Anthony Travalgia: Charlie McAvoy finally finding his game Finally healthy and up to speed, Charlie McAvoy is back to being a difference maker for the Bruins.

Nice to see him have a solid game. It’s all about confidence with him to get back on track.

Here’s a bold take. Lots of chatter leading up to the deadline. But 2 moves I would make if I’m Don Sweeney:

1) I’m on the phone with Rob Blake to gauge his desperation with dumping Kovalchuk. Seems logical LA is retooling so they dont need/want his 6.25 on the books. If Don can get LA to retain 20-25% salary, it’s a great move, providing the return is also somewhat minimal. It’s not a rental situation and a grabbing a guy that can step in and score 20+ goals on Krejcis line for 2 more years.

2) Backes for Lucic. Both are complete duds. What’s the harm, maybe help out both players, rejuvenate their careers. Wishful thinking I know...Perhaps Edm would retain a bit of salary considering Lucic is signed for more term than Backes. Lucic back with Bruins would be very interesting to see. I have no idea if Lucic is sour with Boston? Maybe he wouldn’t waive his NTC. I just can’t see Backes waiving his.

Here’s a bold take. Lots of chatter leading up to the deadline. But 2 moves I would make if I’m Don Sweeney:

1) I’m on the phone with Rob Blake to gauge his desperation with dumping Kovalchuk. Seems logical LA is retooling so they dont need/want his 6.25 on the books. If Don can get LA to retain 20-25% salary, it’s a great move, providing the return is also somewhat minimal. It’s not a rental situation and a grabbing a guy that can step in and score 20+ goals on Krejcis line for 2 more years.

2) Backes for Lucic. Both are complete duds. What’s the harm, maybe help out both players, rejuvenate their careers. Wishful thinking I know...Perhaps Edm would retain a bit of salary considering Lucic is signed for more term than Backes. Lucic back with Bruins would be very interesting to see. I have no idea if Lucic is sour with Boston? Maybe he wouldn’t waive his NTC. I just can’t see Backes waiving his.
- Tachmo

Lucic has 2 extra years at that cap hit and a contract that is structured worse than Backes' is. They are both terrible so I would not gamble on rejunivating his career by doubling down and taking on a worse contract for an already terrible one you have. No thank you.

Lucic has 2 extra years at that cap hit and a contract that is structured worse than Backes' is. They are both terrible so I would not gamble on rejunivating his career by doubling down and taking on a worse contract for an already terrible one you have. No thank you.
- RickJames77

I didn’t know it was 2 more years. Yah that’s a concern. Gross, can’t believe Edm is stuck with that for 4 more years!

I didn’t know it was 2 more years. Yah that’s a concern. Gross, can’t believe Edm is stuck with that for 4 more years!
- Tachmo

(frank)

Here’s a bold take. Lots of chatter leading up to the deadline. But 2 moves I would make if I’m Don Sweeney:

1) I’m on the phone with Rob Blake to gauge his desperation with dumping Kovalchuk. Seems logical LA is retooling so they dont need/want his 6.25 on the books. If Don can get LA to retain 20-25% salary, it’s a great move, providing the return is also somewhat minimal. It’s not a rental situation and a grabbing a guy that can step in and score 20+ goals on Krejcis line for 2 more years.

2) Backes for Lucic. Both are complete duds. What’s the harm, maybe help out both players, rejuvenate their careers. Wishful thinking I know...Perhaps Edm would retain a bit of salary considering Lucic is signed for more term than Backes. Lucic back with Bruins would be very interesting to see. I have no idea if Lucic is sour with Boston? Maybe he wouldn’t waive his NTC. I just can’t see Backes waiving his.
- Tachmo

A rental will not help them. If you rent Kovie for the short term, there is still nobody waiting for their shot in the system. Senyshyn, Bjork, Heinen and Donato have all proven they're not fit for the role or even a tryout. Maybe Lauko in 2 years?

A rental will not help them. If you rent Kovie for the short term, there is still nobody waiting for their shot in the system. Senyshyn, Bjork, Heinen and Donato have all proven they're not fit for the role or even a tryout. Maybe Lauko in 2 years?
- glove_was_stuck

That’s why I like Kovalchuk because he has term left. Some would think of that as a bad thing and it might be with an aging player. It all depends on if LA will eat some of the contract.

That’s why I like Kovalchuk because he has term left. Some would think of that as a bad thing and it might be with an aging player. It all depends on if LA will eat some of the contract.
- Tachmo

it's worth considering. I would like Sweeney to fix the problem for a longer term any of these guys. This is off the top of m head without doing any deep research (i'm at work)

Stone
Neiderreiter
Schwartz (doubtful now that STL is on the upswing)
Silfverberg
Johannsson (3C)
Henrique
Namestnikov (3C)
Zuccarello

Long shot possible high reward:
Puljiarvi
Yamamoto

it's worth considering. I would like Sweeney to fix the problem for a longer term any of these guys. This is off the top of m head without doing any deep research (i'm at work)

Stone
Neiderreiter
Schwartz (doubtful now that STL is on the upswing)
Silfverberg
Johannsson (3C)
Henrique
Namestnikov (3C)
Zuccarello

Long shot possible high reward:
Puljiarvi
Yamamoto
- glove_was_stuck

As a fan I usually like to see my team bring in a high profile rental, but rarely it pans out. Kaberle, Nash. The price for Nash last year was really high. How many years can you pay that and eventually it will come back to bite you.

