Boston Bruins Offseason Outlook

     Six days ago the Montreal Canadiens took down the big bad Boston Bruins in seven games. The Bruins were a major disappointment in the series. They looked slow, aggravated, and did not play like a Presidents' trophy winning team. The finished disappoints me-as well as many others-as they were the favorites to make it to Lord Stanley's Cup. During the offseason, the Bruins will need to shake things up if they want to stay favorites for the Cup.

     The Bruins have little room under the salary cap. They have roughly 8.6 million untied dollars and about 4.5 million in cap hits (per thehockeyguys.net). Their number one need of address is speed. The Bruins looked painfully slow during the Montreal series. They need to get younger as well. The average age of the Bruins is 28 years old, good enough for 10th oldest team in the NHL. I propose two off season trades that would make the Bruins faster and younger.

1. Milan Lucic to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Winger Nail Yakupov

     During the playoffs, Lucic looked rattled. The Canadiens planted a seed into his head that got to him. It showed in his comments when shaking the Canadiens's hands after the series ended. Lucic hits the Bruins hard on the cap-a six million dollar salary-for an average player. I know Bruins fans bark and scream at that statement but it is true. Lucic is a good player, but not an elite. 

     The Oilers also had another poor season. Year in and year out they enter the lottery, only to show no progress. They need to make a splash during the offseason. They need to acquire a leader. Lucic would provide the Oilers a leader for all of their young, offensive stars.

     Yakupov also had a poor sophomore season. But he still skated fast. Game-changing fast. The Bruins need a player with his speed. Regardless of their tough, defensive play style, a player like Yakupov would instantly improve the Bruins next year and into the future. He could play on the same line as Krejci, making a great dynamic duo.

2. Zdeno Chara and Jordan Caron to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Defensemen Duncan Siemens, Center Brad Malone, a 1st round pick, and a 3rd round pick.

     Bruins trading their Captain? Never! Chara played extremely slow and old during the playoffs. The Bruins can not keep Chara if they want to be a threat in the playoffs. Again, they need speed and youth to complement their stars. Siemens becomes a physical defender with good scoring capabilities that would be a great fit next to Johnny Boychuk. Siemens has versatility. He can play on the power play and on the penalty kill. Malone is a big guy how can also score. At 6'2'' and 207 pounds, he can check, and score 15+ goals. He is older at 25 which comes as a minus for acquiring him, but I believe he would help the Bruins out. Then they get a first and a third pick, which helps counteract what they give up in Chara. The return would not be the best for Chara, but it could help plug in some needs the Bruins have in acquiring youth and speed.