Don Sweeney Done With Hiring Defenseman.
The Boston Bruins have been trying to put together their roster for the 2015-16 season. Some fans think that Bruins GM Don Sweeney has found the right players to fill out the defensive core. Others are still hoping that Sweeney can lock in a player like Christian Ehrhoff, or Cody Franson to fill in that important spot on the Bruins second defensive pair. While Sweeney may still be searching through the remaining free agents, he’s certainly slowed down in the second week of free agency.
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The Boston Bruins currently have signed eight defensemen for next season. That should be adequate for the Black and Gold (as long as Sweeney doesn’t repeat his predecessor’s mistake and pull a Johnny Boychuk trade on us). This should tell us that Sweeney is happy with his blueliners they way they are, and won’t be looking to add anyone else.
For those of you out there still hoping we sign a player like Cody Franson (and I was one of them up until we signed Matt Irwin), I regret to say your hopes are dashed. With eight players now on the roster, the Bruins will not be picking up another blueliner unless they manage to trade or move one first.
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If the Bruins were to attempt this, would be the player to move? Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg aren’t going anywhere. They both have no-move, no-trade clauses. I can’t see the Bruins parting ways with Adam McQuaid after they just signed him to a new four-year deal. Torey Krug is also off the list. With Dougie Hamilton‘s departure, he’s the best puck-moving defenseman the Bruins have right now.
That’s half the squad right there.
With Dougie Hamilton gone, Zach Trotman is the new young blueliner in Boston. I can’t see the Bruins moving someone who could be in line for a big season. Kevan Miller‘s cap-friendly contract is just too good of a deal right now, and the Bruins won’t move him. Colin Miller is the other two-way contract player, and he’ll be battling hard for a spot on the roster. They just signed Matt Irwin, and they look intent on keeping the former U-Mass player.
I know a lot of fans were looking for a big name blueliner who had a better track record for success. Truth be told, so was I. Johnny Boychuk was a big question mark when he first came to Boston and we were pleasantly surprised with how well he did here. Let’s hope Sweeney’s got that same kind of magic with one of the players he’s brought on.
The Bruins should still have $3-3.5 million once they lock up their remaining players. The Bruins could find someone they think is a better fit before opening night, but at the moment Sweeney is happy with who he has.