Mailbag: Blockbuster trades, and showing some spine

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Show some spine.

My new favorite phrase that G-Rant is referencing from episode 460 of The Skate Pod.

Love the call back.

Jared McCann, 29, is under contract for two more seasons before becoming a UFA in July of 2027.

He currently has a cap hit of $5M, and has a 10 team no trade list.

The acquisition cost for McCann would likely be a mid-late first round pick and a prospect.

Let's call it Boston's first round pick acquired from Florida in 2027, plus Fabian Lysell.

McCann has really hit his stride over since joining Seattle, and has averaged 61 points over his last four seasons with the Kraken.

I like the player a lot, and it's unlikely that a late first round pick, or Lysell ever become as goo of an NHL player than McCann.

However, he turns 30 next May and while he's still in his prime and will be for another few seasons it would be more ideal that Boston acquires an established top six forward who's a little younger if they are to part with a first round pick and prospect like Lysell.

If the Bruins were in "win-now" mode that would be one thing but I fear by the time the Bruins are contending again, McCann may be on the back side of his prime. Which isn't a bad thing - the same can be said about David Pastrnak who also turns 30 next May (four days before McCann).

But as mentioned, if the Bruins are to part with a first rounder as part of a package, my first preference would that it be for someone who can grow up with the Bruins current trajectory.

Martin Necas is my dream scenario for the Bruins to trade for, or take a run at in free agency in 2026.

Unlike other 2026 UFA's like Jack Eichel, or Connor McDavid who I full expect to re-sign before they hit free agency, Necas doesn't appear too thrilled being in Colorado and there's a sense he won't re-sign there. Necas appears to value being on the East Coast which isn't uncommon for European players who would rather be as short of a flight home as possible.

Another young name that I'd rather trade for before McCann, is Mason McTavish in Anaheim.

Speaking of which, let's get to the next question.

Mason McTavish, 22, is an RFA coming off of his entry level contract.

He's averaged 46 points per season since entering the league and if re-signed, is projected to be Anaheim's no. 2 center next season behind Leo Carlsson.

Ryan Strome could also see time as a top two center for the Ducks as well.

Now at face value, i'm not sure why Anaheim would want to trade McTavish, especially after trading Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Ducks are young, skilled, have multiple key players still on ELC's and have $22M in cap space with only McTavish, and Drew Helleson as key RFA's still to be signed.

McTavish has two contract projections from AFP Analytics - Long term (LT) and short term (ST).

LT - 6 years, $6.7M AAV

ST - 2 years, $4M AAV

The Bruins only have $2M in cap space right now, and even if they had the money to offer sheet McTavish, Anaheim would easily be able to match if they wanted to.

So the Bruins would have to trade for McTavish.

But again, not sure why the Ducks would want to rid of McTavish unless they think that long term he would be penciled in behind Leo Carlsson, and Roger McQueen at center - but even then, what's wrong with having McTavish as one of, if not the best no. 3 centers in the league?

To pry away McTavish from Anaheim, it would probably cost Boston their 1st round pick in 2026 acquired from Toronto, and an NHL ready prospect, Matt Poitras for example.

Would you make that trade?

I think I would, and Boston should.

McTavish more than likely has a higher NHL upside than Poitras, or a late first round pick.

Although we should find out a lot more about Poitras this coming season.

The only way I wouldn't make this trade, is if the Bruins are planning on using their 2026 first round pick from Toronto in a trade for Necas.

But theoretically, the Bruins could trade for McTavish, and then sign Necas as a UFA next July.

The risk there though, however, is that Necas gets traded elsewhere first and signs an extension with another team.

The world would simply be a better place if we all just showed a little spine, eh?

Blockbuster trades definitely require showing some spine.

Ever since the Florida Panthers traded Johnathan Huberdeau, and MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Tkachuk, every other fan base has been dreaming of their team pulling off the next franchise altering blockbuster trade.

