The Boston Bruins have exactly one month before their regular season starts. How will they lineup for that matchup against the Dallas Stars? What will their roster look like?
That’s impossible to know, however. The Bruins still need to re-sign both Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy. Will they accomplish it? The Bruins have around $8 million in the salary cap space. That will probably not be enough to ink both restricted free agent defensemen.
What moves will the Bruins make? As highlighted and suggested by us last week, the Bruins will certainly look into the possibility of trading a rental defenseman Kevan Miller. With his knee injury, the trade scenario gets tougher, but not impossible.
As per Brian Lawton from the NHL Network, there are some rumors that the Bruins might put David Backes on the long-term injured reserve to begin the season. That´s an interesting report because Backes’ health status should not have been an issue approaching the next season, but the Bruins are seemingly considering this option.
Let’s not forget that Backes has a long list of injuries over the past few seasons, including some concussion history. He was ready to play in the Stanley Cup Final. But per a report from Lawton, Backes might not be able to pass medical tests at the beginning of the season.
If the Bruins managed to put Backes on the LTIR with his $6 million salary-cap hit, that would pretty much smash all the salary cap issues the Bruins have. Besides, it would allow them to easily re-sign both McAvoy and Carlo and the situation wouldn’t require any further salary cap dump.
Nevertheless, all this depends on if Backes is really healthy enough or not to play. If he isn’t healthy, the Bruins can put him on the LTIR. One thing is for sure, the Bruins are, undoubtedly, observing all the possible options to begin the regular season with McAvoy and Carlo re-signed and still fit all the roster under the salary cap.
3 Responses
Look this https://weei.radio.com/blogs/matt-kalman/david-backes-healthy-and-ready-start-bruins-camp
Also, I know it’s NHL Network but this same Brian Lawton guy said in Sept 2017, when Pastrnak was an RFA, that the Bruins were looking to/may move him or try to see if there is some interest. Obviously, we will never know if it was true but I’m having a hard time believing that.. Great article tho, just not happening tho