Anthony Travalgia: Signing of Craig Smith helps Bruins fill five-on-five need On Saturday the Bruins announced the signing of Craig Smith to a three-year $9.3M contract.

Honestly, I was 90% sure the Bruins would sign Craig Smith. Lots of interest in a lot of big names and they end up signing Craig Smith.


I am a big fan of Sweeney but maybe he is better off in player development than Gm. He has shown the inability to make the big move. Whether you believe in Chiarelli or not. He could make the splash.

Honestly, I was 90% sure the Bruins would sign Craig Smith. Lots of interest in a lot of big names and they end up signing Craig Smith.


I am a big fan of Sweeney but maybe he is better off in player development than Gm. He has shown the inability to make the big move. Whether you believe in Chiarelli or not. He could make the splash.
- Mahewman

Still 3 huge upgrades out there for the taking (on the forward side)...time will tell.

Still 3 huge upgrades out there for the taking (on the forward side)...time will tell.
- bluemoon737

We still need to fill T. Krug position. MacAvoy and Carlo won't be enough.

We still need to fill T. Krug position. MacAvoy and Carlo won't be enough.
- Nasty_Duck

Just my opinion, but Krug is/has been overvalued.

Zadorov to Chicago, he would have been a nice piece to add. A big physical dman, with some upside.

Bos is in dire need of a top pairing left side dman. Unless they plan on playing Gryz in the top pairing, gulp... Big Z usually played there, who is filling that spot?

True but we still need an established D man to step in or else we have a ton of inexperience on the left side

Zadorov to Chicago, he would have been a nice piece to add. A big physical dman, with some upside.

Bos is in dire need of a top pairing left side dman. Unless they plan on playing Gryz in the top pairing, gulp... Big Z usually played there, who is filling that spot?
- Tachmo

Vegas shopping Schmidt or Martinez, maybe one of them could be a good fit?

Vegas shopping Schmidt or Martinez, maybe one of them could be a good fit?
- TRADEEVERYONE

Schmidt is good. A little pricey... and could play top pairing. Probably need to trade Debrusk for him.

Martinez is also good, but seems like depth dmen is not what they need at this point.

Just my opinion, but Krug is/has been overvalued.
- bluemoon737

He was valued correctly on his previous contract.
Still need someone to replace him - we have a void on D.
Either bite the bullet and shell out for a top-2 to play with MacAvoy or very least a top-4.

He was valued correctly on his previous contract.
Still need someone to replace him - we have a void on D.
Either bite the bullet and shell out for a top-2 to play with MacAvoy or very least a top-4.
- Nasty_Duck

Well we have Lauzon (who played on the right side but is a natural left) and Vaak in house. Not saying we shouldn't look outside but keep in mind those guys were somewhat held up due to our logjam on the left.

Well we have Lauzon (who played on the right side but is a natural left) and Vaak in house. Not saying we shouldn't look outside but keep in mind those guys were somewhat held up due to our logjam on the left.
- bluemoon737

I like the look of Vaak. Kid nearly made the team out of camp in his first year.

ITS time for Sweeny to go. Bergeron and Marchand and Rask have hidden the horrible job he has done in Boston for years. Boston s drafting has been the worst in the NHL since he has started. He has lost every trade but the Coyle trade. The majority 9f his free agent signings have been flops., after all these years he has never found a 2nd line winger. He allows the bruins to get pushed around year after year, because he doest believe in tough guys, even though Shawn Thornton scored more goals then the current fourth line combined. He thinks you can only draft out of the ushl, with the exception of Studnicka. Its time for him to go

ITS time for Sweeny to go. Bergeron and Marchand and Rask have hidden the horrible job he has done in Boston for years. Boston s drafting has been the worst in the NHL since he has started. He has lost every trade but the Coyle trade. The majority 9f his free agent signings have been flops., after all these years he has never found a 2nd line winger. He allows the bruins to get pushed around year after year, because he doest believe in tough guys, even though Shawn Thornton scored more goals then the current fourth line combined. He thinks you can only draft out of the ushl, with the exception of Studnicka. Its time for him to go
- Chris7704

How the heck did he let the Habs get Taffoli at $4.25M for 4 years??!!!

How the heck did he let the Habs get Taffoli at $4.25M for 4 years??!!!
- bluemoon737

Yes very low cost. Nate Schmidt for a 3rd rounder? That’s all he’s worth. Teams must not like his cap number.

ITS time for Sweeny to go. Bergeron and Marchand and Rask have hidden the horrible job he has done in Boston for years. Boston s drafting has been the worst in the NHL since he has started. He has lost every trade but the Coyle trade. The majority 9f his free agent signings have been flops., after all these years he has never found a 2nd line winger. He allows the bruins to get pushed around year after year, because he doest believe in tough guys, even though Shawn Thornton scored more goals then the current fourth line combined. He thinks you can only draft out of the ushl, with the exception of Studnicka. Its time for him to go
- Chris7704

He drafted MacAvoy and Carlo, and managed to leverage Lucic into two 1sts.
So it's not all bad.

