Boston Bruins Have Too Many Centers On Their Roster

Boston Bruins Have Too Many Centers On Their NHL Roster

This offseason the biggest move the Boston Bruins made was signing former St. Louis Blues center David Backes to a 5-year $30 million contract. With the acquisition of Backes and with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci ahead of him on the depth chart, we have to wonder if Claude Julien‘s plan is to play Backes as the third line center.

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When the team signed Backes there was talks that the team was going to potentially use him as a wing on the Krecji line. In fact one of the selling points the team reportedly sold to Backes was playing with Krejci. But in an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub, Backes was under the impression that he would play his normal position of center with a comment along the lines of “if you have Bergeron, Krecji, Backes as your top 3 centers you will be in good shape”. The smart move is to have Backes play the third line center spot behind Bergeron and Krecji. If by some chance Krecji isn’t ready for the start of the season as he recovers from hip surgery. Than Backes would play on the second line with Spooner playing the third line center role.

What Are Boston Bruins Going To Do With Ryan Spooner And David Backes?

With Bergeron, Krecji, Backes filling the top three center slots this leaves Ryan Spooner out in the cold. Spooner cannot fall to the fourth line spot. The best case scenario is Spooner moves to the wing on the third line and depending on his play/chemistry he could potentially play his way into the top 6. If the Bruins indeed play Backes on the wing like the rumors are saying then it would only make sense in situations where the team needs to score a goal and have a super line of Bergeron/Backes/Marchand or something along those lines.

In the typical game situation it just makes sense for Backes to be at center given his play making abilities along with the 20-25 goal production that he can bring to the team. If he finds himself playing more time on the wing his goal totals could easily push 30 this season with premier centers Bergeron and Krejci passing him the puck. The real question with the Backes signing is what to do with Spooner though.

David Backes Should Play Center

In the typical game situation it just makes sense for Backes to be at center given his play making abilities, along with the 20-25 goal production that he can bring to the team. If he finds himself playing more time on the wing his goal totals could easily push 30 this season with premier centers Bergeron and Krejci passing him the puck. The real question with the Backes signing is what to do with Spooner though.

Spooner May Have To Go

Spooner whose current salary hit is about $1 million is due for a pay bump on his next deal. Now obviously he still will come fairly cheap with a fair offer in my mind ranging from $2-2.5 million per year depending if he has a breakout season. If he struggles that number may be around $1.5-2 million per. Marchy’s per year will eat about $6.5-7 million if not higher depending if he has another 30+ goal season, that number by the way is what the Bruins believe he is worth.

Take $7M out of the $19M cap space and the team is at $12M. The team only has 14 players under contract on their NHL roster for the 17-18 season. Compared to the 22 players they have on for this upcoming season. Bringing Marchand back puts the number of players the Bruins need to sign to their NHL roster to 7 players. Basically around $1.7M per player. Granted the team is likely to have several players of the 7 coming in sub $1M. Taking $2M for Spooner out leaves just $1M per player for the remaining 6 they would need to sign.

That amount of money is nowhere near enough for the team to sign a top defenseman. A free agent class lead by Burns, Shattenkirk, and Odyua. Based on the numbers I would move Spooner to the wing. Hoping he has a good start to the season and then trade him away. I like Spooner and the fact that he is an RFA and still young makes moving him tough. But since moving Krejci isn’t going to happen it makes sense to trade Spooner.

Fourth Line Center Up For Grabs

After Bergeron, Krecji, Backes, Spooner the center depth chart for the Boston Bruins there is Riley Nash, Dominic Moore, and youngster Noel Acciari . Nash is on a two-year deal. Moore was just signed to a one-year deal. Acciari who showed promise last season has his contract up at the end of the season but is an RFA.

Claude Should Go Young In Bottom Six

Spooner who is slotted in as the fourth guy in the depth chart looks to play wing. Or he will play third line center depending on Backes. This leaves the fourth line as the only line with a big question mark on the center spot, who Julien chooses is anyone’s guess. My money is he goes with Moore who is a defensive minded forward who is great on the PK and in the face off dot, Nash could be this years Matt Irwin and find himself with the P-Bruins if they don’t throw him out to the 4th line wing.

Next: Pay Brad Marchand His Money

My choice for the fourth line though would be Noel Acciari, who realistically needs more time than fourth line minutes, although he is the best man for the job and can provide energy on the line. Although, knowing Claude, Moore will get the first crack at the job in training camp and its likely Acciari starts the year in Providence.