The key difference in a hypothetical blockbuster trade for Brady Tkachuk compared to his brother, is that Matthew wanted out of Calgary, and Brady by all accounts is the heartbeat of the Ottawa Senators, and has no desire to be traded.

B. Tkachuk is under contract for the next three seasons with a full no movement clause.

However, for discussions sake, let's say he was indeed willing to waive his NMC - there's a good chance that Boston may be one of the destinations he'd waive for, probably behind only St. Louis if we're talking personal, and sentimental reasons.

Brady spent a season at Boston University, and his father Kieth is from Massachusetts where the family still has roots including summers spent in Cape Cod, MA.

So what would it cost to acquire B. Tkachuk?

Honestly, the answer is probably David Pastrnak - straight up.

In Pastrnak's career, he has 391 G, 442 A, 833 PTS, in 756 GP - 1.1 PTS/GM.

B. Tkachuk career totals are 191 G, 213 A, 404 PTS, in 512 GP - .79 PTS/GM.

So based off of those point per game numbers, why would they be a one-for-one trade?

Well simply put, because points aren't everything.

B. Tkachuk is four years younger than Pastrnak and they're completely different players.

While B. Tkachuk isn't nearly the scorer that Pastrnak is, he is among the best modern day power forwards in the NHL today.

He would certainly be a winger to build around now and in the future with likely a longer shelf life than Pastrnak.

That said, it's a tough call.

Having the appetite to pull the trigger on this type of trade depends on what one values more.

An elite scorer still in his prime, who's home grown, the heartbeat of the franchise, and on pace to become the greatest goal scorer in Boston's 100-plus year history?

OR

A great, but not elite scorer who's younger and in an earlier part of his prime that can simultaneously impact the game in a more physical nature?

For the record, I think this trade would shock both franchises and really impact both dressing rooms in a negative way - certainly at first.

Pastrnak, and B. Tkachuk both love where they play, and are adored by fans and teammates.

Furthermore, from Boston's perspective - how would they replace Pastrnak's scoring? Because B. Tkachuk would only cover 60% of it.

The Bruins are offensively challenged and perhaps no one team will be relying more on one player to score for the team to have success, than the Bruins will be relying on Pastrnak.

Is there a trade for B. Tkachuk that doesn't involve Pastrnak?

I mean, maybe.

But it probably starts with Charlie McAvoy, or James Hagens.

Which while adding one of the best left wings in hockey in B. Tkachuk to join one of the best right wings in hockey in Pastrnak - would leave a damning void on Boston's already paper thin right side of defense, and future No. 1 center prospect pipeline which Hagens finally filled and is probably as untouchable of a prospect as their is in hockey right now given Boston's organizational need.

At the end of the day, it's fun to talk about, but I think the Senators trading B. Tkachuk after finally making the playoffs last year while trending up, is as unlikely a trade scenario as their is in the NHL.

Tracked this article down for you, John, and I honestly thought my computer was going to get a virus from the website it was written on.

There were also many typos.

It kind of read as if someone drunk voice texted through Siri.

For those reasons, I wouldn't put much stock in that rumor right now.

Kyle Connor is the best player on a win-now team in the Winnipeg Jets.

Unless it were for Connor McDavid, or one of the other top forwards in the league, their desire to trade Connor is probably non-existent, especially after losing Nikolaj Ehlers in free agency.

What would the cost for the Bruins be?

Probably Boston's 2026 first round pick from Toronto, one of Pavel Zacha, or Casey Mittelstadt, and maybe a prospect.

In my opinion, the Bruins would be better off waiting a year and seeing if Connor can be acquired via free agency in 2026 rather than giving up assets.

Remember, this coming season for the Bruins is about getting back to basics, and re-establishing structure and identity - they are AT LEAST another season away from being a legit playoff team.

After this season is when the Bruins should, and will focus on adding a high end player or two up front, and on the back end.

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That does it for this week, thank you all for reading and for your participation!