Mailbag: Trade proposals, and cookout favorites?

Welcome into Mailbag No. 2

Wishing everyone in the US a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend as we honor the service men and women who have sacrificed their lives fighting for their country.

Thank you to those who submitted questions, and to all of you reading along!

Questions can be sent to me anytime on X @briandefelice_ , @ThePuckUps, or through emailing me at info@thepuckups.com.

Let's get started.

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Dans Locmelis is a player Bruins fans should be keeping an eye on heading into training camp this fall. Boston's 4th round draft pick in 2022 has had an impressive calendar year.

He recored 8G, 25A, 33PTS, in 40GP this past season as a sophomore for UMass Amherst in the NCCA.

He then turned pro at the end of his college season and lit up the AHL during a brief stint for the Providence Bruins scoring 3G, 9A, 12PTS, in 6GP.

Most recently, Locmelis had a strong IIHF World Championship tournament for Latvia. He had 6PTS in 6GP, while leading the team in goal scoring with 4.

He even caught the attention, and gained respect from one of the best players the game has ever seen (Sidney Crosby) along the way.

Now while I do believe he may have an opportunity to make the NHL roster out of training camp, he'll more than likely begin next year in Providence.

Locmelis is still just 21 years young, and could definitely benefit from a little more exposure to the North American pro game while learning Boston's systems.

With that in mind, he should absolutely be used as Providence's top center - especially because Fraser Minten, and Matt Poitras are expected to make the Boston Bruins out of training camp.

Ultimately, however, if the Bruins see Locmelis being more of a winger in Boston then maybe he gets reps there as well in Providence.

Elias Lindholm, Casey Mittelstadt, Fraser Minten, Pavel Zacha, Matt Poitras are players who next season, and in years to come all have the ability, and versatility of playing center in Boston's top nine forward group.

That doesn't include potential free agent signings who could play center, or their No. 7 overall draft pick this year who may also be a future top 6 center in time.

My point, is that there may be a log jam of centers whenever Locmelis joins Boston's roster, and he may have to convert to wing to fit on the NHL roster.

Or he is so good at center, that others have to convert to wing.

Ultimately, it's probably not a bad idea to get some pro level experience at both center, and wing. Versatility is a valuable quality.

Before determining if this potential trade makes sense from a hockey perspective, first let's see if it makes sense contractually, and financially.

Contractually, Pavel Zacha has an 8 team no trade list, so he'd have to approve of Toronto if the Maple Leafs are on the list.

Jeremy Swayman has no trade protection until after next season so he could be moved without permission before then.

William Nylander has a no movement clause until the end of his contract, and can not be traded or sent to the minors without player approval. He'd have to agree to being traded to the Bruins.

Anthony Stolars has an 8 team no trade list, so similar to Zacha he'd have to approve of Boston if the Bruins are on the list.

Financially, Swayman ($8.25M), and Zacha ($4.75M), have a combined cap hit of $13M, while Nylander ($11.5M), and Stolars ($2.5M) is a combined cap hit of $14M.

If contracts were swapped straight up, it's not an exact money wash but close enough where it would be approved by the league.

Of course this would only be applicable if the aforementioned players with trade protection agreed to them moving, and none of them would in my opinion.

From a hockey perspective, this deal wouldn't be appetizing, especially for Toronto.

Yes, there will be changes to their roster, and a shake up of the core four, but it won't be Nylander departing. Mitch Marner, and John Tavares are both unrestricted free agents. Matthew Knies is a restricted free agent. Marner is projected to make $13M, Tavares $7.9M, and Knies is projected $4.1M on a short term deal, or $7.2M on a long term deal. Toronto simply can't afford them all. Knies is a valued member of their present, and future so resigning him is top priority. That means at least one of Tavares, or Marner will be signing elsewhere in free agency.

Now, let's say the Maple Leafs wanted to trade Nylander in an effort to shake things up and free up cap space to resign Marner. Swayman, and Zacha's cap hits would prevent them from accomplishing that. Toronto would have now swapped $14M in cap between Nylander, and Stolars to Boston (with their permission), for $13M in cap for Swayman, and Zacha (with his permission) and effectively still have the same problem of not having enough money to sign all of Marner, Tavares (if they want to stay in Toronto), and Knies. This is a scenario where the door is now open to only have Auston Matthews as the only remaining member of the core four. Nylander is now traded, while Marner, and Tavares could still sign elsewhere.

Lastly, for what it's worth. I also think Toronto's goaltending situation between Stolars making $2.5M, and Joseph Woll making $3.6M is far better than the Bruins current goaltending situation.

This trade proposal falls under the creative, but unrealistic category - but thanks for the question marchandfan63!

Hi James, thanks for listening!

My feeling is that the Bruins hang on to Casey Mittelstadt this offseason.

That said, they should be willing to trade him if it makes the team better. Agreed, his game wasn't super impressive post trade deadline, however, Vinni Lettieri, and Cole Koepke aren't the best five-on-five line mates to judge Mittelstadt with.

No, he's not the fastest or most physical player, but he does have top six skill and can make plays with the puck at the NHL level that most current Bruin forwards can't - not to mention he's still young at 26.

Now as for the rumors you read. I'm not sure you should put much stock in that for a few reasons - though i've been wrong before and will be wrong again!

Mika Zibanejad currently has a no movement clause, and while the Rangers had issues last season, i'm not sure he'd be willing to waive his rights to be traded to Boston. Maybe he thinks he's fallen down the depth chart in New York behind J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck and that he'd fit better with the Bruins?

I could see that.

But if you're the Bruins, how would you feel about assuming Zibanejad's $8.5M cap hit for the next four seasons until he's 37 years old?

I'm not sure I make that trade.

Sure, Zibanejad in, and Mittelstadt, and Lysell out could theoretically make Boston a better team in the immediate, but between Elias Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov, Boston shouldn't be granting or assuming any more high money, no trade clause contracts for aging players past their prime or on the verge of leaving it.

If Mittelstadt remains a Bruin for the start of next season, where he slots in may depend on their other offseason moves. If they acquire UFA winger(s), he could be Boston's 2C centering Pavel Zacha at LW, and a RW TBD. But if the Bruins acquire a UFA center, like Sam Bennett for example, Mittelstadt could move over to 2nd line RW (even though he's a lefty), OR, end up being Boston's 3C centering some combination of Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras, Marat Khusnutdinov, Fabian Lysell, or maybe even Dans Locmelis or a mystery middle six UFA winger.

There's many options due to current unknowns - but if I were to put a percentage on it, I'd say there's an 85% chance he remains a Bruin for the start of next season, and a 15% chance he's traded this offseason.

Grilled, and buttered buns for cheeseburgers and hot dogs for sure!

Sausage buns don't really need to be grilled.

I'm going to get roasted for this but i'm not a fan of ketchup, mustard or relish - so my cheeseburgers, and hot dogs are usually eaten pretty plain.

That said if I were to dress up a cheeseburger, caramelized onions, bacon, avocado, mac and cheese, lettuce, tomato, hell even an egg are all toppings i've enjoyed on a burger before.

If I were to get creative with a hot dog, chili and cheese is about as far as i'd go there.

As for sausage, keeping it simple with some grilled onions and peppers. Can't beat it.

Appreciate the fun question, Ed!

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That does it for this week.

Thank you all once again for participating, until next time!