The Bruins Trade Deadline Might Have Felt Like A Disappointment, But In Reality The Team Got Better And Opened Up Some Cap Space
This was my initial reaction at 3 pm yesterday afternoon. That's it? The Bruins won't be making any more moves? But now that I've had time to digest it, I've realized while it may seem like a disappointing deadline for the B's, they actually did get better and more importantly they cleared some cap space.
Advertisement
Don Sweeney during his media availability yesterday said it best "we're just trying to balance winning now and not jeopardizing the future", which is why you're seeing him make deals for players with term rather than rentals.
GETTING OUT OF DAVID BACKES' CONTRACT (at least 75% of it) AND ACQUIRING ONDREJ KASE
- The Bruins acquire Ondrej Kase in exchange for David Backes, a 2020 1st round pick and defensive prospect Axel Andersson
First and foremost, if you told me a few weeks ago that Sweeney would be getting out of David Backes contract I would've called you a liar. I thought it would be immovable and would certainly be something that probably would have happened in the summer (a la Marleau to CAR). It sucks giving up the 1st rounder this year but that's the price you pay, the market was set already by Toronto. I cannot stress how huge it is to get out of Backes' contract, even if they are retaining 25%. The flexibility they now have. I cannot say enough good things about David Backes the person, the leader, unfortunately it didn't work out here. Wish him all the best in Anaheim.
Acquiring Ondrej Kase: he's a good player who was on a bad team who hasn't been able to stay healthy. He's going to be David Krejci's new winger with Jake DeBrusk. Hasn't played since February 7th (flu). By all means the B's got a solid player who should excel here if he stays healthy. He's also on a cheap deal at $2.6 million per, with another year left after this year. I think he could be a sneaky good player here in Boston. We won't see him tonight, he'll make his debut on Thursday. Has to get back to game speed after his flu like symptoms. Has to stay healthy.
"I'm a good skater and I can win the battles. Try to win every battle and score the goals." - Ondrej Kase explaining his game
DEALING DANTON HEINEN TO ANAHEIM FOR NICK RITCHIE
- The Bruins trade Danton Heinen to Anaheim in exchange for Nick Ritchie
The traded was indeed 1 for 1. Again, my first reaction to this was oh, why? They more I looked into it the more it made sense. Heinen lost his confidence, was being healthy scratched, an essentially was a placeholder for Kase in the lineup until he arrived yesterday. It seemed like he was being pushed out regardless of what happened the rest of the deadline. I thought Heinen would have been a part of a bigger package a la Palmieri or Kreider. But clearly those guys stayed put. You can't fault the Rangers or the Devils for not wanting to give up their guys. Heinen seemed like a scapegoat to most fans, but he played well on both sides of the puck and was making a measly $2.8 million. He wasn't performing offensively and it just seemed like time to deal him. It's just funny how some people say he's the worst player on the team, then get upset when he's traded for Nick Ritchie, claiming they should have gotten more for him. Well, which is it?
Advertisement
Why Nick Ritchie? (8 G, 11 A for 19 points in 41 GP) Well he's better than Brett Ritchie (currently playing in the AHL). He's also a completely different type of player than Danton Heinen. Ritchie is a big body, primarily plays left wing. Will be a net front presence kind of guy. That was clearly an area of need Don Sweeney felt like he needed to go out and get. There's going to be competition in the bottom six now with Kuhlman, Nordstrom, Ritchie etc. Nordstrom is a UFA at year's end, can't imagine he's in the future plans with Ritchie having term.
The Bruins clear about $1.3 millionish in cap space by swapping Heinen for Ritchie.
Playing Devil's Advocate here… if Heinen was being pushed out, and the goal was to clear even more cap space (Heinen's $2.8 million), why not ask for a pick in exchange? Seems to me that Sweeney had his eyes set on a bigger power forward.
At the end of the day you can't think of it as Ritchie and Kase are the missing pieces for this team to put them over the edge. We saw the best team in hockey last year get bounced in the playoffs for 4 games. But did the Bruins get better? Absolutely. We saw what that acquisitions of Coyle and Johansson did at the deadline last year and Sweeney is hoping Ritchie and Kase can help do the same. People forget the Bruins are sitting atop of the NHL at 90 points. Yes, Tampa is surging, and they made some deals themselves. But you can't forget what the B's are capable of.
CLEARING CAP SPACE
By dealing Backes and Heinen and acquiring Kase and Ritchie, the B's have actually cleared quite a bit of space. Backes will be on the books for just $1.5 million next year, saving around $4.5 million. While it seems minimal, it actually gives them quite a bit of flexibility. That space will most likely should be used to re-sign (UFA at years end) Torey Krug (hopefully). Because if we don't re-sign him then what are we even doing. #ExtendKrug. Sweeney said yesterday talks have been ongoing and "cordial".
Advertisement
PROJECTED FORWARD LINES (for tonight):
Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Kuhlman
Ritchie - Coyle - Bjork
Kuraly - Lindholm - Wagner
Like I said, there will be some internal competition with Kuhlman, Nordstrom and Ritchie. Looks like Kase will get a few extra reps in practice and should play Thursday vs. Dallas. Ritchie is in tonight. Tuukka Rask in net.
IN A NUTSHELL (TLDR):
OUT: DAVID BACKES, DANTON HEINEN, AXEL ANDERSSON, 2020 1ST ROUND PICK
IN: ONDREJ KASE, NICK RITCHIE
While it might have felt like an underwhelming deadline, this team did in fact get better and are now in better shape to re-sign Torey Krug. It's certainly not a done deal by any means but they are in a better position cap space wise than they were last week, more flexibility. Bjork, DeBrusk and Grzelcyk are RFA's at year end as well. I really wanted a Palmieri or a Thornton but Sweeney didn't want to mortgage the future. Odd that he said the B's were "all in", but again, you can't fault the NJD and NYR for keeping their guys.
Sorry for the regurgitation of words, just wanted to put all my thoughts in one blog on the deadline in hopefully a little bit more depth and more in a positive light. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading.
It's a great night to win a hockey game.