Boston Bruins: How they can afford John Tavares
The Boston Bruins are reportedly getting a meeting with soon to be free agent JohnTavares. Fitting him under the salary cap will be a difficult process.
The Boston Bruins have a unique blend of talented young players and skilled veterans. Thanks to some top-notch negotiating, their three best players (Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak) are under control for under $20 million combined for the next four years. They’re just missing one more top-tier player. And that guy could be John Tavares.
Pierre LeBrun has confirmed the free agent will meet with at least six teams this week. The Bruins are a surprising team on the list.
Confirmed teams that John Tavares will meet with this week at CAA offices in L.A.: Dallas, Boston, San Jose, Toronto, Tampa (plus of course NYI). The Tavares camp will also have conversations with 2-3 other teams over the phone and perhaps also meet with 1-2 of them.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 25, 2018
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Boston could certainly use Tavares. Riley Nash was a surprising contributor this season, but the Bruins haven’t two top centers in a while. Adding Tavares to a team that made it to the second round this year would make them strong Stanley Cup contenders for the foreseeable future.
However, the salary cap is going to make things interesting for the Bruins. Right now, they have 18 players under contract (10 forwards, seven defensemen, and a goalie). With the cap ceiling set at $79.5 million, the Bruins have just under $12 million of cap space.
Tavares will likely command at least $11 million. So to sign him, the Bruins would have to clear out some cap space. Let’s look at how Boston could clear the money necessary to add Tavares. Because he’s worth every ounce of effort required to do so.
Trade Candidates
The best way to get rid of some of their committed money is to trade players. David Krejci and David Backes would be ideal candidates. They’re veteran forwards on the decline who aren’t worth what they’re getting paid ($7.25 million and $6 million respectively).
However, there’s an issue – both players currently have no-movement clauses. The Bruins could try to talk them into waiving those, but Backes and Krejci have a ton of leverage.
There is another way for them to clear the cap space, though. The Bruins could deal one (or more) of their defensemen. Remember, they already have seven under contract. And honestly, finding a decent seventh defenseman is much easier than you think.
Torey Krug would bring back the largest return. However, he’s also one of their best defensemen. So trading him probably isn’t too wise. The other two candidates are Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller. Trading the former would be ideal, as he’s making $2.75 million The latter makes $2.5 million per season and have two years remaining.
In order to clear enough space to sign Tavares, the Boston Bruins will likely have to trade both Miller and McQuaid. Trading Krug might be a necessary evil, especially if the Bruins can’t get Backes or Krejci to accept a trade.
Any trade value those two have would disappear the moment the Bruins sign Tavares. If teams know you have to trade a player, that kills your leverage.
Eventually, both Backes and Krejci would have to go. Trading Krejci is enough to let the Bruins afford Tavares for this season. But after next season, Boston has to re-sign Danton Heinen and Charlie McAvoy. Ryan Donato, Noel Acciari, and Brandon Carlo will need new deals as well.
Assuming Tavares signs for $11.75 million, this leaves the Bruins with 12 players under contract with just over $13 million of cap space (before factoring in a potential rise in the salary cap). Luckily, McAvoy is the only RFA who warrants a long-term extension.
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Verdict
Signing Tavares would unquestionably make the Bruins a Stanley Cup contender. Few teams could match the lethal combo of Bergeron and Tavares. Plus a very mobile blueline and an impressive crop of young players. Affording Tavares would require a bit of shuffling from the Bruins, both short-term and long-term. But it’s well worth it.