He’s Back
The Bruins are in full stale and bale mode. Bergeron coming back for his 19th season at $2.5 million base and $2.5 million in incentives. I’m all for the Captain coming back. He’s still nearly a point a game player. 25 goals and 40 assists in 73 games last season. It’s not talked about enough, but him and Marchand are catalysts for Pasternak’s production too. Pasternak, the guy that wants $10 million a year. So, ya. Erection line is tough to stay no to.
However, isn’t everyone expecting the next move to be Krejci? Sweeney and Neeley know 1 play. Lean on the 2011 pillars until they literally crumble. The roster has little to zero young talent to look forward to. The Fabian Lysells and Studnika’s, ummm that’s about it, right? Plus, wasn’t the idea of firing Cassidy to give Montgomery the chance to play and develop a younger core? What’s the plan? Get to the playoffs and collect at least 2 games worth of post season revenue?
Have we mentioned the salary cap? The Bruins have about $2.2 million is space. Marchand and McAvoy are going to start out on the LTIR, but thats like $16 million off the books to start the year. If the Bruins use that space to sign guys now they would have to dump that once McAvoy and Marchand come back. Maybe Bruins take advantage of that to start the season with some smaller deals, but you don’t sacrifice a whole season of your two best players because you’re cap strapped. That’s all to say there have to be some corresponding moves to shed salary. Oh, by the way did I mention Pasternak wants $10 million?
Folignio, Nosek, Craig Smith, Mike Reilly, Forbort are all guys the Bruins need to explore dumping one way or another to open up enough space for either some real talent and literally just fill out the roster. Ulmark would be a guy I’d try to move too, but it feels like they missed the window for goalie movement this summer. And Sweeney has a real hard on for the regular season goalie platoon.
Moving some of these bottom 6 veteran contract could also allow room for young players to develop. That’s the plan right? It should be time to pick a direction, but that feels like asking too much from the Chaim Bloom, I mean Don Sweeney led Bruins.
UPDATE: