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Analyzing the Upcoming Boston Bruins Offseason

By Evan Marinofsky

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Apr 11, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Bruins goalie

Tuukka Rask

(40) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Look, I’m not a psychic.

I can’t tell you exactly what the Boston Bruins will do this offseason. But with common sense and a view of what happened last season for the team, I can tell you what should happen.

The Bruins had an unbelievably disappointing campaign last season and changes will come and have already been made. And as a Bruins fan sees teams like the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames grace the ice, with the electric atmosphere that only a playoff game can generate, they can only sit and wonder what the Boston faithful would be like: yellow towels waving, goal lights spotlighting players and decibel records being set.

Ahh what could have been.

All of this should be fuel to the fire for the Bruins to go out and have a different offseason that brings change. Not just change in personnel, but change in results.

This should be one interesting summer.

1.) Fire Claude Julien 

Apr 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien (L) looks on from behind the bench against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Despite Julien making the playoffs in all but one of the years he has been here, it’s time to go. Him and Peter Chiarelli worked in tandem and now that Chiarelli has departed for a new beginning, it’s time for Claude to get one too.

Julien’s system worked but now with a younger, faster NHL, Julien’s system may not work and certainly didn’t over the past year. The goal over the offseason for the B’s should be to get faster and younger. With a new GM that is going for a more younger and offensive approach, tension would start to rise as Julien would want it to be a different way. It would definitely be a comfort zone jump for Claude.

Unless he can make that jump, he’s not the right man for the job and should be out.

2.) Trade Milan Lucic 

Apr 2, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) skates with the puck in the second period ad at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Milan Lucic is a fan favorite among the Bruins crowd: but it’s time to go.

He severely under-performed this season by scoring 15 points less then he did the previous year. Not only that, his physicality went way down and the big “power-forward” that could not only hit but score, turned into a player who scored 18 goals and who’s Penalty Minutes went down.

Do I hear third line numbers?

Not only that, but Lucic is a 6 million dollar cap hit which is severe for the Bruins. With their cap problems, they can not afford to waste 6 million dollars on an 18 goal player.

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So the question is, what can you get for Lucic?

Well, there are teams out there that would take a “power-forward” and the Bruins really need to listen to those offers. They need to try and get back younger, faster and cheaper players in return. The Bruins must free-up cap space.

Unless the Bruins can make him hit, fight and score again, Lucic will not be skating with the spoked B on his jersey nest year.

3.) Listen to offers for everyone 

Apr 11, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) looks up during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

They key word here is “Listen”. This does not mean actually accept. But, for some it does.

This team needs a reboot and part of it is “out with the old and in with the new”….except for a few players.

Patrice Bergeron, Dougie Hamilton, David Pastrnak and even Torey Krug are all untouchable. Pastrnak, Krug and Hamilton are all important components of the future and Bergeron can help win now.

So what does this mean?

This means that if I were the Bruins, I’d listen to offers on David Krejci, Zdeno Chara and even Tuukka Rask. There are teams that need a skilled center, a big, veteran, experienced defenseman or a superstar goalie. For these guys, there could be a large return.

Brad Marchand could get a solid, goal-scoring forward in return (Patrick Marleau).

Loui Eriksson could also be appealing to some teams, such as the Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues, that are one player away from thriving in the playoffs. For that one reason, the Bruins could get a valuable return.

The overall goal here in listening to all offers is for two reasons. The first is to shake up the lineup, which hasn’t been done for what seems like many years now. The second is to free as much cap space that is necessary to sign free agents (Mike Fisher, Mike Green, etc.)

4.) Trade Malcolm Subban 

Feb 18, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Boston Bruins goaltender Malcolm Subban (70) skates during warmup against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Would it be cool to see Malcolm Subban play against his brother P.K. Subban? Yes it would. But, would it be cooler to see what Malcolm could get the Bruins in return? Oh yes.

First round picks generally receive much higher expectations than the rest. This is where Boston wins out.

Subban had a bad first and only start with the team but in the AHL, he has flourished with a 2.44 GAA and a 0.921 save percentage.

Teams that are in desperate need of a young goalie that will impact the future will give up a lot more then they should when getting Subban. For example, the Buffalo Sabres need a goalie in this ultimate rebuilding mode they are going through: Subban could be that guy. They could possibly give up future draft picks and/or younger players on their roster in exchange for him.

Also, Subban is very young which would be amazing in most cases.

But not in this one.

Rask has the starting job for the Bruins and will have it for many years to come. Like Subban, Rask is also young. Rask automatically would win out between the two.

So what do you think: will the Bruins have a dynamic offseason with tons of action: or will they leave the team as is?

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