Say they trade a 2nd and Donato for Simmonds, and get bounced out early. Simmonds walks and they are still scrambling for another top 6. Never ends....

at least we won a cup with Kaberle....

at least we won a cup in spite of Kaberle....
- 77emac77

Cleaned that up to make it a little more accurate.

I thought Lauko might have made the team out of camp like Pasta did. He certainly had the drive. lol

Senyshyn has not played a regular season game yet with the big club. He had to learn more is needed than his speed to the outside.

I thought Lauko might have made the team out of camp like Pasta did. He certainly had the drive. lol

Senyshyn has not played a regular season game yet with the big club. He had to learn more is needed than his speed to the outside.
- T-Rask

dude, he'll never make it.

I thought Lauko might have made the team out of camp like Pasta did. He certainly had the drive. lol

Senyshyn has not played a regular season game yet with the big club. He had to learn more is needed than his speed to the outside.
- T-Rask

Geez that Senyshyn pick stills irritates me. All the experts were saying Barzal, Barzal... Everyone in the building knew it was a reach. If you wanna take a flyer on him, do it in the 2nd round. Or trade the pick down.

Geez that Senyshyn pick stills irritates me. All the experts were saying Barzal, Barzal... Everyone in the building knew it was a reach. If you wanna take a flyer on him, do it in the 2nd round. Or trade the pick down.
- Tachmo

Barzal, Connor, Chabot went 1-2-3 right after us. Those teams must have poop when we left them all there. Plus Boeser a few picks after that.

Cleaned that up to make it a little more accurate.
- shoreorrpark

LOL.. I'm pretty sure he made one important play, .. I'll have to dig out that dvd.

PS Go Huskies, feel good for my brother in law, for years he was just happy Northeastern was still invited to the beanpot LOL

As a fan I usually like to see my team bring in a high profile rental, but rarely it pans out. Kaberle, Nash. The price for Nash last year was really high. How many years can you pay that and eventually it will come back to bite you.

Say they trade a 2nd and Donato for Simmonds, and get bounced out early. Simmonds walks and they are still scrambling for another top 6. Never ends....
- Tachmo

Good rental in a by gone era. He will only cost the Bruins and not put them over Tampa or Toronto.

Barzal, Connor, Chabot went 1-2-3 right after us. Those teams must have poop when we left them all there. Plus Boeser a few picks after that.
- mikeq672

So I don't remember anyone talking about Boeser. There was more talk about Hanfin, Werenski, Connor, Barzal, Chabot, Timo Mier and even Lawson Crouse.

Not having a backup plan to acquiring Hanafin is killing this team. I think Sweeney has done a good job considering the mess that was left to him but it is clear he was not prepared for that draft or even his 1st season as a GM.

So I don't remember anyone talking about Boeser. There was more talk about Hanfin, Werenski, Connor, Barzal, Chabot, Timo Mier and even Lawson Crouse.

Not having a backup plan to acquiring Hanafin is killing this team. I think Sweeney has done a good job considering the mess that was left to him but it is clear he was not prepared for that draft or even his 1st season as a GM.
- glove_was_stuck

Pretty much. Looking back, Dons first couple years were a disaster. The Hamilton trade, to the Belesky signing, Backes signing, Nash trade, etc... He did rape the Kings for Lucic.

Overall it is what it is, Don hasn’t been perfect but he’s been alright. I feel he needs to make things happen now. He has the luxury of the best line in hockey with the 3 of the best contacts in those 3. Hard not believe he can’t build around that and be a contender right now!

So I don't remember anyone talking about Boeser. There was more talk about Hanfin, Werenski, Connor, Barzal, Chabot, Timo Mier and even Lawson Crouse.

Not having a backup plan to acquiring Hanafin is killing this team. I think Sweeney has done a good job considering the mess that was left to him but it is clear he was not prepared for that draft or even his 1st season as a GM.
- glove_was_stuck

did sweeney draft pasta? or was he already in the system?

did sweeney draft pasta? or was he already in the system?
- Fountain-San

I think Sweeney was the GM of Providence at the time. Pasta was drafted 2014.

EDIT: Donato, Heinen, Bjork and Emil Johansson were also part of that draft.

did sweeney draft pasta? or was he already in the system?
- Fountain-San

I think Big Pete drafted Pasta

Pretty much. Looking back, Dons first couple years were a disaster. The Hamilton trade, to the Belesky signing, Backes signing, Nash trade, etc... He did rape the Kings for Lucic.

Overall it is what it is, Don hasn’t been perfect but he’s been alright. I feel he needs to make things happen now. He has the luxury of the best line in hockey with the 3 of the best contacts in those 3. Hard not believe he can’t build around that and be a contender right now!
- Tachmo

I don't fault him for this. He made a move to improve the team. Nash was a vast improvement over any wing in the system not named Marchand or Pastrnak. You couldn't predict how Rick Nash's career ended. The plan was a line of DeBrusk, Krejci and Nash.

I don't fault him for this. He made a move to improve the team. Nash was a vast improvement over any wing in the system not named Marchand or Pastrnak. You couldn't predict how Rick Nash's career ended. The plan was a line of DeBrusk, Krejci and Nash.
- glove_was_stuck

Maybe the Nash trade wasnt that bad. Considering they got to dump the Belesky and Spooner contracts... maybe Don won that trade!! Lol[/img]