As tempting as it is, I would not move any of the draft choices in 2010 or 2011 until draft day. My first thought is to keep all the draft choices and build the Bruins for the next 10-15.
The only move I may make is trade two of the draft choices plus a young prospect (Wheeler) to make sure you get the number one pick, if available. Hall looks like the real deal. Otherwise, keep all your draft choices in the next two years
Draft picks are important assets in this cap era and for sure, the Bruins have to be very careful if they decide to move one of Toronto's 1st round pick. That said, the Bruins are not in a re-building mode and they should take a long and hard look if an impact player, who can fill need, is aviable. The Bruins are not a contending team, this year, but they are not very far for that target.
For cap reasons, adding Kovalchuk only hurts the next few years with players already on the team. You'd be losing Lucuc or Krejci just to sign a player of that caliber. If you keep the pics, you still could be having an impact player next year. Just look at what Jordan Staal did with Pittsburgh and Bergy did with the Bruins.
For cap reasons, adding Kovalchuk only hurts the next few years with players already on the team. You'd be losing Lucuc or Krejci just to sign a player of that caliber. If you keep the pics, you still could be having an impact player next year. Just look at what Jordan Staal did with Pittsburgh and Bergy did with the Bruins.
I'm not advocating for the Bruins to acquire Kovalchuk. These kind of trade should be made when the timing is right and when you're convince that this " X " player can put you over the top or play a significant role in a championship run... Not the case as is stand...
I totally agree. Adding rental players are useless if your team is struggling. If anything we should have gotten an amazing rental last year when our team was performing. Hopefully bruins can become the red wings of the 2000-2009
Draft picks are important assets in this cap era and for sure, the Bruins have to be very careful if they decide to move one of Toronto's 1st round pick. That said, the Bruins are not in a re-building mode and they should take a long and hard look if an impact player, who can fill need, is aviable. The Bruins are not a contending team, this year, but they are not very far for that target.
Not a contending team? Interesting POV considering B's are currently seeded 5th in playoff standings.
I guess you may have said the same at season's end last year about PIT (seeded 4th by virtue of tie-breaker w/PHI) and CAR, seeded 6th. But then you would have been wrong.
FYI - both of those "non-contenders" played for the right to win the Stanley Cup, and one actually won it.
Not a contending team? Interesting POV considering B's are currently seeded 5th in playoff standings.
I guess you may have said the same at season's end last year about PIT (seeded 4th by virtue of tie-breaker w/PHI) and CAR, seeded 6th. But then you would have been wrong.
FYI - both of those "non-contenders" played for the right to win the Stanley Cup, and one actually won it.
Are you saying that this team can beat Washington, New-Jersey, Pittsburg and even Buffalo with the kind of performances they showed since the beginning of the season? This team is sooooo inconsistent defensively and have a hard time to score. How do you think our offense will fare against Brodeur, Miller or Fleury? This team is about 2-3 players to be a serious contender and it's not even a stretch.
I agree and wouldn't trade any picks at the deadline unless it's a 4th of 5th rounder.
If some good deals could be made,with Savard extended and Krejci and Bergeron still under contract,I would move some prospects like Hamill or Colbourne instead of the picks.I trust Chia,has done a really good job so far
As tempting as it is, I would not move any of the draft choices in 2010 or 2011 until draft day. My first thought is to keep all the draft choices and build the Bruins for the next 10-15.
The only move I may make is trade two of the draft choices plus a young prospect (Wheeler) to make sure you get the number one pick, if available. Hall looks like the real deal. Otherwise, keep all your draft choices in the next two years
I find it funny that you don't want him to trade picks.... but would be fine with trading 2 picks and Wheeler for Taylor Hall?!?!?!?
What if the Toronto pick is #3 overall and they can get Fowler??? You are going to trade Fowler, Wheeler, and a pick for Hall??? I mean Hall is legit, but he's not Crosby or Ovechkin.
if the leafs' pick is not 1,2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin) I'm hoping the Bruins do their best to get Jack Campbell...it sure beats any of the other goaltending "prospects" we have.
if the leafs' pick is not 1,2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin) I'm hoping the Bruins do their best to get Jack Campbell...it sure beats any of the other goaltending "prospects" we have.
It's funny, the Bruins have lost a first line goal scorer, Rask has just 22 years and you think that we need Jack Campbell? Serious, did you watch the Bruins this season?
Are you saying that this team can beat Washington, New-Jersey, Pittsburg and even Buffalo with the kind of performances they showed since the beginning of the season? This team is sooooo inconsistent defensively and have a hard time to score. How do you think our offense will fare against Brodeur, Miller or Fleury? This team is about 2-3 players to be a serious contender and it's not even a stretch.
I think they're closer than that but I do largely agree with you. Kovalchuk could be a cap killer. At this point, keep the picks and see what bears fruit. With all those picks, you have to think that they can come up with some good players.
if the leafs' pick is not 1,2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin) I'm hoping the Bruins do their best to get Jack Campbell...it sure beats any of the other goaltending "prospects" we have.
Could be wrong here but I don't think he gets picked in the 1st round,since we have a couple of 2nd rounders,we could take him there if he is available,but not with our 1st rounders
It's funny, the Bruins have lost a first line goal scorer, Rask has just 22 years and you think that we need Jack Campbell? Serious, did you watch the Bruins this season?
you must have completely missed the part where i said "if it's not 1, 2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin)"
from what i understand, they're the only serious first line talent threats (or dman)
read a little more carefully before you write me off...
if the leafs' pick is not 1,2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin) I'm hoping the Bruins do their best to get Jack Campbell...it sure beats any of the other goaltending "prospects" we have.
