he was working to dig the Bruins out of a terrible position cap wise coming out of 2 cup appearances, which always inflates a teams payroll.
Can’t see how Jacobs can look at this team & see a playoff team. They are playoff contender but what’s changed really? Backes in for Eriksson, Liles in for Sideneberg. Numerous teams have gotten better in the East this off season even the weak sisters in various stages of rebuilding Tor, Buf & Car will win more games & wins will be harder to come by against most other teams. The only team that really appears to be getting worse is Det & they some how always find away to win enough games to make the playoffs.
Chara! Hmmmmm. Tough 1 for me but from a business perspective your idea makes perfect sense. My heart wins out over my brain here which is incredibly rare. Maybe because I’ve been stuck in bed for 4 days bored stiff. How much hockey talk & movies can 1 person watch. Would love to see him retire a Bruin & move into player development but if they could it wouldn’t kill me.
@striker would you stop saying Boston is in any type of rebuild even transitional ones don’t sign backes and liles! That is one of 20% your wrong I guess?
No love for the penguins huh? Definitely a homer but it seems like the best chance for him to be a top 6 with 2 of the best two centers still in their primes for the two years of his contract. They have 2 top 6 spots open for competition and the competition would be wilson, rust, sheary, guentzel… he should be confident enough in himself to say he would beat three of the 4 guys listed.
I love my Penguins and they do present an opportunity to have him in a top 6 role with Crosby or Malkin….but home is where the heart is he is a Boston kid 85% chance he ends up in bean town…
I know he is highly touted but he has proven nothing…and Ill take Sheary Rust and Hornqvist over this Vessey kid… sorry have fun in Boston
I’ll take sheary, rust, vesey, guentzel, and wilson competing in camp for the last two spots over not having him. Pens have traded away a lot of picks (got a cup though) and need to explore all options for bringing in talent. Stamkos certainly went where his heart is… oh wait.
One point with the Hall for Larsson deal is that it was not in a vacuum . Hall had to go to bring in Lucic. So really it was Lucic and Larsson for Hall…. I am not in love with Tatar. Nyquist and Sheahan would be a good trade for Fowler
True but Edmonton could of moved out other salary in order to bring in Lucic in a separate deal. Moving RNH and/or Eberle would of garnered the finances to be able to do that. Then they would of had to deal with the excess at LW. So Hall didn’t need to be moved to bring in Lucic. Yet I believe Hall or perhaps Draistle were the only two players NJ was interested in. Oh and McDavid. Edmonton was kind of handcuffed in the trade for a RHD. Lucic is nice mitigation work.
Trying to justify a trade by including a free agent signing as saying it is part of the deal is comical.
If it makes you feel better, sure then. I know for sure is NJ only gave up Larsson for Hall; not another player or picks.
Right. But in that case the deal was…
Lucic and Larsson vs. Hall and Lovejoy.
NJ still won.
I’m starting to think that there are only about 5-10 top tier guys in the nhl that earn their contracts. Krejci is a really good player but apparently his contract is a stumbling block. Kessel is a stud but his contract is “bad”. I feel like once these GM’s give out contracts over 7 mil, they instantly regret it. It’s almost impossible to earn your keep unless your name is Kane, towes or Crosby.
It was fine while the cap was rising. There will be a salary correction the next couple of years. Then the cap will start its usual rise and the contracts will sky rocket again. It’s no different than the stocks.
Krejci signed that extension in 09/2014 which kicked in the 15/16 season giving him a $2M pay increase. The cap wasn’t really rising much then only ~$2 mil increase from 14/15 to 15/16 and another ~$2M between 15/16 to 16/17. So given Krejci’s pay increase, the Bruins cap actually stayed pretty flat between 14/15 and 15/16. Not a TERRIBLE contract, but I didn’t like it then and like it even less now
Shawn has it ever risen more than 2 million. I think that is kinda the mean increase.
Between 12/13 and 13/14 over $4m. Between 13/14 and 14/15 over $4m
Things are pretty quiet for Kris Russell. I think he is going down the Cody Fransen path of free agency…
I don’t know why but for some reason I think Vesey goes to Boston. I guess I think if money was the same anywhere else, lots of people would wear the sweater of the team they dreamed of playing for growing up.
I’m leaning Boston as well. I honestly don’t see competition wise the lore of Toronto or Boston over other more competitive teams. I am not trashing those teams. I think he simply wishes to play for the team he cheered for as a youth and if he can get a contract similar to what he can get else where I think he feels why not my favorite team as a fan.
Please no thank you. Russell to Boston. We have enough shot blockers.
