from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

Provided they’re cleared for takeoff, veteran forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno can be added back into the Bruins roster mix as of this week, all significant salary cap-related sins absolved once the playoffs begin. Hall and Foligno, both dealing with late-season knee injuries, accounted for a combined cap hit of $9.8 million this season — a weighty number that could mean one or both not returning for 2023-24.

Foligno ($3.8 million) is on an expiring deal and highly unlikely to be back, unless his legit love of his golden years tour here convinces him to take, say, 30 cents on the dollar for a one- or two-year deal. Possible. See: Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

Hall, with two more years to go at $6 million per, can be dealt to any of 21 teams without his approval. For a guy with his profile, skills, and speed, the pay is fair. But the trade market could be soft if the ex-MVP isn’t fully healed from injury or can’t provide offensive pop in the playoffs. His most likely starting spot will be No. 3 left wing, with Charlie Coyle at center and Tyler Bertuzzi at right wing.

No matter what happens in the playoff run, be it boom or bust, a meager $1 million bump in next season’s cap seemingly makes it all but impossible for general manager Don Sweeney to tie up newly acquired UFAs Bertuzzi ($4.75 million), Dmitry Orlov ($5.1 million), and Garnet Hathaway ($1.5 million). The easiest to keep could be Hathaway, but a club such as Detroit, desperate to add sandpaper, might make that impossible.

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