Ty Anderson: Bruins have money, but must be patient as free agency opens

Versteeg was also a Bruins draft pick back in '04 and played about 50 games for Providence 05-07.

Versteeg was also a Bruins draft pick back in '04 and played about 50 games for Providence 05-07.
- Neely8Em

And was traded away for peanuts. Brandon Bochenski I think?

Great writeup Ty, with some interesting names.
If I were Sweeney, I'd try to go the 'bargain basement' route with some reclamation projects. The bidding war is going to be beyond INSANE for the likes of Demers, Russell, Okposo,Eriksson,etc.
I'd try to get some pieces at an affordable rate (Stempniak,Kelly, Vanek, any other possible low cost D not named Liles...maybe Carle?) and keep a ton of cash on hand.
Why? With other teams overpaying for blueline help and the market in short supply...next year's expansion draft is going to "shake the tree" and force a few good D-men loose. If Sweeney is smart and plays his cards right, the short term pain will be worth the long term gain and actually get the B's an actual good top pairing d-man with some upside instead of getting into a bidding war for marginal talent.
The best decision Sweeney made this year was not paying the ridiculous asking price for an overrated Shattenkirk.

Great writeup Ty, with some interesting names.
If I were Sweeney, I'd try to go the 'bargain basement' route with some reclamation projects. The bidding war is going to be beyond INSANE for the likes of Demers, Russell, Okposo,Eriksson,etc.
I'd try to get some pieces at an affordable rate (Stempniak,Kelly, Vanek, any other possible low cost D not named Liles...maybe Carle?) and keep a ton of cash on hand.
Why? With other teams overpaying for blueline help and the market in short supply...next year's expansion draft is going to "shake the tree" and force a few good D-men loose. If Sweeney is smart and plays his cards right, the short term pain will be worth the long term gain and actually get the B's an actual good top pairing d-man with some upside instead of getting into a bidding war for marginal talent.
The best decision Sweeney made this year was not paying the ridiculous asking price for an overrated Shattenkirk.
- shanerationX

Tend to agree with you. The younger version of myself would be wishing for a huge splash today. The older, wiser, wore down, version of myself just wants them to not blow it

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Demers, because if we don't get substantial defensive help, we will be out of the play-offs again this year.
Signing JML and Versteeg could be low cost improvements as well.
And, hopefully Jimmy Vesey could still end up with the B's.

Well, after reading I have to say, There really is no help on the way, Nobody available can help this Team, too many needs, they may be better off starting the Season like this and see if anyone is available come December-Jan
I mean really giving Okposo or guys like him 6-7m is just bad business

Good thing I found Talisker

And was traded away for peanuts. Brandon Bochenski I think?
- Charlie.Conway

Yup.. like so many other prospects before and since.

Could be worse, Chia-Pet could still be our GM

And was traded away for peanuts. Brandon Bochenski I think?
- Charlie.Conway

Yes.

OK. Here we go...

I got my grain alcohol ready.

Ty Anderson: Bruins have money, but must be patient as free agency opens
- tyanderson

Hoping the Sabres follow this same route, but Bob McKenzie just reported Sabres will throw "crazy Money" at Okposo.

Could be worse, Chia-Pet could still be our GM
- BruinBlood

How about that Hall trade?

NOW lets re-visit the offer sheet idea
you lose (4)-1st round picks

Charlie McAvoy
Jakub Zboril
David Pastrnak
Linus Arnesson (had no 1st)

IF you think you will have a #1 D-Man on your Roster for the next 10-Years you DO IT

Now, Is Trouba a potential #1 ????

NOW lets re-visit the offer sheet idea
you lose (4)-1st round picks

Charlie McAvoy
Jakub Zboril
David Pastrnak
Linus Arnesson (had no 1st)

IF you think you will have a #1 D-Man on your Roster for the next 10-Years you DO IT

Now, Is Trouba a potential #1 ????
- BruinBlood

He is projected to be. He is also only 22 and defenseman take longer to develop. Not every guy is going to be Victor Hedman but it's a good example.

The Bruins don't do well with 1st rounds picks. Just acquiring them is not the whole of it. Go down the list in the last 10 years. How many panned out? How many are still here? If traded what was the return?

My point is both are gambles. One has clearly not worked for you. Maybe try something different? Or change the way in which you mange your assets?

NOW lets re-visit the offer sheet idea
you lose (4)-1st round picks

Charlie McAvoy
Jakub Zboril
David Pastrnak
Linus Arnesson (had no 1st)

IF you think you will have a #1 D-Man on your Roster for the next 10-Years you DO IT

Now, Is Trouba a potential #1 ????
- BruinBlood

No, trouba is like a number 3 right now, maybe A soft 2. He is too risky at this time for 4 firsts and overpaying. Trade a first and like morrow or someone for his rights and sign him to a two year bridge deal at 4 million per. Then if trouba is worth it, and when chara is off the books , he gets his 7 or 8 million .