The Bruins have a more pressing need: D-man. I fully expect them to look at this situation during the draft. They have a TON of #4-5-6 D-man but there's no top prospect who can be a legit #2. That's the area the Bruins need to adress, first and foremost.
If we had #1 overall and Chia picked Fowler over Hall, I'd be pissed. Elite forward prospects generally make a much larger impact long before elite defensive prospects. Where forwards can come in and be difference makers right away (see Tavares, Kane, Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stamkos, Duchesne). These guys come in and have immediate impact which is very important, and Hall is in the upper echelon of elite forward prospect. Defensive prospects like Hedman, Bogosian, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Schenn, Hedman, E Johnson and J Johnson all have growing pains, and are harder to gauge on draft day.
I feel much more confident the Bruins can get two solid players if they go Forward with the Toronto pick, and defense with their Pick and then again with those second rounders. If we get #3 overall and Fowler is there, then by all means take him, but I wouldnt pass up either Hall or Seguin. I'd be much more comfortable with a Hall/Seguin and Merill/Forbort/Pysyk/Gudbranson/Petrovic draft then I would be with a Fowler and late forward pick.
The only way I include any of Toronto's 1st round selections is if they were conditional in the deal if Kovalchuk resigned with Boston.
I firmly believe that a package of Colbourne/Hamil, Wheeler/Caron, Ryder/Wideman (cap purposes only), and Boston's first this year would be a very competitive offer. In todays game Atlanta is gonna have to take some salary back for a 6 million plus player.
I cannot see the team parting with franchise types like Krejci, Lucic, or Rask for a rental. Sign and trade if thats even possible, I would talk about one of they young guys but the package would be significantly reduced because of these players immense value.
Kovalchuk will be moved before the deadline, there is no way that Atlanta risks losing of the handful of elite scorers in the NHL for nothing. They will get a nice return for him but not a Kings ransom.
you must have completely missed the part where i said "if it's not 1, 2, or 3 (hall, fowler, seguin)"
from what i understand, they're the only serious first line talent threats (or dman)
read a little more carefully before you write me off...
I read all your post, and they are not the only answers for the Bruins. Guys like, Gormley, Gudbranson, Connolly, Kabanov, Niederreiter, Galiev ou Tarasenko, would be much more interesting than Campbell. Sorry, if you think that Hall, Fowler or Seguin are the only deals for us, you really need open your mind.
The Bruins have a more pressing need: D-man. I fully expect them to look at this situation during the draft. They have a TON of #4-5-6 D-man but there's no top prospect who can be a legit #2. That's the area the Bruins need to adress, first and foremost.
Gormley, Gudbranson or Forbort would be this answer. If Chia go to draft with all that ton of picks, and Toronto 1st 2010 is a top5, I'd take Gormley and try to make a deal with a package of picks for Kabanov or Niederreiter.
The only way I include any of Toronto's 1st round selections is if they were conditional in the deal if Kovalchuk resigned with Boston.
I firmly believe that a package of Colbourne/Hamil, Wheeler/Caron, Ryder/Wideman (cap purposes only), and Boston's first this year would be a very competitive offer. In todays game Atlanta is gonna have to take some salary back for a 6 million plus player.
I cannot see the team parting with franchise types like Krejci, Lucic, or Rask for a rental. Sign and trade if thats even possible, I would talk about one of they young guys but the package would be significantly reduced because of these players immense value.
Kovalchuk will be moved before the deadline, there is no way that Atlanta risks losing of the handful of elite scorers in the NHL for nothing. They will get a nice return for him but not a Kings ransom.
BK
So, if the Bruins make the deal and re-sign Kovy then the deal becomes Toronto 1st, Boston 1st, and a package of Colbourne/Hamil, Wheeler/Caron, Ryder/Wideman (cap purposes only) ?? By my count, that's 4 first rounders.(and when you say Toronto's first round selections, do you mean both ?? Sorry, but IMO that's overpayment. History has shown, that when teams (Atlanta in this case) are in a position to lose a player to UFA, the return for that player is not what they would get in a trade where he doesn't become an UFA.
You can go all the way back to 1996 when the Kings traded Gretzky to St Louis and see that this would be enormous overpayment.
Fowler is good, but you can get him, or some one like him at #3 without m,oving. You will need to make a trade to get #1 because Carolina is not going to get better. I believe (and most of the guru's) that Hall is better. He's your new Thornton/Tavares/Crosby.
If you want to win a cup you need a stud to lead and a goalie. You have Thomas/Rask, now you need a stud.
I'm with you that its alot of assets to acquire a player like Kovalchuk. If he was acquired AND resigned within the proposed deal the Bruins get the best player (not withstanding the draft pick possibilities) and win the trade easily.
Wheeler is the only one that gives me pause and a guy like Chia with inside info may not include him. You gotta give to get. Is Wheeler a 30-40 goal guy? If so then I would add him to the Lucic, Krejci, and Rask category.
(Edit) BTW, the Toronto selection(s) would have to substitute for a player/prospect.
I would argue that when Gretzky was traded the first time the return value paled in comparison to all that he brought to LA. Later trades he was not the same player. They were trading for a legacy and just a darn good player.
