My thoughts exactly. Why would any team just take this problem back without some significant upside. The Columbus -Toronto deal is a way different animal. The cost will be a 1st & the value of what comes back depends which year the 1st is. This year, I think Flames could part with 1 or 2 interesting prospects for the Bruins. Reinhart or Hanowski may fit the bill.
- Kevin R

I think a 1st is very excessive. You gotta realize for a budget team in a rebuild (Arizona) Savards contract DOES hold value. They're not taking on a burden, they're taking on a contract that will help them reach the cap floor for pennies on the dollar. I could see Boston adding a 5th round pick and getting nothing in return, but anything more would be crazy. You don't trade a 1st for some offseason convenience

My thoughts exactly. Why would any team just take this problem back without some significant upside. The Columbus -Toronto deal is a way different animal. The cost will be a 1st & the value of what comes back depends which year the 1st is. This year, I think Flames could part with 1 or 2 interesting prospects for the Bruins. Reinhart or Hanowski may fit the bill.
- Kevin R

I don't think the Flames are in a position to be offering cap space for much longer. Was happy they didn't pick up Richards.

Backlund and Bouma this year, Russell, Giordano and Monahan next year and Gaudreau and possibly Bennett the following year plus decisions on Hudler and Wideman to be made. All in line for significant raises plus Brodie's deal kicks in... there won't be much throwaway cap space for long. The Bruins have nothing other than picks to offer the Flames and if Chiarelli trades our first... look out.

everyone believes toronto gave up a really bad long term contract. they acquired an equally bad contract, but that one that can be erased year after year by LTIR.
Possibly the best move Nonis has made as a GM, also eradicating the biggest mistake he made.
- GardinerExpress

Pretty sad when his best move was erasing a colossal mistake that hurt his team for 2 years.

I think a 1st is very excessive. You gotta realize for a budget team in a rebuild (Arizona) Savards contract DOES hold value. They're not taking on a burden, they're taking on a contract that will help them reach the cap floor for pennies on the dollar. I could see Boston adding a 5th round pick and getting nothing in return, but anything more would be crazy. You don't trade a 1st for some offseason convenience
- Shaundre93

they could throw in the rights to Bartowski

Really though a team like Arizona would need that type of contract, its better to have a contract like Savards to get the cap floor than pay a player more than he's worth. That only bites you down the road when you either have to now resign that player for more, or sign a similar player to a comparable contract.

I don't think the Flames are in a position to be offering cap space for much longer. Was happy they didn't pick up Richards.

Backlund and Bouma this year, Russell, Giordano and Monahan next year and Gaudreau and possibly Bennett the following year plus decisions on Hudler and Wideman to be made. All in line for significant raises plus Brodie's deal kicks in... there won't be much throwaway cap space for long. The Bruins have nothing other than picks to offer the Flames and if Chiarelli trades our first... look out.
- PoketheBear

Yeah but we have some coming off as well in the next 2 years. Jones 4.0mill 1 more year, Hiller 1 more year & 4.5mill coming off, Smid 2 more years but could be bought out easily. We could probably absorb & side step the LTIR issues of Savard's deal for 2 more years. There are a few teams that could absorb that contract but there are very few teams that you could say would find value in the contract. It may not be as easy a contract to dump as you think. If Hamilton gets offer sheeted, the urgency may increase. Yes, our window of doing this is closing fast.

Yeah but we have some coming off as well in the next 2 years. Jones 4.0mill 1 more year, Hiller 1 more year & 4.5mill coming off, Smid 2 more years but could be bought out easily. We could probably absorb & side step the LTIR issues of Savard's deal for 2 more years. There are a few teams that could absorb that contract but there are very few teams that you could say would find value in the contract. It may not be as easy a contract to dump as you think. If Hamilton gets offer sheeted, the urgency may increase. Yes, our window of doing this is closing fast.
- Kevin R

Hear anything regarding Smid? I heard that he may retire.

I also don't think it's a foregone conclusion that they let either Hiller or David Jones walk. Jones has been steady this year , is a right shot and brings much needed physicality to the middle six. He probably won't get much of a raise or anything but Hartley seems to like him.

Pretty sad when his best move was erasing a colossal mistake that hurt his team for 2 years.
- Nucker101

I think a 1st is very excessive. You gotta realize for a budget team in a rebuild (Arizona) Savards contract DOES hold value. They're not taking on a burden, they're taking on a contract that will help them reach the cap floor for pennies on the dollar. I could see Boston adding a 5th round pick and getting nothing in return, but anything more would be crazy. You don't trade a 1st for some offseason convenience
- Shaundre93

I understand your position, but it's one that sounds strangely like you are doing another a team a favor when in fact it is clear you are not.