OK. Here we go...

I got my grain alcohol ready.
- glove_was_stuck

No, trouba is like a number 3 right now, maybe A soft 2. He is too risky at this time for 4 firsts and overpaying. Trade a first and like morrow or someone for his rights and sign him to a two year bridge deal at 4 million per. Then if trouba is worth it, and when chara is off the books , he gets his 7 or 8 million .
- Videoj

Look at the Bruins #1 picks, this has been an Issue for Years, if they're not picking in the Top-3 theyre consistently unsuccesful, Pasta was a great Pick, that's about it.

I honestly don't know THAT much about Trouba, if your saying he's more of a #3 then right Forget it, but if he projects #1 in the next 2-years you do it.

Other than that you go after Shattenkirk/Fowler and you lose a Pasta, Not sure how much a of a realistic choice Sweeney has here

Look at the Bruins #1 picks, this has been an Issue for Years, if they're not picking in the Top-3 theyre consistently unsuccesful, Pasta was a great Pick, that's about it.

I honestly don't know THAT much about Trouba, if your saying he's more of a #3 then right Forget it, but if he projects #1 in the next 2-years you do it.

Other than that you go after Shattenkirk/Fowler and you lose a Pasta, Not sure how much a of a realistic choice Sweeney has here
- BruinBlood

You're telling it Trouba!

You're telling it Trouba!
- glove_was_stuck

trouba? PFFT, we are resigning Chazz Michael Michaels.

trouba? PFFT, we are resigning Chazz Michael Michaels.
- dothedougie

https://twitter.com/Draft...status/748879514218950656

https://twitter.com/Draft...status/748879514218950656
- glove_was_stuck

Love it

Look at the Bruins #1 picks, this has been an Issue for Years, if they're not picking in the Top-3 theyre consistently unsuccesful, Pasta was a great Pick, that's about it.

I honestly don't know THAT much about Trouba, if your saying he's more of a #3 then right Forget it, but if he projects #1 in the next 2-years you do it.

Other than that you go after Shattenkirk/Fowler and you lose a Pasta, Not sure how much a of a realistic choice Sweeney has here
- BruinBlood

I think it's also hard to say because he played behind Buff, Enstrom and Myers.

He projects to be a #1.

I think Boston is getting a bad rep for their first round picks, but it is unwarranted. Look at the positions and such. Take out this year and last because they are question marks.

2014 Pastrnak at 25th.
2013 no 1st round pick
2012 Malcolm Subban at 24th
2011 Dougie Hamilton at 9th
2010 Tyler Seguin at 2nd
2009 Jordan Caron at 25th
2008 Joe Colbourne at 16th
2007 Zach Hamill at 8th
2006 Phil Kessel at 5th
2005 Matt Lashoff at 25th

How can we disrespect this list honestly? Aside from Hamill at 8th as a complete bust, They drafted 4 times at 24th or 25th overall and Pasta is a proven asset, and Subban is still a question mark.

Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton are all stars or future stars.

And yes Colbourne was a bust as well, but Boston traded him for Kaberle, which, yes, helped Boston win a cup...

To say their next 4 1st round picks are going to be wasted is a pretty grim interpretation that is unwarranted

I think it's also hard to say because he played behind Buff, Enstrom and Myers.

He projects to be a #1.

I think Boston is getting a bad rep for their first round picks, but it is unwarranted. Look at the positions and such. Take out this year and last because they are question marks.

2014 Pastrnak at 25th.
2013 no 1st round pick
2012 Malcolm Subban at 24th
2011 Dougie Hamilton at 9th
2010 Tyler Seguin at 2nd
2009 Jordan Caron at 25th
2008 Joe Colbourne at 16th
2007 Zach Hamill at 8th
2006 Phil Kessel at 5th
2005 Matt Lashoff at 25th

How can we disrespect this list honestly? Aside from Hamill at 8th as a complete bust, They drafted 4 times at 24th or 25th overall and Pasta is a proven asset, and Subban is still a question mark.

Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton are all stars or future stars.

And yes Colbourne was a bust as well, but Boston traded him for Kaberle, which, yes, helped Boston win a cup...

To say their next 4 1st round picks are going to be wasted is a pretty grim interpretation that is unwarranted
- Videoj

I just cannot put a positive spin on any of that given how the assets have been managed.

Subban is a question agreed.
Sweeney just might (frank) up Pasta today.

Kessel was actually a rare win.

I just cannot put a positive spin on any of that given how the assets have been managed.

Subban is a question agreed.
Sweeney just might (frank) up Pasta today.

Kessel was actually a rare win.
- glove_was_stuck

It's not about what happened with those players though, it's about their drafting ability.

Even if they trade away good players, that doesn't hinder their first round draft picking, which many people have been alluding to.