Quoting: bhavikp27
DeBrusk isn't worth a 5th, he's worth more than that, even if he struggled the past season.
Quoting: CMcAvoy73
They do to boston. Lumping those two in at a 5th is insanity.
DeBrusk has a QO of 4.85M + arb rights which basically means he isn't getting qualified. He has a cap hit of 3.675M and has gotten worse every season he plays (his best season was his rookie season).
I don't see DeBrusk outplaying his contract next season even if he rebounds it's a fair contract but not a discount. You're also taking the risk he plays the way he did this season or worse. At this point I wouldn't give up any assets for him. What the Bruins would get by trading him is cap space.
Just like Schmidt is a good player in a vacuum he's just not worth the cap hit. Same story with DeBrusk.
Clifton I'd give a 5th for, he's a decent 3rd pairing defenceman that can be fully buried.
Quoting: Bruinadian67
If you're looking for objectivity, you came to the wrong place lol! Schmidt had some good years (mostly in Vegas) and suffered a setback in the past year, much like DeBrusk. But Schmidt is older and on a suffering team so it's safe to say a change of scenery might do him good. Debrusk is younger with a greater chance of having a good bounce back year. So if you just traded those two, Vancouver wins that deal and has a greater chance of getting much more out of Jake than Boston would get out of Nate even with some salary retention. MacEwen is a big young body with not enough of a sample size in the NHL to make a solid judgement. I picture him on a teams 4th line with limited minutes unless he has a breakout year or gels with certain teammates whereas Clifton can maintain some consistency as a 3rd pairing defense partner. I could see Sweeney taking a chance on Schmidt but not for JD or CC. Maybe for a prospect and late pick with 1/3 retention.
Schmidt at 4M is actually a pretty good contract imo. I could see teams giving up more than a prospect and a late pick for that considering his versatility of being able to play both sides effectively.
Boston would be smart to hold onto DeBrusk who I think is at an all time low in value right now. Personally I wouldn't take him for free.