Panthers and Bruins Should Make a Draft Day Swap

The following is a source-less trade idea, based only on the team needs and cap situations of the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

Boston currently holds the number two overall pick in the 2010 draft and it’s widely believed they’ll select Tyler Seguin after Taylor Hall goes to the Oilers. It is also widely believed that the Bruins need a sniping winger like Hall to replace Phil Kessel’s lost offense. The Bruins are loaded down the middle with Savard, Krejci and Bergeron — and there’s more talent coming down the pipeline in the form of Joe Colborne and Zach Hamill.

So there’s the immediate need in Boston for scoring punch on the wing, and also for another first-pairing defenseman. After all, Zdeno Chara shoulders the defensive load on the Boston blueline, and tagging along with him are Dennis Seidenberg, Dennis Wideman and Andrew Ference, followed by more unimpressive talent. Chara is the organization’s only true pillar on the blueline, so Boston should also be looking into strengthening that area.

Drafting Tyler Seguin would ensure a star-studded forward core remains dominant in Boston, but the better approach for Peter Chiarelli on June 25th would be to get in touch with new Panthers GM Dale Tallon and work out a swap involving the second and third overall picks.

Cam Fowler is the player Boston should most covet in this draft. He shows promise to one day belong in the Mike Green/Duncan Keith/Drew Doughty class of defensemen. He’s won the Memorial Cup and shone in the World Junior tournament. A quick transition to the pro game should be expected.

The Panthers are an organization stuck in the mud, who have been idling in the lower-half of the NHL for years. As emphatically outlined by ownership and new management, roster changes are imminent in Florida. The franchise isn’t devoid of talent, but they have been without a true top-line player since Olli Jokinen left (and it’s debatable whether his best seasons in the Sunshine State were of true substance or simply a mirage).

For this reason, the Panthers must set their sights on Tyler Seguin.

Here’s how a trade could be worked out to suit both teams:

- Boston trades the second overall pick to Florida for the third overall pick.

- The Panthers, who are known to be unhappy with Nathan Horton, include him in the deal to Boston to move up.

- In return, the Bruins give up Michael Ryder (same cap hit, only one more year on contract). This way, Boston gets a winger to help them compete now, while Florida gives themselves long-term cap flexibility. The downside for Florida is having to carry an underachieving winger for a year, but ridding themselves of Horton while moving up make the deal worthwhile.

- Boston includes prospect, RW Brad Marchand in the deal.

- Florida includes prospect, D Colby Robak in the deal.

The trade looks like this:

to BOSTON
3rd overall pick
Nathan Horton
Colby Robak

to FLORIDA
2nd overall pick
Michael Ryder
Brad Marchand

The deal doesn’t change Boston’s cap situation, as Fowler will play on an entry-level deal, while Horton and Ryder’s contracts cancel out. The Panthers use their pick to draft Seguin, and in doing so, acquire a true future top line star around which their team will be built.

Marchand has produced at nearly a point-per-game at the American league level, so the Panthers acquire a player who is close to stepping in to full time role.

Boston gets better in the short term, adding a talented goal-scorer to the wing and drafting a future #1 defenseman and powerplay quarterback. Fowler will likely debut this upcoming season and should be able to step right in and contribute.

Please give us your thoughts/criticisms/tweaks in the comments.

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