With the 2023 Stanley Cup decided, the offseason begins with the opening of the NHL’s buyout window.
The Bruins have stated they will exercise this option to dump Mitchell Miller, and there are two other candidates for a buyout: Mike Reilly and Derek Forbort.
Host Ian McLaren discusses the implications of playing this card, and why the savings next season warrant the move.
You’re also going to hear a lot about qualifying offers in the coming days, but what exactly does that mean for restricted free agents like Trent Frederic and Jeremy Swayman?
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1 Comment
The Bruins only really have two buyout candidates. Mike Reilly and Mitch Miller. That's it.
They'll only take a $330,000 Cap Hit for Reilly next season (and a $1.3M Hit in 24-25) if they buy him out now. Mitch MIller's Cap Savings would be minor, they just want to be rid of him
As for the RFAs, both Swayman and Frederic may only get their baseline Qualifying Offers initially but both are going to get far greater of an AAV than those qualifying numbers
Swayman is probably looking at a $3.5-$4M AAV
Frederic is probably looking at a $2.5M – $3M AAV
They can't trade Reilly, they tried. As they can't add picks or prospects to any Reilly deal, it's buyout time
Unless Swayman takes a one-year bridge deal to do the Bruins a favor until the Cap goes up in 24-25, the Bruins are going to have to pay Swayman $3.5M-$4M next year
As for Frederic, he has albatross written all over him. $3M a year for a player that no longer plays center (can't take draws), is lousy defensively, doesn't play special teams and he can't create offense for others would be dumb. Frederic would be a luxury on a Cup contending team with the Cap room. A $3M Frederic on a Cap strapped Bruins team next year that won't be a leading Cup contender, again #dumb
Paying $3M to Frederic would be the same dumb line of thinking that saw Foligno get $3.8M. No need to make that mistake again
They need to just trade Frederic's rights for a draft pick
Forbrot isn't getting traded. No team is trading anything for a bottom of the roster d-man that has a lot of limitations and who only has a year left on his deal
As they have nothing in Providence beyond Lohrei (who isn't ready for the NHL yet) it's a safe bet to place that Forbort isn't getting traded or bought out
So to sum up
Reilly- bought out
Swayman – $3.5-$4M new contract
Frederic- traded
Forbort- not traded or bought out