The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching (March 2nd) and the Bruins are not in a very good place. Coming off last year's Presidents Cup and a crappy playoff, most Bruins fans envisioned a pretty decent year for the team. Well, that certainly hasn't happened. While the month of January was great for the team and their fans, it was really just an aberration.
Once February rolled around the Bruins returned to their ways, losing more than they win and coming away with one point when they should have had two. Unfortunately they have shown to be the same team they were before the New Year. In my opinion the team that I've been watching most of the season is not a very good team. As a matter of fact if they were fully healthy they still wouldn't be that good. Throw in a half-way decent player at the deadline and they still just don't have what it takes. In my opinion, the best thing the Bruins can do at the deadline is become sellers. When I say they need to sell, I don't mean get rid of guys on the third line, I mean sell the guys who have non-NHL approved t-shirts being sold about them.
The players I would like to see gone are none other than Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic. These guys have both been on my "sell list" for over a year. I'll admit it, I have really been down on Chara for a few seasons. While many of my friends have gotten pretty irate when I complain about what he can't do, some of them are starting to come around and see that we can't afford to pay the guy $6 million a year and be in cup contention. This isn't the MLB, we have a cap to deal with. This isn't the NFL, we can't just renegotiate. This isn't the NBA, yeah, their trade rules are too convoluted for me to make some witty remark. When it comes to Chara, I get why people want to keep him around, really I do. In my opinion, he's just no longer a player to build around. Could he be the missing piece to some other team's championship run, absolutely and that's why the time is now to trade him. While Chara does have a no trade clause, I'm imagine he would be willing to go to a contender at this point in his career.
While seeing Chara go would be bittersweet, I would have no remorse for kicking Lucic to the curb. In my opinion, Lucic is completely overpaid and overvalued. It is actually painful for me to watch him play. Personally, I think Brad Marchand is a much better player who doesn't get nearly half the credit he deserves. Last year when Marchand was on his scoring drought he was hitting posts several times a game, meanwhile Lucic was having the puck bounce off and over his stick. About the only reason I'd be okay with the Bruins keeping Lucic around another year is because he'll probably play great next year because it's a contract year. Of course, that could completely backfire if the Bruins get sucked into the hype and then sign another guy who doesn't score to an albatross contract.
Here are a few links to some of my previous posts so you don't think I'm jumping on the trade Chara and Lucic bandwagon. If past comments on ESPN message boards were searchable, I would have a ton more.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE BRUINS?
BOSTON BRUINS' BENEFITS TO HAVING CHARA ON ICE (OR IS IT OFF ICE) FOR A FEW MONTHS
BRUINS FINANCE SITUATION
While seeing Chara go would be bittersweet, I would have no remorse for kicking Lucic to the curb. In my opinion, Lucic is completely overpaid and overvalued. It is actually painful for me to watch him play. Personally, I think Brad Marchand is a much better player who doesn't get nearly half the credit he deserves. Last year when Marchand was on his scoring drought he was hitting posts several times a game, meanwhile Lucic was having the puck bounce off and over his stick. About the only reason I'd be okay with the Bruins keeping Lucic around another year is because he'll probably play great next year because it's a contract year. Of course, that could completely backfire if the Bruins get sucked into the hype and then sign another guy who doesn't score to an albatross contract.
Here are a few links to some of my previous posts so you don't think I'm jumping on the trade Chara and Lucic bandwagon. If past comments on ESPN message boards were searchable, I would have a ton more.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE BRUINS?
BOSTON BRUINS' BENEFITS TO HAVING CHARA ON ICE (OR IS IT OFF ICE) FOR A FEW MONTHS
BRUINS FINANCE SITUATION
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