For the past several seasons, the Bruins have headed into the trade deadline with an eye on upgrading their situation on the wing and it appears this year will be no exception. With that in mind, NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty mentions that Rangers winger Chris Kreider appears to be their top target between now and next month’s deadline.
While the interest certainly makes sense on the surface – a contending team looking at an impact power forward – the fit could be a bit tricky. Boston’s weakness up front is on the right wing while Kreider is a natural left winger where the team has some depth at that position in Brad Marchand, Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, and Danton Heinen. The latter two have shifted to the right side in the past and acquiring someone like Kreider could certainly have one of them making that switch again.
The Bruins also find themselves with limited cap space. They’re currently using LTIR on defenseman Kevan Miller but he has resumed skating and is expected back this season so they’ll already need to ensure that they’re in cap compliance when he returns. Per CapFriendly, the team is projected to have $712 in cap room; even with a player getting sent down when Miller comes back, that’s far from enough space to add Kreider and his $4.625MM AAV, even if they were to retain the maximum 50% in any deal.
GM Don Sweeney will also have to be mindful of the potential for a bonus overage. Zdeno Chara has already reached $1.25MM of his bonuses while he’ll earn another $250K if the team makes the playoffs which is a safe assumption at this point. Making a move for Kreider (or a similarly-priced player) will basically guarantee an overage which will carry over onto the 2020-21 cap.
The Rangers aren’t entirely out of the playoff picture themselves and it’s quite possible that if they go on a run themselves, they could opt to hold onto Kreider. Having said that, it doesn’t appear as if they’ve had any discussions about an extension as of yet so a trade at this time still seems like the likelier scenario. Of course, there will be plenty of other teams vying for his services as he may wind up being the top rental player that’s moved over the next month.
It was only two seasons ago that the Bruins and Rangers made a rental deal of significance just before the trade deadline, one that saw Rick Nash go to Boston for a collection of picks, prospects, and players to help make the finances work. They may have to make a similarly-structured deal in order for Boston to land their top target this time around.
A February Rangers-Bruins trade? Who’d have thunk it.
Bruins will have plenty of competition for Kreider
kreider for Debrusk and a second round pick, and everybody is happy.
@raffi while Krieder is currently a better player than Debrusk it doesn’t really solve the Bruins wing issue. Subtraction from an area of need to fill that need doesn’t make much sense.
They need defense and Hayes netted a first rounder, so Krieder can too especially for a late round pick like Boston.
if boston wants a chance to win it all, they make the trade, for rangers, it brings back a similar player but a lot younger and cheaper. As a ranger fan id hate to lose Kreider, but they are 2 years away and would love Kreider to go home and win one. Bruins top 3 players have not been enough to win it all, They will slide soon if they dont climb the mountain.
Makes zero sense for Boston.
Um… except for Boston Bruins fans.
Guys, Kreider for DeBrusk doesn’t work. Kreider’s cap hit is $4.625MM and Jake’s is $863,333. Kreider’s daily cap hit alone is $24,866. When Brian stated the B’s cap room is $712, it isn’t a typo. Seven hundred and twelve dollars. Even if the Rangers ate half, that’s only $2.3125MM ($12,433 daily), which doesn’t help the B’s. A whole mess of musical chairs would have to be moved by The Demon Barber to make that work, i.e. multiple trade partners for multiple pieces.
How the Backes situation plays out will have a huge effect on the Bruins cap situation heading into the trade deadline. If Backes retires or has his contract terminated, the Bruins will have more cap space. Otherwise, they will have to move Heinen, Moore or Miller out to create extra space
Backes ain’t gonna retire if he does before season ends he loses that money as mentioned in earlier story, and 90% of teams don’t have the salary cap to afford his contract, unless they take another high contract player back in trade if am correct. Then their in same boat with Backes as captain steering the boat and collecting that check.
712 dollars, that’s crazy. Wonder if that’s the closest a team has come to the cap
Hope Kreider stays with the Rangers.But if he goes,send him to a Western Conference team for a slew of draft picks.His production has been outstanding this season.Still a young veteran,his value to the Rangers is high on the ice and off the ice.He speaks Russian which is an asset in helping all of the kids ease into life in North America.
Boston would have to step up and trade a Backes, Debrusk and 1st to Rangers (maybe another small piece) for Krieder with the intention for Rangers to buyout Backes.
The Rangers would face a $4mil penalty next season followed by a $1mil penalty the following season. That Shouldn’t hinder them too much given their current timeline.
No way Rangers take Backes when they have too many contracts they bought out and they are also up against the cap with numerous guys they would like to sign. So it’s not gonna happen.
If Heinen comes back (like Spooner and Beleskey in the Nash trade) the cap will work. Heinen a prospect like Frederick, and a 1st for Kreider and a 3rd in 2021.