Quoting: DefenseFirst
And we go from bad to horrid. Where to begin.
1. Let’s deal with the reilly stuff. Reilly has been better than zboril. No question. In the playoffs when the cap is lifted reilly would for sure be the 7D for boston. Seems like you’re bouncing back and forth between on ice performance and factoring in contracts.
2. NO NO NO to horvat. There is no room on this team for a center. What could possibly lead anyone to think he should be a target for the bruins? It baffles me.
3. Debrusk, a first, a top prospect, and more for a rental is one of the most egregious overpays I have ever seen on this site. Ridiculous
4. Horvat is not a winger. There is absolutely no evidence to show that he can play RW. There’s a pretty legit chance you move debrusk, a first, a top prospect, and more (still can’t believe what an overpay that is) - and make the team worse.
5. In what universe does acquiring a rental help anything for next year?
Do you sneakily hate the bruins or something?
What moves would you suggest the Bruins make this season to improve the team? Do you want them to keep both Reilly/Smith and ride with the current roster?
1. When accounting for value to the team, contracts have to be factored in. Performance isn't everything, $3M is simply too much for a 7th dman who you will have to bury in the AHL until he might get a chance to play in the playoffs... especially when you factor in how tight the team will be to the cap next year and he'll still be on the books if you don't move him. There is a reason why Reilly has been through waivers twice (unclaimed both times despite D needy teams in Toronto and Ottawa). Reilly and Smith collectively account for $6M of cap and have been healthy scratched multiple times this season... despite injuries. Both are NHL players who should see regular minutes on other teams but they're trending in the wrong direction.
Smith has a better chance of contributing to the Bruins this season, but his shooting percentage has decreased each of the past six years, he is an incredibly streaky player, and he hasn't played his best in the playoffs for the Bruins. It is hard to see a good return for either player as many teams are right up to the cap and cannot afford to take on their contracts, but I think Bruins are better off moving both to make room for TDL deal.
2. Centers of Horvat's caliber do not hit the open market. Bruins have significant holes at the center position for next year and beyond... the team needs to address it. Horvat is a better player than you give him credit for.
3. Not a whole lot of comparables for a top 6 center cost in a trade, but looking at recent forward acquisitions (somewhere between Hagel/Fiala/Rakell/Duchene/ROR and Eichel)... the cost is a young NHL player, top prospect, and first. Might be an overpay for Horvat, but I think he could fetch close to that return from another team. Maybe Debrusk and a first gets it done?
I am a big fan of Debrusk, but its hard to see a spot on the team when his deal expires after next season (assuming Pasta re-signs). He is going to want a raise and money is tied up with Marchand, Hall, and Pasta. Lysell will likely be pushing for a Top-6 role at that point too. IMO Debrusk should be the key piece in securing a trade for a Top-6 C of the future. The move for Horvat or a similar target would not be a rental, but a long-term move.
An alternative to this as KennyBoi noted in another thread is to go all-in this year and get a pure rental like Patrick Kane at the deadline. His proposal was Merkulov and two draft picks (both were first rounders IIRC). Pros to this approach are that you add a key piece albeit a rental without losing an important player like Debrusk and risk messing up the room. I understand the short-term view of this move, but if you make this move you would also have to be prepared to go into next season with Zacha and Coyle as your top two centers, which is less than ideal and hope that one of Beecher, McLaughlin, Harrison, Poitras turns into a Top-6 C which is most likely 3-4 years down the road if ever because the team will be short on draft capital.
4. Easier transition to go from center to winger than winger to center. Horvat is a good player with solid hockey IQ... I think he can figure it out especially if he is playing with Bergy and Marchand.
5. Again if the Bruins are making that move for Horvat, they already have a deal in place for an extension.