Ty Anderson: With Boychuk gone, pressure is on B's depth

Thank god you're back to writing daily blogs, keep em commin" Ty

I'm still pretty baffled by the Boychuk trade yesterday. The return isn't terrible considering his age and pending UFA status, but still don't get why he had to be the odd man out. I know moving Boychuk opens up $3+M but i would much rather have seen other players moved.

I don't see why they couldn't have packaged Bartkowski or McQuiad with Campbell? Thats a pretty decent duo to acquire if you're a team on the cusp of postseason contention. It would also free up roughly the same amount of money dealing Boychuk alone did.

Chris Kelly becomes your 4th line center which allows one of the young kids to step in and play a scoring role on the 3rd line. Losing McQuaid or Bartkowski wouldn't be that bad considering you would have kept Boychuk.

Lucic-Krejci-Eriksson
Marchand-Bergeron-Smith
Spooner-Soderberg-Gagne/Fraser
Paille-Kelly-Gagne/Fraser

Chara-Hamilton
Seidenberg-Boychuk
Krug-Miller
Bartkowski/Mcquaid

That would have been a winning lineup to me, now minus Boychuk it could be a rough start

I will miss Johnny and his booming hits to the unwary opposition, but I am also happy that this happened when it did. At least we got something for him. Could you imagine if he got hurt in the first month or two and we had to let him go next year for nothing? That would P me off. Now we have at least two solid picks in return (possibly a third).

P.C. is easily the best G.M. in Bruins history and top-5 all time in the N.H.L. if you ask me. I hope he stays forever.

they were definitely dealing from a position of weakness. especially if one of those 8 defensemen had to clear waivers, that'd never happen. at least there's some wiggle room under the cap to add something if needed early on.

Really sorry guys, this is a tough one to take. I feel for you, it's tough to lose such a solid player. I would take him in a second. Tough guy who never takes a shift off. Tip of the hat to Boychuck and the B's fans.

I appreciate just how good Boychuk is and I know if there wasn't a cap and Boston wasn't so deep we never would have had even a shot at trading for him. You did get a good return for the future and I will definitely enjoy watching him with the islanders.

Really sorry guys, this is a tough one to take. I feel for you, it's tough to lose such a solid player. I would take him in a second. Tough guy who never takes a shift off. Tip of the hat to Boychuck and the B's fans.
- powerhouse

I'm glad the ducks wouldn't go the extra mile in trying to acquire him

Not sure we can win the Cup without Boychuk. We all know how important special teams are & the Bruins PK has always been one of the best in the league. Chara, Krug, Hamilton get the PP minutes ... but Boychuk ate a lot of minutes killing penalties. So who takes those minutes now & will they be as effective as JB?

Miller & McQuaid will need to step up especially during PK.

He's a great player and that's a tough pill to swallow, I always wished he was wearing a Pens sweater. Think that might be real hard on Chara.

Would like to see them kick the tires on the following

Chara/Hamilton
Seidenberg/Krug
Miller/McQuaid

Bartkowski

I think Bartkowski is the scratch. IMO he is not/never will be a top 4. He is prone to Wideman-esque or more recently Meszarion mistakes. Honestly would rather see Bartkowski dumped in favor of Trotman.

Would like to see them kick the tires on the following

Chara/Hamilton
Seidenberg/Krug
Miller/McQuaid

Bartkowski

I think Bartkowski is the scratch. IMO he is not/never will be a top 4. He is prone to Wideman-esque or more recently Meszarion mistakes. Honestly would rather see Bartkowski dumped in favor of Trotman.
- glove_was_stuck

This is my line as well, and I agree, Trotman actually looked quite good. Wonder of Morrow gets a shot sooner than later to see what he can do. Miller/McQuaid is at least a VERY hard hitting and rugged 5-6

This is my line as well, and I agree, Trotman actually looked quite good. Wonder of Morrow gets a shot sooner than later to see what he can do. Miller/McQuaid is at least a VERY hard hitting and rugged 5-6
- MrBeanTown

From the sample size we've of Trotman, I think he is up to the task. They've tried to trade Bartkowski before so it seems he's not part of the long term plan. He is also not a real trade asset IMO so the fact he is still here confuses me. (See also Caron, Jordan.)

