On the Boston Bruins …
Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: Goaltender Anton Khudobin likely won’t be back. Vegas could select him in the expansion draft.
Matt Beleskey has three years left on his deal and is a possible buyout candidate. Would cost the Bruins $1.22 million over the next six years.
A Jimmy Hayes buyout would cost the Bruins $867,000 over the next two years.
Fans are eager to trade center David Krejci but he’s not going anywhere.
David Pastrnak could get a deal in the four-year, $20 million range.
Ryan Spooner is a pending RFA with arbitration rights and is not likely back. He could get up to $3 million which is more than the Bruins would want to pay.
Drew Stafford is likely not back with the Bruins next year unless he’d be willing to sign for about half of the $4 million he made this past season.
Could be Zdeno Chara‘s last season in Boston. They might be able to find a good number to keep him in Boston for a couple more years.
The 36-year old pending UFA John-Michael Liles won’t be back with the Bruins next year.
Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller could be drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Steve Conroy of the Boston Hearld: Looking at five things the Bruins must do this offseason.
1. Sign head coach Bruce Cassidy to a multi-year deal – This should be easy and shouldn’t take much time to get done.
2. Find a third-line center – Hard to see Ryan Spooner being back next season. It may be Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson slot at some point, but he may not be ready and they may need to start him on the wing. Maybe David Backes fills the role.
3. Extend Zdeno Chara – Chara is entering the final year of his seven-year, $45.5 million deal. He’s 40 years old but still their best defenseman and is a good mentor. One-year deals from here on out would be good for the Bruins.
4. Find a second-line left winger – They haven’t been able to find a fit for David Krejci. Internal options could be Peter Cehlarik, Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk. They have a enough prospects to possibly land a veteran in a trade.
5. Protect defenseman Kevan Miller for the expansion draft – Can play both sides and has a physical/nasty edge. Less injuries than Adam McQuaid.