With a big four-year extension for Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, the Bruins continue to work on their defense after the departure of Torey Krug. Of course, much of that work relies on a decision by veteran Zdeno Chara, who is still considering what he is going to do for the 2020-21 season.
Boston Hockey Now’s Joe Haggerty writes that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said that the team can do nothing, but wait to hear from Chara about what his offseason plans are.
“We have communicated consistently with Zdeno and [his agent] Matt Keator,” said Sweeney. “We’re just waiting for him to initiate what he’d like to do moving forward. I feel very comfortable allowing [the decision-making process] to take the necessary time and let Zdeno make his own decisions along that route.”
Of course, Keator did say that Chara has received multiple inquiries from other teams and the veteran is considering all options, according to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa (subscription required), which isn’t good for Boston who will need the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder to help stabilize their defense after losing Krug to St. Louis more than a week ago and lack the financial abilities to bring in a solid replacement.
- In a conference call with reporters as well as NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said that he doesn’t foresee the team making any more roster moves, which includes adding more players or having to move a player out. The GM said the Maple Leafs will now focus on signing their own restricted free agents with next week’s arbitration case of Ilya Mikheyev on tap next, followed by focusing on working out a deal with defenseman Travis Dermott.
- The Athletic’s Arpon Basu (subscription required) writes that Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has now signed defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Brendan Gallagher to long-term deals. He also managed to swap forwards Max Domi and Josh Anderson, signing the latter to long-term deal as well. When asked what his next task would be, Bergevin replied that he was thinking about going on vacation, sounding like his work this offseason is finished. Basu writes that can’t be good news for center Phillip Danault, who is on his last year of a three-year, $9.25MM contract and has said he would like to stay long-term as long as his role on the team is guaranteed. The 27-year-old has posted 25 goals and 100 points combined over the last two seasons, but with young centers Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Nick Suzuki ready to step into more significant roles in the near future, there may not be a big role remaining for Danault.
The Maple Leafs have $1.47 million in cap space. They’re going to need more than that to sign their restricted free agents. Dubas is going to have to clear space somehow & that’s going to be a roster move
That’s with a 23 man roster and they’re unlikely to carry that many guys. You send two guys down and there should be enough space.
What are expecting to sign Mikeyev and Dermott for? How much Cap hit for those two. That’s what has to leave minus the 1.47 left for space.
Two 700 – 800k players I don’t think will come close to doing it, so it would have to be one contract with some value to it?
You shouldn’t wait on a 43yr Defensemen you should be making moves no matter what he chooses to do go trade for OEL and sign Hoffman or make another trade for a top six forward aMe if he decides to play then fit him in
Still have sign debrusk, oel is done, and Hoffman will be over 5.5 million
Where are the Bruins going to get the cap space to trade for OEL & sign Hoffman? They don’t have the space. While they have more space than CapFriendly has them listed as having (Blidh isn’t making the roster & Lindholm could be moved out), they can’t add OEL’s $8.25 million contract in a trade & then sign Hoffman for $5.5-6 million a season. They’re not going to be able to create that much cap space
Feel like carlo could be a piece going the other way in an OEL trade. Would free up a little bit of space
That’s why it’s called a trade they could trade Kase Grzelcyk Carlo maybe even DK they have options and I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if they trade DeBrusk they were trying at the draft to find a taker
I’m sure you guys are right but this season could be the last time they are playoff bound they have to do whatever they can every team has gotten a hell of a lot but the Bs they’ve stayed the same and with Pastrnak and Marchand not being ready for the start of the season they got worse
That wouldn’t be a good move. Trading Carlo creates a huge hole on the right side of the defense. You fill one hole but create another. Carlo is a better defensive player than OEL is. OEL is better offensively, but he hasn’t been good defensively in a few years. The two things the Bruins have going for them defensively is McAvoy & Carlo. You build around those two, not trade one of them. Carlo is also 6 years younger than OEL. It also makes zero sense to give up a player the quality of Carlo when you are taking back OEL’s entire salary. The Bruins already rejected a trade proposal from the Coyotes that had Carlo as part of the package. I’d keep Carlo unless I’m getting a Seth Jones in return & that isn’t happening.
I wasn’t saying add him to this trade I was saying he’s a player that can be traded but I’m with you I don’t want them to trade him at all but I also want to see them raise the cup and right now they won’t quite frankly they not close Pastrnak and Marchand injured who’s going to score that line is the only one that puts pucks in the net over the last few years