You are trading a team a player who is eating cap space while being paid very little, yes, but you are getting by far the better end of that bargain because it opens up actual cap space for you during the important time of year and not after the season starts.

If you think other teams, and more importantly GM's, don't see that designation and will take full advantage of your team's cap problem, you might have Bruins blinders on.

While the timing is right from a Buffalo perspective to take on this deal, with the cap hit and very low salary, what do you actually think you are getting back in the deal?

Every team knows you would be doing this for cap savings to help get you out of jail for the offseason.

If I were a GM, I'd say sure, we can take on Savard, as long as you part with a 1st round pick or one of your prospects, for say a 3rd or 4th going back the other way.

If you don't like it, move on down the road.
- kingcong39

1st round pick? Ya right.. It would most likely be something like Savard and a late pick(maybe not even) for a Conditional pick that we never see. Frees him off our books while helping someone get to the floor without actually having to pay that money.

1st round pick? Ya right.. It would most likely be something like Savard and a late pick(maybe not even) for a Conditional pick that we never see. Frees him off our books while helping someone get to the floor without actually having to pay that money.
- Mahewman

The Bruins problem is going to be, I believe, that every team knows why they would want to do this, and therefore, nobody is going to be benevolent about this.

Only Savard going the other way for a conditional pick that you never see coming your way makes zero sense for any team making that deal.

Why they should help the Bruins out unless they are getting a quality return?

I understand your position, but it's one that sounds strangely like you are doing another a team a favor when in fact it is clear you are not.

You are trading a team a player who is eating cap space while being paid very little, yes, but you are getting by far the better end of that bargain because it opens up actual cap space for you during the important time of year and not after the season starts.

If you think other teams, and more importantly GM's, don't see that designation and will take full advantage of your team's cap problem, you might have Bruins blinders on.
- kingcong39

I also understand how you view this, but I think you're looking too much from Buffalos perspective. Buffalo has money, reaching the cap floor is no issue (ex. Mez making 4m). Not much incentive for them to take that contract. Arizona and Carolina on the other hand are eyes deep in a rebuild and money is a very real issue. They'll get 4 mil towards the cap floor and only pay about 600k. That'll save them about 7mil over the two years. That has very real value to a cash strapped team. I don't expect anything in return, I just don't think the B's would have to give much back the other way.

If a team asked for a first, I'm sure the B's would rather tip toe around the cap until they could LTIR him. Its really only an inconvenience to the B's, it doesn't effect them once the season starts

I also understand how you view this, but I think you're looking too much from Buffalos perspective. Buffalo has money, reaching the cap floor is no issue (ex. Mez making 4m). Not much incentive for them to take that contract. Arizona and Carolina on the other hand are eyes deep in a rebuild and money is a very real issue. They'll get 4 mil towards the cap floor and only pay about 600k. That'll save them about 7mil over the two years. That has very real value to a cash strapped team. I don't expect anything in return, I just don't think the B's would have to give much back the other way.

If a team asked for a first, I'm sure the B's would rather tip toe around the cap until they could LTIR him. Its really only an inconvenience to the B's, it doesn't effect them once the season starts
- Shaundre93

It does affect them because they can't ltir until the season starts but the have to be cap compliant before the season starts

I also understand how you view this, but I think you're looking too much from Buffalos perspective. Buffalo has money, reaching the cap floor is no issue (ex. Mez making 4m). Not much incentive for them to take that contract. Arizona and Carolina on the other hand are eyes deep in a rebuild and money is a very real issue. They'll get 4 mil towards the cap floor and only pay about 600k. That'll save them about 7mil over the two years. That has very real value to a cash strapped team. I don't expect anything in return, I just don't think the B's would have to give much back the other way.

If a team asked for a first, I'm sure the B's would rather tip toe around the cap until they could LTIR him. Its really only an inconvenience to the B's, it doesn't effect them once the season starts
- Shaundre93

This.

Go Sports!

Go Sports!
- MrBeanTown

does baseball count?

I don't think they'll trade Eriksson, to be honest. And I think they do what they can to keep Soderberg, but last I checked in he could be looking for something like $4.5M-5M per year for the next four to five years, and I truthfully don't think the B's could do that.
- tyanderson

Chiarelli would be certifiably insane to give carl that kind of money. Spoons has taken over that role and has had a larger impact in the last month and a half than carl has had in his time with the bruins

Chiarelli would be certifiably insane to give carl that kind of money. Spoons has taken over that role and has had a larger impact in the last month and a half than carl has had in his time with the bruins
- TylerSeguin19

Nope.....we will resign and with a NMC.

And trade Spooner for a grinder that can replace Campbell or Paille next year.

Ottawa is a fun team to watch right now. What a comeback and in dramatic fashion.