What Should the Boston Bruins Do Moving Forward?

With the 4 Nations Tournament and the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Boston Bruins are in a challenging position. They hold a record of 25-20-6, and 4-1-1 in their last 6 games, placing them third in the Atlantic Division. However, the race is tighter than a Harry Sinden contract negotiation. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens are all close behind. The time is fast approaching for the Bruins to make strategic moves.

The Options:

Buy for the Playoffs

The Bruins have a strong group of players to build around, including David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman, and Charlie McAvoy. Bringing in a top-six forward or a skilled center could really help the team. Players like Brock Nelson, Trevor Zegras, J. T. Miller, and Dylan Cozens have been mentioned or linked to the Bruins as potential additions. Making a big trade might provide the boost the Bruins need to secure a playoff position. However, it would once again come at the expense of mortgaging the future with draft picks and young prospects, not to mention roster players, from an already bare cupboard.

Retool for the Future

The Bruins may want to think about a long-term strategy, looking at next season and beyond. With a Brad Marchand contract set to expire on July 1, he is their most valuable trade chip. They could try to gain draft picks or young players who are ready to play. However, this is not likely unless Marchand requests a trade. He has a no-trade list of eight teams, so they don’t need his permission, but it’s important to have his support for a player of his caliber. Additionally, players like Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau also have expiring contracts and could be useful in trades for future assets. Morgan Geekie is a restricted free agent, with arbitration rights, making him appealing to playoff teams. And they would be willing to overpay.

President Cam Neely has said the Bruins have to prepare for two scenarios. “Right now, we’ve got to look at two paths. One that we’re buying and one that we’re maybe retooling a little bit. We still feel like we’ve got a playoff team here,” said Neely.

GM Don Sweeney hasn’t been heard from.

What if it were my decision?

I’m not spending assets to make a run at the playoffs to either 1) get eliminated early or; 2) not make the playoffs (that’s a real possibility). Mortgaging any more of the future is not an option. They’ve done that the past few seasons and are now paying the price for going all in. Had they won a cup in that time, it would have made a retool an easier pill to swallow but they didn’t. That’s a discussion for another day.

So, a retool it is.

I’m not trading Marchand unless he asks for a trade. I would make it clear to him what direction the team is taking and it would be his decision to stay or go. He’s earned that. Obviously, trading Marchand would help recoup some assets for the now and the future. But his loyalty to the organization is worth something, at least to me.

I would approach Frederic and Brazeau’s camps and make one final offer on an extension and if their ask is beyond the limits I would be willing to go to, then I would trade both. I do believe both can be replaced for less than what they might be asking for and getting assets back in return is the big bonus here.  

To a lesser extent, I would do the same with John Beecher. However, his qualifying offer is just $874,125 with arbitration rights, so if he wants to sign that, great!

I’m not in a hurry to trade Geekie however, I need to know we are in the same ballpark. And having arbitration rights lessens my concerns with him. But his stock is also rising with his play as of late, both in terms of what he could ask for in compensation and trade value. I’m not sure you could replace him for less money in free agency.

At this point, I would be giving long, extended looks to Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov and maybe even John Farinacci. I need to know if they fit into the future with this organization and then in the offseason when the real roster transitioning takes place, I know what I have.

The big overhaul happens in the offseason.

I’d be looking to move on from Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and Joonas Korpisalo. It’s not that the Bruins are in need of cap space with over $20 million in space and only Geekie and Mason Lohrei in need of major extensions. Of course, there is Marchand as well once a decision is made on his part. But in trading Korpisalo, you can bring someone in cheaper and by trading Coyle and Carlo, you are bringing in some much-needed new blood, hopefully in a hockey trade. Carlo would need replacing because there isn’t a ready in waiting prospect down in Providence. Moving on from these players is more easily done in the offseason than at trade deadline.

I may not have the correct solution, but I think the vast majority will agree something needs to happen.