It could just be personal opinion here, maybe some of you might agree with me, but I’ve gotten the feeling that the “lore” of these Original Six teams aren’t resonating with the younger kids coming into the league these days than what it once had. Yeah, it’d be pretty special to represent one of them, but seems to me like players especially the younger breed are totally fine with blazing their own trails and creating their own histories with smaller market clubs. My theory will be tested once LV can start signing FA’s
And agree… I’d rather shower in battery acid than see Russell in the spoked B
It seems like every team in the running is willing to consider or has stated that Vesey will be playing in their top six. He elected to become a UFA so he could choose where to play, and presumably have a greater say in what he is paid….How many of the teams vying for him can pay him top six money and not compromise their other needs? For example if Boston cannot move a major contract like Krejci, if that is the plan, but still want to add Shattenkirk or Fowler, could they also afford Vesey, keeping in mind they have to re-up Marchand and Pastrnak next year??
He still has to go through the elc process. Nobody can offer him 4-5-6 per. And if a team could offer him that much, they’d deserve to get burned on that deal.
Did not know that about ELC. Well then….nevermind.
He isn’t going to make any more money (barring tax implications I guess) from any other team. He will have the max ELC contract no matter which team he signs on with. The one thing that Vesey missed out on by not signing with Nashville and playing last year was burning the first year of his ELC. So instead of being able to sign that new contract after 2, he now needs to wait 3. Which will potentially help out his new club as he will most likely be outplaying his contract by year 3 if not sooner. Although the cost to resign him will be steep depending on how his progression goes
30 teams. He will be on an ELC, his maximum salary is under a million & his bonus monies will max out putting him on the cap for just under 4 but the bonus monies function as a cushion against the cap. Teams can exceed the bonus monies & if earned & it puts a team over the cap at seasons end it carries forward as a penalty. See Panarin in Chicago last season.
I’ll try and make this comment without my homer glasses on, but if vessey wants to sign with a young up and coming team be surrounded by quality players his own age, have a big opportunity to earn a big fat contract in two years playing with Jack Eichel or ROR, team is on the rise. If Vessey wants to win play top six minutes and have a great opportunity at his first big payday, cant see why he doesn’t sign in Buffalo. Im not going to crap on the other teams because they all have their sticking points but I just feel that Vessey gets everything he is looking for in Buffalo, plus there isn’t the kind of media pressure there is in TO and the Bruins are in their last few years of contending. Toronto and Buffalo make way more sense than going to Boston just my opinion.
Can’t argue. Makes sense. Nashville made sense to. Which causes me to lean to him just wanting to play for the team he cheered for as a youth and perhaps still does.
Nashville made a whole lot of sense. Everything he wanted including the burning off a year. A top 6 spot, a winning team, quality young players, yet he still said no. Have to wonder why.
Boston and Toronto are not winning teams right now so if he signs there its not all about winning.
Buffalo IS a good fit, they are poised to win sooner then Toronto and Boston. ( Boston is like Detroit, like the Leafs of old, always close enough to be a playoff team but not good enough to make it or to make it past the 1st round )
The one dark horse team who I have heard mentioned only once on any form of social media is Chicago. He has a chance to play top 6, a chance to win and less of a spotlight on him then Boston or Toronto.
At 23 to me he’s still a kid, facing the biggest decision of his not yet started career.
Mike as a bruin fan, i agree with you and just because he doesn’t sign with Buffalo by August 15th doesn’t mean he won’t sign with them. If his goal is to get his name on the cup, he might ask Tampa if they have room for him. It appears he has a clear objective of what he wants.
If he wanted to have had a chance to win the cup he would have signed in Nashville, who isn’t just a good young up & coming team but are with a nice balance of veterans & he would have had that chance last season & burned of 1 of the 2 years his ELC contract demands for a player coming out of College & been 1 year closer to that huge pay day.
Vesey knows where he wants to play. Good for him. I’m happy with where ever he chooses. Who ever signs him has to max his contract, terms of bonus monies to be negotiated like Matthews is doing now with Toronto & guarantee him a a legitimate chance to play in the top 6. Most will but if he fails they will move him down & there is nothing Vesey can do about that once signed. No team is going to keep him in the top 6 for very long if he can’t cut it, they will if he can.
Agree Caper with Stamkos and Hedmam signed Tampa would be my second choice behind Boston if I were in his shoes. Nice weather,great offensive team and highest pay check with the tax break in Florida.
As a Bruins fan I would go there and no where else.
Claude does scare me though. He will have to play a two way game and earn a top 6 spot.
Krejci is another overpaid 2nd line center on a good team. Teams desperate for center help might look towards him but not for the value Boston probably thinks they have in him. oy! I’d take Bolland over this guy 😉
Yikes.
