Wednesday Mailbag; Offseason Edition

We are in the dog days of summer when it comes to the National Hockey League, but there is still some work for general managers across the league, and things are no different for Don Sweeney. Obviously, the biggest piece is getting Goaltender Jeremy Swayman under contract.

What better time to take your questions and do a Wednesday Mailbag?

Let’s get to it!

James asks:

Sweeney said (Brandon) Bussi would be given the opportunity to win backup job, but isn’t that just lip service? Realistically, I don’t see (Joonas) Korpisalo losing the job. What are the odds of losing Bussi in waivers?

Answer:

I believe it’s more than just empty words. Last season, Sweeney provided young players with opportunities that resulted in success. It’s reasonable to expect the same approach this season. If Brandon Bussi secures the position during camp, Sweeney, Bob Essensa, and Jim Montgomery will engage in discussions and take required actions.

Waivers and the likelihood of Bussi clearing hinge on timing. Clubs can initiate the waiver process for re-assignment purposes 12 days prior to the regular season’s commencement. Delaying the Bruins’ decision may increase the possibility of successfully passing him through waivers, as other teams will likely have finalized their rosters. Any team claiming Bussi would be obligated to retain him for the entire season or offer him to other claiming teams. They also can’t trade him without such offering.

Jimmy asks:

You (and others) have been clear with how the (Dale and Mark) Hunters in London (Knights, OHL) are at the top of there field in making players ready for the NHL.

Bruins seem to share that opinion, especially lately.

I was wondering how you who have followed the Knights closely this season would have felt if the Bruins opted to select Jared Woolley in the 5th round this previous draft (maybe if Jonathan Morello wasn’t available)?

Answer:

Jimmy asked me this question last week to which I responded via email. I thought this question should be here as well. Nikita Zadorov, Max Jones, Alec Regula and Jackson Edward are former Knights now in the Bruins organization. It is fact that since the Hunter’s have owned the Knights, no other team in the world has produced as many NHL players.

Going into the draft, I was skeptical that Morello would be available at that position. Similarly, I doubted Woolley’s availability, but my ranking placed Morello higher. If Morello had been taken before the Bruins’ pick, Woolley would have been an acceptable choice. However, with Morello still on the board, the decision was obvious to me. In fact, I was disappointed the Bruins didn’t select Morello with their fourth-round pick.

Brendan asks:

Has the Rutger McGroarty train left the station? Not that I would want to get rid of Frederic, but I would consider moving him for a piece like McGroarty now that the Bruins have other pieces in place like Zadorov, Kastelic, and Jones to take on a similar tough-guy role even though Frederic has more skill.

You can’t get something for nothing, but I think adding a piece like McGroarty to LW is just what the team needs for the future with an aging Marchand on the left-side and more upside/years of control over Frederic.

Not that it would be a 1-for-1 as Frederic is a UFA at the end of the year. My own GM hat says something like Trent Frederic, a higher pick (‘26 2nd or ‘25 3rd), and a prospect like Brett Harrison or Dans Locmelis could get the job done if that train hasn’t yet left the station. Wondering your thoughts or if you’ve heard rumblings?

Answer:

I received multiple questions about McGroarty and chose this one because Brendan actually gave a trade proposal.

The Jets should not be eager to trade McGroarty. They have exclusive rights to him until August 2026, and I anticipate that holding onto him until the end of the upcoming season could increase his value, especially if he excels at the University of Michigan again. I am not concerned about his value decreasing, as they would retain his rights for an additional year. This timeframe provides ample opportunity to persuade him to sign with the team. Releasing him prematurely would likely not be advantageous for the Jets.

Andrew asks:

It looks like GM Don Sweeney is giving players opportunities to win a middle six RW spot. In the scenario where they want to add one at the deadline. Who would be your preference? I think TJ Oshie would be mine. Stanley Cup experience, can play a heavy game.

Answer:

I haven’t considered that future possibility yet and am eager to observe how they choose to fill the position in the immediate future. Oshie could be a valuable addition, but he doesn’t fit the profile of players Sweeney typically pursues. Sweeney tends to prefer players he can try to secure on longer-term contracts, whereas Oshie will be 38 years old by the time the trade deadline arrives.

Kevin asks:

Hi Dom. I know we are a scoring winger short, but I like that an opportunity will be available for a young player to fill a big role. For all of the talk about Merkulov or Lysell having a chance, I think it’s a chance to see if Frederic can elevate beyond a 3rd line role. I don’t think he’s a top 6 guy, but the B’s can get a look to see if he can elevate before he becomes a free agent next year. He has value as is, but if he’s come close to his ceiling, you have a better idea of his value going forward.

Answer:

I am confident that Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov will have an opportunity to earn a spot on the roster. When inquired about Merkulov potentially filling the vacant second-line right wing position, my response is whether he has prior experience playing right wing.

Frederic is likely to be considered for a position there, which would create an opportunity on the third line. If Matthew Poitras secures that position, it seems unlikely that Merkulov or Lysell will be chosen to play alongside him. Jones could be a good fit, creating an opening on the fourth line, but neither Merkulov nor Lysell fit the profile of the type of fourth-liners the Bruins seem to prefer.

There are options. We are just going to have to wait to see who takes advantage of the opportunity.

Matt asks:

Hi Dom. Love your work on the B’s! Thank you.

Assuming Lindholm is 1C, Coyle back to 3C, which one of the following will be the 2C to start the season? Can you show your confidence by percentage for each (eg Poitras 90%, Merkulov 5%, etc.)?

A. Poitras

B. Merkulov

C. Zacha

D. Other

Answer:

Thanks, Matt. In my assessment, Charlie Coyle is likely to remain the second-line center for the foreseeable future. I anticipate Pavel Zacha playing on the left wing alongside Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak. This setup leaves the third-line center position up for grabs. Assuming he is in good health, Poitras has a strong advantage, with a probability ranging from 75% to 80%. Merkulov, on the other hand, stands a 20% to 25% chance of overtaking him.

Andrew asks:

Should the Bruins take a gamble and sign Filip Zadina?

Answer:

Andrew, your question is insightful. I conducted a poll on X where I asked Bruins fans the same question, and the results were quite unexpected. 1553 fans participated in the poll, with 61.6% in favor of the Bruins taking the risk.

Seriously, I am asking for a friend: Should the #NHLBruins take a chance on Filip Zadina?

— Dominic Tiano (@dominictiano) July 3, 2024

In my view, if they are able to sign him for $1.1 million, they could assign him to the AHL without it affecting the salary cap, thus reducing the risk. Moreover, they still have numerous contract spots available, further reducing the risk. With 5 contract spots left after signing their remaining RFAs, I would argue that there is no risk involved.

However, the final decision will depend on the insights provided by their internal analytics and professional scouts. The only hindrance from a business perspective is cash.

Countless questions about Jeremy Swayman:

Answer:

Allow the negotiations to proceed naturally. This is a common occurrence, and contracts of this magnitude, with significant implications, require time. Exercise patience.

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