és egy brutál jó összefoglalása a lehetőségeinknek, igényeinknek a trade season előtt (csak ínyenceknek):

The Bruins better realize they’re in a unique position this summer. They have two critical needs standing between them and becoming a contender: An impact forward, and a top4, puck moving defenseman. And both are available in free agency…

1. It’s rare that a player of Hossa’s caliber reaches free agency.
2. And it’s rarer still, that you actually have an “in” with that player. A non-monetary advantage in signing him. And the B’s have a mountain of “in’s” with Hossa.
3. And while puck moving defensemen are becoming the hardest commodity in the NHL to acquire, this summer there are FOUR free agents, under 30, who fit that description: Campbell, Roszival, Liles and Hainsey (and Redden in the over 30 group).

IMO, this is the moment that will define Chiarelli’s career. This is his chance to take this team to the next level, if he misses an opportunity like this, one may not come along again for this particular group.

I read a lot of posters who say, “We’re not winning anything next year, so make your big free agent move next summer.” But if you really look at next summer’s free agent crop, you realize just how rare an opportunity the B’s have right now…

1. In next year's free agent forward class, there are only 2 guys (Gaborik & Lecavalier) that are at Hossa's level, and the B's don't have an "in" with either of them. Making the idea that they’d somehow choose to sign here very unlikely.
2. As for puck moving free agent dmen available next year- there are none. At least, none under 30. (And only two over 30 in Zubov (38) and Ohlund (32).

So not only is the table set perfectly for Chiarelli to act now, if he doesn’t act now, I don’t see how he adds these pieces at all. At least not before Savard, Bergeron and Chara all become UFA eligible in 2-3 years.

Of course, the biggest hurdle to all this is freeing up roughly $12M in cap space to add Hossa and a top4 dman without detracting from the core of this team. Well, here’s how I’d do it…

• The B’s currently sit at $48M, add in Wideman, Nokia & Stuart and they’re probably up to about $53M. So, if the cap goes up to the NHLPA’s projected $56.3M that would leave them a little over $3M in cap space. So I’d start cutting…
• Unload Axe. Well respected vet should be sought after and easy to move.
• Unload Alberts. Young, physical dman making $1.25 should also be easy to move.
• Unload Schaefer. Not as easy to move as the first two guys, but as many have pointed out, his playoff performance and board work should make him, at the least, tradable.
• And most importantly: Get creative in how you unload Murray. For example, two years ago New Jersey sent a first round pick along with Vladimir Malakhov to SJ so that they would eat his cap hit for them. I’m not saying the B’s should do exactly that, but we’re deep in youth and prospects and I think they should explore the possibilities of enticing someone to take Muzz off our hands.
• Those four moves creates $9.35 in cap space. Add that to the $3M in room we already have, and you get $12.35M, which should be enough to land both Hossa and a top4 D.