I must have missed that memo to. His 63 points last season playing on a bum hip was good enough for a tie for 10th in points by C’s in the NHL last season 1 less than Stamkos, same as Getzlaf, in the some # of games played. 4 less than Giroux.
TOI/GP at C in the entire league 5th. Lead all Bruins Forwards in PP time & Boston had the 7th best PP by efficiency, % in the NHL.
No he’s not a 1st line C, just 1 of the best 1st line C’s in the NHL.
Sorry screwed up he played 5 less games than Stamkos or Getzlaf.
Right on Striker
When healthy he’s one of the top 5-7 centers in the league and I didn’t look it up but I bet he has more points than Malkin or Crosby over the last 5 years also plays a two way game which changes a players point total.
@Dave: More points than Crosby and Malkin over the last 5 years? LOL! Check the stats before you post!
From 2011-2012 to 2015-2016:
Malkin 342 points in 292 games
Crosby 366 points in 295 games
Krejci 258 points in 325 games
Nor is he totally 1 dimensional. He plays in all zones & in all situations. His zone starts are almost identical. 50.6 in the O zone & 49.4 in the D. Kills penalties on the #2 unit a little over 30 seconds less a game than Bergeron.
How do you grade players as if these aren’t the #’s we should be looking at please help point me in the right direction. If it’s the eye test I never miss watching a Bruins game even if it has to be days after the fact.
I find myself in the minority here as I tend to agree with NYR4Life on the Vessey front. I don’t think he’s quite as big a tool as Lindros because he hasn’t really singled out a franchise to crap on. I have really enjoyed watching Schultz turn into a 5/6/7 D man after all of the hype and suspect I’ll get more of the same satisfaction with Vessey. His best opportunities were Nashville and Buffalo. He’d also do well in other markets with a great centre and a need on the wing(Pit, Calgary, Ana, NYI etc). He’s circumvented the system and exploited a loophole.
If he chooses Boston or Toronto I suspect he experiences significant growing pains and underwhelms. If in Boston, they are an aging squad with cap issues. If Toronto does he really get prime minutes ahead of Nylander, Marner, or any of their other more deserving forwards?
Did I miss a memo? More than 1?
Krejci & Bergeron just turned 30, Marchand is 28, Belesky 28, Hayes 26, Spooner 24, Pastrnak 20, Vatrano 22, Nash 27, Acciari 24, Krug 24, K. Miller 28, McQuad 29, C. Miller 23, Morrow 23, Rask 29, Khudobin 30. Backes who was just acquired turned 32 in May.
Yes Chara & Liles are old.
Boston has signed everyone for this year & sits at a roster of 20 currently with 7.5 million to spend to fill out 3 roster spots or promote 3 players. A 2nd or 3rd line LW; Vesey?, a 4th line winger & a Dman. I’d say they are in cap heaven & have more than enough space to even take on Folwer but I’m happy if they just let the kids play, C. Miller & Morrow.
Right again Striker
Too many people making comments that know nothing about Boston.
Also a stacked prospect pool.
Sweeney is doing a good job.
I don’t think any other team has the strength up the middle Boston now has. Bergeron,Krejci,Backes and Spooner.
I will never understand the Bruins are an aging team that will be bad for years to come. They have a top 5 ranked prospect pool and outside of Chara & Liles the average age of these guys would probably be mid to late 20’s without actually calculating
Right
Chara and Siedenberg only old guys and Siedenberg is gone.
Kelly gone
Chara has two years left on contract and cap drops next year.
And there are no cap issues right now.
Vesey will sign with the Boston Bruins. his hometown team. no doubt. Toronto has a lot of forwards they need defence good building blocks like Reilly
interesting comment on TSN RADIO 1290 in Winnepeg as the host was suggesting trading Trouba for Hamonic if the contract impasse gets any uglier. my question is why the Islanders would consider that?
over the last 3 years hamonic has 13g 59 assists 72 points +14, 24.00 TOI playing first pairing defensive responsibility miniutes with a cap hit of $3.85m for 4 more years
over the last 3 years Trouba has 23g 49 assists 72 points +16, 22.00 TOI playing second pairing defensive responsibility miniutes and he’s reportedly asking for over $6M
I get that Trouba is younger by 3 years, but in a Salary cap league if you have the BETTER player signed at about half the cost, why would you even consider it
Anyway gentlemen have a great evening. Pleasure as always. I may not often agree & come across as opinionated prick but not my intention. If I didn’t value your insight I wouldn’t keep coming back for the abuse. ha-ha!
I C ! you do have some opinions…
Vesey after hearing his comments today,
Boston 75%
Toronto 20%
Other 5%
Only way Boston loses him is if they blow the meeting.
Still shocked Boston didn’t go after Kevin Hayes when he did this.