A different beast: Bruins still in win-now mode even without Bergeron, Krejci

Saying good-bye to Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci might mark something different for the Boston Bruins if they were more similar to other really good teams.

Usually, when your first- and second-line centres hang ‘em up, it’s a sure sign a cohort of close-in-age players who’ve won together are ready to move on, creating a natural pivot point for an organization that needs to start again.

Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, more or less, came to the end of the road with the Chicago Blackhawks around the same point. When Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are done chasing Cups, the Penguins can kick off a rebuild by trading Erik Karlsson ahead of the final year on his contract.

Even in Tampa Bay, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov are all within three years of each other.

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The record-setting Bruins from last year are a different beast, though. Their No. 1 centre — Bergeron — was 37 years old. But top winger David Pastrnak just turned 27 in May and stud D-man Charlie McAvoy won’t hit 26 until Christmas. Both are locked up on massive, long-term contracts.

Yes, there’s a gaping hole up the middle in Boston now, but this team is going to keep the pedal pinned to the floor in win-now mode.

And pin it, they should

The Bruins have operated under somewhat-exceptional circumstances each of the past two summers wondering if Bergeron and Krejci would return. Twelve months ago the answer was yes; this time it’s something different.

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There is, however, another unique situation in the league right now Boston might be able to exploit in that two very, very good centres could be had via trade. Both Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jet Mark Scheifele are one year away from unrestricted free agency with more than a little summer-long speculation their time with their current clubs could end before July 1 of 2024.

Scheifele, in particular, would seem like a dream fit for Boston.

Nobody is going to replicate Bergeron in terms of being a two-way presence, to say nothing of the calm, sturdy leadership he brought to the club. But if you’re forced into replacing a right-shot centre at the top of your lineup, you could sure do worse than slotting in another righty who comes in a six-foot-three package and just set a career high with 42 goals in the same season he turned 30.

There’s no denying a Scheifele move would be tricky for Boston on a couple of fronts. First off, the B’s have a bottom-five farm system and have already spent significant draft capital at recent trade deadlines trying, in vain, to bring the second title in careers of Bergeron and Krejci to Massachusetts. The futures Boston can offer just might not tantalize the Jets all that much.

Also, there’s that pesky salary cap that won’t be increasing for another year. The Bruins are already up against it, so squeezing in Scheifele’s hit of $6.1 million for 2023-24 would take some work.

Still, GM Don Sweeney could find a way.

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Let’s tackle those issues in the order presented. The B’s may not have a glut of good prospects, but their best one — 20-year-old Fabian Lysell — just finished his rookie season in the AHL and could be ready for NHL action next fall. The Jets made it known while negotiating to move another centre, Pierre-Luc Dubois, that they preferred young NHL talent to pure futures. Lysell sort of fits that bill and even if he needs another AHL year to marinate, Winnipeg is already adding 23-year-old Gabe Vilardi from the Dubois swap with L.A. Put Lysell together with a first-round pick and surely you’ve got the foundation of a deal that would see Scheifele come to Boston and ink an extension — as Dubois did — as part of the deal.

From the Bruins’ perspective, you’re in for a penny, in for a pound. What’s the point of hugging prospects or draft picks now? You might as well explode what little powder you have remaining and deal with the smoldering crater down the road.

As for the salary cap, there’s no way around some difficult discussion that start and end with Jeremy Swayman. The goaltender entered the summer on more than one ‘trade candidates’ board around the Internet because, as an RFA, he was in need of a new deal and the Bruins are perpetually in need of salary cap space. At the start of this month, Swayman was awarded a $3.5-million salary by an arbitrator and the team chose a one-year term.

Trading a 24-year-old goalie and breaking up the best tandem in the league would hurt. But given the interest Swayman would generate — he’s still an RFA next summer — you have to think Boston could not only find several suitors, but one that might also take an additional salary — for example, both Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort each have one year remaining on their deals with hits of $3 million or more — off the Bruins’ hands if it meant giving up a little less for Swayman.

Again, it’s not pleasant, but think of what the Bruins would be left with once the dust settles.

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First, off, you’re slotting hockey-obsessed Scheifele in as your 1C for a long time. He’d be supported by second-line centre Pavel Zacha, who broke out last year with a 57-point season and, at 26, could make the four-year extension worth $4.75 annually he signed eight months ago look very team friendly in the coming years. Put Charlie Coyle behind those two and you’re looking at a trio of six-foot-three guys down the middle, with Rocket Richard candidate Pastrnak locked up forever on the wing and Brad Marchand — signed through 2024-25 — still an incredibly effective two-way player on the flank, too.

On the blueline you’ve got McAvoy — bound to win a Norris one of these years — and No. 2 D-man Hampus Lindholm under team control through the end of this decade. A third important defenceman, Brandon Carlo, is signed through 2026-27. At 29, Lindholm is easily the senior citizen of that group.

You’re going to take a hit in goal, but there are always make-it-work solutions for a backup and you’ve still got the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in Linas Ullmark, 30, serving as your No. 1 for at least two more years.

And I’d far rather be looking for a second goalie than a No. 1 centre.

Much of what’s been laid out above applies, too, if the Bruins pursued Lindholm from Calgary. And whether you’re talking about Scheifele or Lindholm, you have to think Boston — a good organization in a great city that offers a chance to win now — is well positioned to acquire those players in a scenario that would see them land with an extension in hand.

This is a time to be teary for Bruins fans; ‘Bergy’ and ‘Krech’ were franchise icons and the 1-2 on a Cup-winner. When the eyes clear, though, they’ll see there’s only one way forward for this team and that’s all in, full steam ahead.

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