Boston/Washington

[Bruins_GM]

To Boston:
D. Bittner
B. Holtby
WAS 4th 2012 draft

To Washington:
J. Langenbrunner
M. Dekanich
BOS 2nd round 2012 draft

Holtby will be a competent goalie to help right the ship on my farm squad, and push Tokarski as the backup with the EHEC squad. He compliments Tokarski with the two-way option and near-identical numbers, and isnt too long of a contract. Dekanich going back helps to equal the deal and make it near-equal cap-wise.

Bittner will be a cheap defender who can grow into a top-4 role with the team, and acts as depth should offers that cannot be refused come along. Langenbrunner, while talented, doesnt necessarily fit the scheme we have on offense for the dollar amount he commands. With one year left on the contract, I figured it was better to move before it was too late and give myself some cap space for the UFA shitstorm on my team for the next 2 offseasons.

Swapping picks equaled it out, as I'll get more use out of Holtby/Bittner between the main team and the farm than WAS will with Dekanich. Since I'm swimming in 2nd-round picks, losing one thats exactly 2 spots away from my other one isnt a big deal at all.

Above all, I've improved my team from the back-end out and worked to right the ship with the Baby Bruins at the same time. Washington gets some short-term benefits, while with some financial maneuvering Boston should benefit long-term.

[CapsGM]

To Boston:
Dominik Bittner [78]
Braden Holtby [68]
Washington's fourth round pick in 2012 (113th overall)

To Washington:
Jamie Langenbrunner [82]
Mark Dekanich [65]
Boston's second round pick in 2012 (55th overall)

Confirmed - after Bittner boosted I had him penciled in as a third-pairing defender that would remain with the team for a while, but Langenbrunner could still put up 40 points playing a second- or third-line role and provides a needed leadership presence lost with Modano/Walker/Laperriere leaving. Dekanich will push Neuvirth for the backup position, and keeps my goaltending depth intact. The pick swap balances out the age gap, as Langenbrunner's stats and attributes have eroded over the past few seasons.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Approved.

Committee rationale: Holtby provides goaltending depth, however, in the previous trade with Toronto, Boston acquired Tokarski who makes too much to be sent to the AHL. The key pieces in this deal are Bittner and Langenbrunner. One understated element of this deal is the cap space that Boston saves by moving Langenbrunner's 3M for Bittner's 650k. With a roster constructed the way Boston's is, cap space is certainly an important thing to have.

Bittner should develop into a mid 70s DF defenseman. Langenbrunner's LE carries high value, but the deal isn't imbalanced enough to reject, even with what seems like a little bit of an overpayment with a 2nd round pick thrown in.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Entered.

Holtby CON drop reset.