Expect Bruins to spend aggressively on roster upgrades this offseason

The Boston Bruins have had a very disappointing season, one that will most likely see them miss the playoffs for the first time in 2016, and just the eighth time since the league first expanded from the Original Six in 1967. But thanks to some trade deadline selling, they’re set to have almost $29 million in cap space next season, and could very well use it to improve the team back to playoff contention next season.

Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub joined Daily Faceoff Live for their All 32 segment to talk about the Bruins, and how he anticipates the Bruins to make some moves in the summer.

Ty Anderson: I believe [the Bruins] are going to spend to the cap next year. I think they are going to be very aggressive. Obviously, it may depend on how the ping pong balls fall, and if they get the first overall pick, you don’t want to eat it all up right away, because you obviously have to have a second contract for that player.

But, they are not a team that looks at themselves and says “we want to retool or a lengthy rebuild”. I can tell you right now that ownership is not about that. They do not believe in retools or rebuilds in terms of stripping it down completely.

And so I think they’re going to be big time players. And I look at things like this. The business model isn’t hurting, but it will if you keep this kind of roster. They have a season ticket waiting list, but ticket prices in Boston have gone up 13% over the last two years. I believe it’s the second highest get-in in the United States behind Madison Square Garden. So fans want a reason to come to the games. What you have right now is not a reason to come to the games.

So I think their star power is really lacking. And for that reason, I expect them to try to make a move for a big-time player in free agency, because that’s when ownership gets their eyebrows raised a little bit, when the business suffers. And it hasn’t happened yet, but if they roll out this roster in the fall, it’s going to hurt, and it’s going to hurt them in a big way.

You can watch the full episode here…