Boston Bruins Projected Roster And Salary Cap Situation
Apr 26, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing
Milan Lucic
(17) celebrates after scoring a goal on Detroit Red Wings goalie
Jonas Gustavsson
(not pictured) during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Here is part 2 of our Bruins Season preview, looking at their projected lineup and salary cap situation:
FORWARDS
Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Reilly Smith (RFA)
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Loui Eriksson
Ryan Spooner – Carl Soderberg – Jordan Caron
Chris Kelly – Gregory Campbell – Dan Paille
EXTRA – Justin Florek
The Bruins, despite not replacing Jarome Iginla, still have an above-average top 6, with a good spread of talent in the center ice position. They will be looking for Sponer to make a big jump this year, to provide a cost-conscious element to a team that is in tough against the salary cap. The Bruins have about 34.6M committed (after taking Marc Savard‘s $4+M off) to just 12 forwards, before Smith re-signs.
Apr 12, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman
Dougie Hamilton
(27) skates the puck up ice against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
DEFENSE
Zdeno Chara – Dennis Seidenberg
Dougie Hamilton – Johnny Boychuk
Adam McQuaid – Torey Krug (RFA)
EXTRAS: Matt Bartkowski, Kevan Miller
A veteran group led by Chara, a Norris nominee once again last season. Seidenberg returning to the lineup from a long term injury gives the Bruins a lot of options when putting pairs together, as Hamilton and Krug excelled when given the chance to play in Seidenberg’s absence, and will be the core of the next generation of Bruins defensemen. The Bruins have just under $19M committed to 7 defensemen, which does not include Krug, who is still without a contract.
May 12, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) before the game six against Montreal Canadiens of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
GOALIES
Rask took advantage of a 1 year contract by winning the Vezina Trophy and doubling his cap hit to $7M over the next 8 years in a monster contract signed last season. As a result, they have to go with an inexpensive backup in Svedberg, who has 1 game of NHL experience. Lurking in the shadows is Malcolm Subban, who has to wonder what his future holds with Rask’s 8 year commitment.
May 3, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Daniel Paille (20) is congratulated by Zdeno Chara (33) after scoring a goal during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
OVERALL SYNOPSIS
When you first look at the salary commitments of the Bruins it looks overwhelming, and for the long term. Upon closer inspection when you take Savards $4M off, there is room to re-sign Krug and Smith, probably for short-term deals until the cap goes up and they get some breathing room. The overages to Iginla on his bonus-laden contract last season put the Bruins in this tight situation where they couldn’t go out and get anyone in free agency, meaning they will have to replace Iginla’s production from within.