Get ready for the youth movement, Bruins fans.

That was at least part of the message when B’s team president Cam Neely and GM Don Sweeney met with reporters in Nashville on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s draft and the opening of free agency on Saturday.

The B’s have $10.9 million in cap space to fill at least six forward spots and sign goalie Jeremy Swayman.

And while they haven’t closed the door on either captain Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci returning, they’re operating as if those two estimable players won’t be back. The door, however, will remain open.

“We’ve really got to plan like they’re not coming back until we hear otherwise,” said Neely. “We would not be doing the organization a service if we planned they were coming back and then we’re told they’re not. For us, it’s going down two paths. Hopefully we hear something soon, but we want to give those guys the time that they need. I think as a player you may think you’re done, but a month or two into the offseason, you’re like ‘wait a minute, what am I going to d next winter?’ And really, let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than playing hockey and playing sports. When it’s over, it’s over for good for the most part.”

Despite jettisoning Taylor Hall and his $6 million cap hit, there didn’t sound like a re-signing of any of their unrestricted free agents was imminent. Sweeney said that they would “unlikely” be entertaining bringing Dmitry Orlov back while time is running out on signing any of the other UFAs, at least before the July 1 opening of free agency.

Neely sounded like he felt getting Bertuzzi signed would be a challenge.

“We’re still talking to his camp so we’ll see,” said Neely. “Even though we moved out what we did with Taylor, we still have a couple of guys to sign in (RFAs Trent) Frederic and (Jeremy) Swayman, so we’ll see what we wind up with at the end of the day, unless we do something else moving forward.”

As for the much speculated idea of the B’s moving out one of the goalies, Sweeney sounded confident that they could get a deal with the RFA Swayman signed at a reasonable price even if he decided to go to arbitration, though that’s not a route either side wants to go. He didn’t rule out moving either Swayman or newly minted Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark.

“We were really good in the regular season. We didn’t play as well in the playoffs as a team and they’re part of it and we fell woefully short of what we set out to do,” said Sweeney. “I think we’re in a terrific spot if we do decide to (run it back with both goalies) and that’s what our indications are right now, unless something materializes between now and then. It doesn’t mean I wont (explore things). You know me guys well enough. I have to do my job as to what might present. The goalie market’s an interesting one as well.”

With both Hall and Foligno out of the picture, Sweeney said the club will explore outside options for wings, but the door is open for young players like Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Marc McLaughlin and Johnny Beecher t accelerate their ascent to the NHL.

“We’ve always said there was going to be some turnover. I was honest about that at the end of the year and realizing that might include some of our younger guys getting an opportunity or bringing in some players that might e looking for second opportunities,” said Sweeney. “That’s just the nature of where we’re at right now. We pushed a lot into the middle of the table in terms of trying to accomplish the ultimate goal and we fell short. We have to regroup as a result.”…

A day after being traded by the Bruins to Chicago, Nick Foligno signed a one-year deal with the Blackhawks worth $4 million. It’s a generous number, but Foligno should provide good veteran leadership for a young team and, if the season goes sideways as most observers expect will happen for the young team, the Hawks could flip him at the deadline for an asset….

The B’s won’t have to wait long to face their old friends Hall and Foligno, and they’ll most likely get to the first crack at the latest phenom, Connor Bedard, expected to be taken first overall by the Blackhawks. The B’s open up at home on October 11 against Chicago. It will not be Bedard’s debut however, as the Hawks open up on October 10 in Pittsburgh.