You have to give to get, and I honestly don't think I gave up enough. I'd let ANA have a pick between JFK/Debrusk as well. If that wouldn't get it done in the made up world, then go for cheaper options (Trouba/Dumba). But with that, a lot is banking on guys like Heinen and Colin Miller to become NHL regulars. I'm more nervous about Colin, but I've posted before that the Bruins have options if he were to fail in a top 4 role (i'm not getting into it for this post. If you're curious, ask....)

Still, there is depth throughout the forward group (4th line is shoddy, but don't play them a lot). Heinen is protected by our two best forwards, and may fit nicely in with them as he gets his feet wet. I think Heinen could very well be as good (or better) than Jimmy Vesey. For all non-fans of the Bruins are think I'm smoking something good about Heinen, his college numbers are off the charts as a freshman/sophomore (and superior to Vesey's actually. All while playing in a more competitive conference (NCHC > ECAC). I'm not trying to turn this into a Heinen v. Vesey debate though. Vesey has potential to be a good player, and I would have loved to see the Bruins bring him in, but it didn't happen and Sweeney must move on and fix the defense.

Hudler (who I actually read a report may be closing in on a deal with Vancouver or maybe ?Arizona?) was brought in (for this mock) on a PTO where he wins the job and gets a short term contract. Plenty of alternatives out there. Pirri is a definite (not sure why someone hasn't taken a flier on him).

That's that... Critique away!

Fair return for Lindholm, would suck to lose Pastrnak though. Hudler will most likely sign in Vancouver, time to give Griffith a shot.

Would be interesting to see the top 9 lines for the ducks they could role with:
Ritchie-getzlaf-perry
Cogs-kesler-silver
Vermette-rakel-pasta

He'd be a cheaper alternative to Hudler. I do agree, even though I'm not a big Griffith guy, i'd rather see him than Hayes there.

Is Lindholm worth 6.75m a year?

It's a ton of cash, no doubt, but he probably slots between the Jones, Barrie, Vatanen $5 mil group and the Ekblad, Hedman $7 mil group in terms of talent for that age group. That prices out in the $6 mil range.

That right side could be some kind of bad if Backes doesn't play well. I was nervous about it before 88 got traded.

A 22 year old defenseman who is already a top pairing guy? I would think he's worth it. Maybe drop it a little lower but no less than 6M per.

Curious as to why you are having such concerns over Colin Miller. The way I see it he is the most realistic solution to fix the defense(the other fixes being Shattenkirk or Fowler, Trouba is out of reach because the B's don't have a comparable LHD to trade back).

I am hoping for a Pastrnak/Vatrano-like season from Heinen this year, that being starting in the AHL and finishing in the NHL(40 games, 20 points). Hudler is growing on me to play with Bergeron and Marchand if no trade for a D happens. It would have to be for cheap and only one year.

As for Lindholm, I think he's out of reach too. The Ducks do want a young cheap forward with cap going out to fit their internal cap and resign both Rakell and Lindholm. Even if their internal cap is say $67M, they have to move 2 of Vatanen, Fowler, Despres, Stoner, Silfverberg or Cogliano. Despres' head is soft, they just resigned Silfverberg and Vatanen, Cogliano checks to many boxes to trade, Thompson goes on the LTIR and the Bieksa signing is a real head scratcher for me. They have Montour and Theodore waiting to move up soon too, they will have to move D. By my count that leaves Fowler and Stoner as the movers, maybe as a package. Lindholm is too good to trade away.

Damn thats a lot to give up but at least this is a deal Anaheim would have to consider and ultimately take I would think.



If he continues to get better as he's shown already, this deal would look like a song in a couple years. Similar to others who signed for more then market value but for long enough term that by half way through the contract the player is playing above that pay grade. Remember, salaries are steadily going up every year. By 2020, 6.75M a year will get you decent top 4 guys and top 2 guys will command 10+.

My fault, didn't see this response.....



I think Colin is very talented, and has top 4 potential, but until he proves it at the NHL level, you have to have concerns whether he can handle a top 4 spot. a 3rd pairing defenseman? I easily think he is that right now. Maybe the plan is to put him on the 3rd pair (and use Kevan and McQuaid as the top 4 right side guys, but yuck.....) For my mock, he's basically been "thrown to the wolves" in a top pairing position.



I think the best route for Heinen is just that, start in the AHL -- work himself into an NHL spot -- but I think there is a good chance he makes the team out of camp. A lot has been made of Heinen's hockey IQ (on top of the skill) and with that, many think he could easily play in a bottom 6 (4th line) spot to start, and work his way up; a la marchand. Where ever he starts, I look forward to his development.



I said in another thread, that until he's signed longterm, he's available (and in this case, not out of reach). We have plenty of young cheap forwards to send them (Pastrnak being the best chip; and the only time I would move him in a trade). Stoner is going to be a hard piece to move, and if you're packaging him with Fowler, it will decrease the return on Fowler. Bruins have pieces to move for either Lindholm or Fowler...I guess it'd be Sweeney's call whether he wants to give them up.

I think Pasta + 2017 1st is overpay. Anaheim played like 6 dmen 19-23 minutes. Being #2 of that doesn't speak top pair to me, especially when # 3 + 4 finished within 1 minute of atoi. To me a top pair type guy refers to someone playing 24minutes or more, otherwise if they are all lumped in a cluster there really is no "Top Pair" It's merely a rotation.