An Early Look At Potential Top-Six Center Targets
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With Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci asserting their retirements, it’s clear that the Boston Bruins want to deal with their depth at middle. Although they’ve a rising prospect in Matthew Poitras and two strong facilities in Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha, anticipating them to interchange Bergeron and Krejci is a tall ask. As a consequence, we must always count on to see the Bruins goal facilities, whether or not it’s on the deadline or in the course of the subsequent offseason.
The Bruins had been dealt robust information with anticipated goal Mark Scheifele signing an extension with the Winnipeg Jets earlier this month, however they nonetheless have some high-impact facilities they will have a look at by means of commerce or subsequent summer season throughout free company. Let’s focus on a number of of them now.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov has been a reputation within the rumor mill for fairly a while, and issues heightened throughout this offseason with a reported trade request. Although a commerce didn’t go down, one has to surprise if Kuznetsov might generate extra commerce buzz in the course of the season. This is very so if the Capitals have one other poor season in 2023-24.
Kuznetsov is a wonderful playmaker when taking part in at his greatest. For instance, in 2021-22, he posted 24 objectives and 78 factors in 79 video games. Yet, he is also coming off a down season, posting 12 objectives and 55 factors in 82 video games. Thus, for the Bruins to actually contemplate him, he might want to have a bounce-back season.
Kuznetsov carries a $7.8 million cap hit till the tip of subsequent season, so the Bruins would want Washington to retain some wage and take gamers again in a possible swap in a possible in-season commerce. However, if Kuznetsov heats again up, it could be an avenue value exploring, whether or not it’s throughout this season or in the course of the offseason when they may have rather more cap area to work with.
Logan Couture/Tomas Hertl
The San Jose Sharks have embraced a full-on rebuild in recent times, parting methods with former core gamers like Erik Karlsson, Timo Meier, and Brent Burns. With the Sharks possible not going to compete for fairly a while, might veterans Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl ultimately be shopped? It appears fairly doable.
Sharks basic supervisor (GM) Mike Grier recently told Curtis Pashelka that he would contemplate exploring buying and selling Couture and/or Hertl in the event that they ever wished to be moved. Couture has a three-team commerce listing, whereas Hertl has a full no-movement clause (NMC), so that they have management over if they are going to be ultimately moved.
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If both Couture or Hertl expresses curiosity in a transfer, the Bruins would possible be within the combine. Similar to Kuznetsov, a commerce in the course of the season would have obstacles to beat due to their increased salaries, however it will be fairly extra doable in the course of the summer season. That is, if they’re open to a commerce to Boston, in fact.
Elias Lindholm
Elias Lindholm was seen as a main commerce goal in the course of the offseason. It is comprehensible, because the Bruins misplaced Bergeron this offseason, and Lindholm has develop into a wonderful two-way ahead in recent times. With that, he’s getting into the ultimate season of his contract, so he can be an inexpensive commerce goal for the Bruins this season if the Calgary Flames store him on the deadline. If not then, he would absolutely be on Boston’s radar if he turns into a free agent in July 2024.
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Lindholm would give the Bruins a official first-line middle to work with. Thus, count on the Bruins to be linked to him till he both indicators an extension with the Flames, will get traded or indicators with a special crew, or formally involves Boston. On paper, he looks as if a beautiful match for the Bruins, however time will inform if he leads to Boston.
Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos is an intriguing participant to concentrate to. The superstar center expressed disappointment as a result of lack of extension talks between him and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, Lightning basic supervisor (GM) Julien BriseBois has confirmed that he’s going to attend till after the season to decide about Stamkos’ future with the membership.
A commerce for Stamkos appears a bit unrealistic, at the least at this juncture. Even with Andrei Vasilevskiy out for the beginning of the season, their aim is to be a playoff crew, and buying and selling their captain to a division rival won’t occur if they continue to be aggressive. With that, Stamkos has a full NMC, so he would want to approve any potential commerce. That solely heightens the issue of an in-season transfer, each for the Bruins and every other crew. Yet, if the Lighting fall off this season and store Stamkos, it will not be shocking if the Bruins at the least name about Stamkos.
If the Lightning maintain him for the season however resolve that Stamkos just isn’t part of their future and he hits the free-agent market subsequent summer season, he absolutely needs to be on Boston’s radar. Per Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now, an NHL government informed him that the Bruins had been “pushed hard for Stamkos” beforehand, so that they clearly just like the participant. I imply, how might they not? He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a constant point-per-game participant.
Nevertheless, the Bruins have some facilities to keep watch over each this season and in the course of the offseason. Their restricted cap area makes issues tougher for an in-season commerce, however subsequent summer season presents loads of room for alternative after they have a number of contracts off the books.
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