BHN Puck Links: Boston Bruins Have To Pass On Barzal Again

Imagine if Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney could atone for his mistakes at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft? The Islanders locked up one of their key restricted free agents and a New York Rangers RFA shoots for the moon heading into arbitration.

That and more in your daily BHN Puck Links!

Imagine if, five years after he botched the 2015 NHL Entry draft and didn’t take at least one of Mathew Barzal, Thomas Chabot, or Kyle Connor with three straight first round picks, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney could get a mulligan? Barzal is still a restricted free agent and Sweeney, and any other NHL GM could still sign Barzal to an offer sheet. However, as Joe Haggerty points out, thanks to the current market and flattened salary cap, all Sweeney, the Bruins, and their fans can do is imagine. (Boston Hockey Now)

Speaking of Islanders RFA’s, Isles GM Lou Lamoriello was able to lock up a key part of his blue line and sign Ryan Pulock to a two-year contract that will carry a $5 million cap hit. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders’ chief rival, the New York Rangers may have to walk away from an arbitration ruling if RFA center Ryan Strome gets his way. Strome is looking for a one-year deal worth $5.7 million and the Rangers are offering $3.6 million. Either way, Strome would become an unrestricted free agent next season and could be someone the Boston Bruins look at to replace David Krejci, should he sign as a UFA elsewhere. (New York Post). 

No one is asking fans to feel sorry for professional hockey players in the middle of a pandemic but as Philadelphia Phantoms starting goalie Alex Lyon pointed out recently, younger NHLers are feeling the financial pinch right now. (Philadelphia Inquirer). 

What will the Florida Panthers blue line look like whenever the 2021 NHL regular season begins? Friend of BHN George Richards takes a look. (Florida Hockey Now). 

Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now goes one-on-one with Sharks Assistant Coach John Madden and discusses the role of analytics amongst a variety of other topics. (San Jose Hockey Now).

Finally, with the United States Presidential Election still ongoing and the world, not just the United States, glued to the changing results and divided as can be, we could all just use some peace, love, and understanding! Stay safe out there!