Under Chiarelli's watch Bruins drafted Marchand, Pasta and signed Chara. Is he a great GM? Would you take him back?

Yes very low cost. Nate Schmidt for a 3rd rounder? That’s all he’s worth. Teams must not like his cap number.
- Tachmo

Holy (frank) i was about to say the same thing. SCHMIDT FOR A THIRD! They should have been all over that.

Yes very low cost. Nate Schmidt for a 3rd rounder? That’s all he’s worth. Teams must not like his cap number.
- Tachmo

5 years left at $6M per...I would be a bit tentative at that as well. Vegas had no choice. They were well over the cap with the Petro signing so I'm sure that played into the bargain price.

Well we have Lauzon (who played on the right side but is a natural left) and Vaak in house. Not saying we shouldn't look outside but keep in mind those guys were somewhat held up due to our logjam on the left.
- bluemoon737

It looks like Vaakinainen making the team is their plan. No real good free agents out there and no sense making John Moore like moves to make moves.

Vaak looked good trying to make the team last year. Hopefully one or 2 of these kids can step up and help. There is no help coming from outside the organization.

ITS time for Sweeny to go. Bergeron and Marchand and Rask have hidden the horrible job he has done in Boston for years. Boston s drafting has been the worst in the NHL since he has started. He has lost every trade but the Coyle trade. The majority 9f his free agent signings have been flops., after all these years he has never found a 2nd line winger. He allows the bruins to get pushed around year after year, because he doest believe in tough guys, even though Shawn Thornton scored more goals then the current fourth line combined. He thinks you can only draft out of the ushl, with the exception of Studnicka. Its time for him to go
- Chris7704

I think Sweeney has done well considering the mess he inherited. I agree he has made some big mistakes. IMO he has 2 years left. If he can't get a cup while the window is still open then Sweeney goes when the window closes. The glaring issue I have with Sweeney is his inability to build a real forward core. He is either not listening to his scouts or needs to fire them.

This is a joke! The Neely/Sweeney tandem needs to go. Plenty of opportunities to actually improve the club and they essentially do nothing. Are we in it for one last push for a cup or are we in rebuild. It seems like management can't even answer that question...more like, let's keep the status quo. Although the Smith signing is okay, it basically evens out the Krug loss so again...status quo.

I think Sweeney has done well considering the mess he inherited. I agree he has made some big mistakes. IMO he has 2 years left. If he can't get a cup while the window is still open then Sweeney goes when the window closes. The glaring issue I have with Sweeney is his inability to build a real forward core. He is either not listening to his scouts or needs to fire them.
- glove_was_stuck

The only thing Sweeney has done well is contracts, meaning extensions of current players. I'll give him that but not much else. I'm sure he sold those players on these contracts with the reasoning of having money to bring in the last piece(s) for a true Cup run...he basically sold them a line of b.s.

The only thing Sweeney has done well is contracts, meaning extensions of current players. I'll give him that but not much else. I'm sure he sold those players on these contracts with the reasoning of having money to bring in the last piece(s) for a true Cup run...he basically sold them a line of b.s.
- bluemoon737

So taking a hard look and being brutally honest results in no offer for Krug and signing Smith and Miller? Hate to see what a cursory look would have resulted in...
Hoffman is the only real big name left out there so it makes sense we will go after the 31 year old and sign him for 5 or 6 years...Backes all over again!

The only thing Sweeney has done well is contracts, meaning extensions of current players. I'll give him that but not much else. I'm sure he sold those players on these contracts with the reasoning of having money to bring in the last piece(s) for a true Cup run...he basically sold them a line of b.s.
- bluemoon737

2015 being the obvious and painful exception, Sweeney has drafted well. Not to the level of Yzerman and Brisbois but far from the dark days of Chiarelli. Anything outside of the top 10 is true crapshoot and these picks need time to develop or fizzle out.

I agree with you on free agency. He has been awful but so has Neely. I'm assuming that Neely has to sign off on these deals. If so, Neely has been a problem since Chiarelli's group was running the show and should've been shown the door years ago.

2015 being the obvious and painful exception, Sweeney has drafted well. Not to the level of Yzerman and Brisbois but far from the dark days of Chiarelli. Anything outside of the top 10 is true crapshoot and these picks need time to develop or fizzle out.

I agree with you on free agency. He has been awful but so has Neely. I'm assuming that Neely has to sign off on these deals. If so, Neely has been a problem since Chiarelli's group was running the show and should've been shown the door years ago.
- glove_was_stuck

Jury is out on Sweeney’s drafts. He has t had much to work with. Vaak and Stud was a good draft. Lately he’s been reaching for USHL players.

I think the D will get by with Mccavoy taking over. They could use at the minimum a top 4 dman somewhere. Is Don waiting for Chara?

Please Please Don can you provide Krejci with a goal scoring winger! I’m kinda meh on Toffoli, but he would have been good at 4.25 mil.

My thoughts are still move Coyle up and you got a much more balanced top 6. At this point what else can you do? Besides landing Hoffman.