I have no issues with the Bruins not rushing Morrow. D-men take a little longer to season, there has been no indication that Morrow has outgrown the AHL and there is no immediate need as there is still a few guys in front of him.

From the sample size we've of Trotman, I think he is up to the task. They've tried to trade Bartkowski before so it seems he's not part of the long term plan. He is also not a real trade asset IMO so the fact he is still here confuses me. (See also Caron, Jordan.)

I have no issues with the Bruins not rushing Morrow. D-men take a little longer to season, there has been no indication that Morrow has outgrown the AHL and there is no immediate need as there is still a few guys in front of him.
- glove_was_stuck

Agree on Bart, looks like his trade value is zero. PC may be hoping he has a good run in the lineup, coupled with a few injuries to other teams Dline. Might open a trade, if not I think he walks after this contract.

Agree also on Morrow, for him he's a puck-mover, and we have Dougie and Krug on the roster right now doing that, hard to see him coming to play bottom 6 minutes, just not a fit ATM

Would like to see them kick the tires on the following

Chara/Hamilton
Seidenberg/Krug
Miller/McQuaid

Bartkowski

I think Bartkowski is the scratch. IMO he is not/never will be a top 4. He is prone to Wideman-esque or more recently Meszarion mistakes. Honestly would rather see Bartkowski dumped in favor of Trotman.
- glove_was_stuck

Seems like the most likely pairings, Bart again made some blunders in front of his own net Sat night so I can't see a reason Lone Wolf or Miller would sit before him.
But then again I can't see a reason you trade a top 4 dman like Johnny Rocket for a couple of 2nd round picks, Isles will most likely be in the mix for a Playoff spot and of course so will the Flyers. and YES I think that 2 stinkers in a row for Chia

Seems like the most likely pairings, Bart again made some blunders in front of his own net Sat night so I can't see a reason Lone Wolf or Miller would sit before him.
But then again I can't see a reason you trade a top 4 dman like Johnny Rocket for a couple of 2nd round picks, Isles will most likely be in the mix for a Playoff spot and of course so will the Flyers. and YES I think that 2 stinkers in a row for Chia
- BruinBlood

To me it comes back to falling in love with players you shouldn't have. Kelly, Campbell, Paille. That 4th line overall was massively overpaid. Kelly with a full NTC/NMC is mind boggling. Hopefully he learns to focus on the core and let the extra's walk when the time comes.

The other factor I have not seen considered at all is the bonus penalties for Iginla. Because you have almost 5 million dead dollars against the cap you're even tighter against it. So I understand this move had to made, but I hate it. With Johnny Destroychuck still here, an injury could have seriously derailed the Bruins as there was not any wiggle room or any money to either sign Gagne or make a move for a decent RW.

Let's face it. Nobody wants Kelly because of his cap hit and he probably won't waive to go to a bad team. Campbell is hurt and frees up very little, same for McQauid in terms of the cap.

Seems like the most likely pairings, Bart again made some blunders in front of his own net Sat night so I can't see a reason Lone Wolf or Miller would sit before him.
But then again I can't see a reason you trade a top 4 dman like Johnny Rocket for a couple of 2nd round picks, Isles will most likely be in the mix for a Playoff spot and of course so will the Flyers. and YES I think that 2 stinkers in a row for Chia
- BruinBlood

I hate the move, but in terms of value they did get a good value for a 30 y/o dman impending UFA that they would ahve never afforded seeing guys liek Orpik get 5+ a year, JB will be pulling in 5.5-6.0 if that's the case. And thats never happening in BOS.

But saying that I would have held onto him

I hate the move, but in terms of value they did get a good value for a 30 y/o dman impending UFA that they would ahve never afforded seeing guys liek Orpik get 5+ a year, JB will be pulling in 5.5-6.0 if that's the case. And thats never happening in BOS.

But saying that I would have held onto him
- MrBeanTown

Totally understood he was not ending the Season in a B's uniform, I'm most concerned with making sure Seids knee is 100% before trading JB, I mean he tweeks that knee again and they will need an NHL caliber replacement not just Bart pulling the sweater on for a few weeks. AND then there's the issue with not getting a #1, Cmon you had Isles-Sharks-Oilers all needing d-man and expressing interests in Boychuk. I'd take a #1 over two #2's and with the way this organization picks, it doesn't give me good vibes

THAT being said, It's almost Time to drop the Puck !!!!!