How the Bruins can Exploit the Expansion Draft
There's a new team in town; the Vegas Golden Knights will take up residence at the T-Mobile Arena next October, becoming the 31st NHL club. As of today, they got 0 players on the roster. With the draft coming up next June, the Bruins may have an opportunity to upgrade their team by exploiting draft.
Move an overpriced contract:
The Bruins have a lot of studs, but they also have multiple undesirable contracts. Kevan Miller makes $2.5 million for 4 years, Adam McQuaid has $2.75 for three years, Matt Belesky is at $3.8 for 4 more, and Jimmy Hayes is on the hook for $2.3 for two more years. Colin Miller and Malcolm Subban are likely candidates for Vegas. If the Bruins were to package the two for scoring depth (some type of productive third liner), they would just about force the Knights to take one of those 4. I'd assume Vegas wouldn't have a problem either, seeing as they have $0 on the books so far. Also, just to be clear, I fully expect the B's to protect Chiller, but I'm doing this on the assumption that they trade for a d-man, making Colin the fourth defenseman on the totem pole.
Get a defenseman on the cheap:
The Bruins' defense has played surprisingly well. I used to want them to get a #1 RHD, but now they seem to only need a second-pair d-man to go with Krug. There are multiple teams with a glut of defenseman who could easily slide into a top-4 spot in Boston. The Islanders, Preds, and Wild all have 4 or more quality defenseman that would need protecting in the expansion draft. They could go forego the 7 forwards and 3 defense top protect 4 or they could trade a blue-liner to avoid losing him for nothing. This is where the Bruins swoop in and take advantage of teams dealing from a position of weakness. Bruins could throw together a package of Spooner, Chiller, Subban and/or picks and prospects which could be dealt for Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, Matt Dumba, of Calvin de Hann.
Exploit a Loophole to keep 4 quality defenseman without having to protect all 4:
As I previously said, teams can protect 8 skaters or 7 forwards and 3 defense. I fully believe the Bruins should go for the 7/3 split, but if they traded for a d-man, I'd love to keep Chara, Krug, Chiller, and traded d-man. Here's a spin on an idea that has been thrown around a lot: Kevin Shattenkirk. The B's could pull off an in-season deal for Shatty and not resign him. They'll go into the draft on June 21 with him technically not on the roster. They protect Chiller, Chara, and Krug. Then, on July 1, ink Shatty to a new long-term deal.
It's a few months out, but here's to the Bruins getting a new d-man and shedding a bad contract come June 21.
