Reevaluating The Boston Bruins & Whether Or Not They Need To Make A Move

Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli. Mandatory Credit: www.ESPN.com.

“Just because we have cap space doesn’t mean we’ll make a blockbuster trade,”  are words that Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli spoke last week and lets be honest, it’s not what many fans want to hear from the man pulling the strings.

After watching the Bruins 3rd line stumble through most of this season, many feel the B’s need to add a forward to help this line out and they’re right. This team can’t keep relying on the line of Tyler Seguin, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand as the only offensive production.

They need a winger with some size and skill to put on the 3rd line alongside Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly, who to be fair have been better of late but the production still just isn’t there.

Don’t believe me? Just ask CSNNE.com’s Joe Haggerty, who last week wrote, “It’s time for Chiarelli to redouble the efforts to bring in a forward that gives the Bruins coveted forward depth they’re accustomed to rolling on all four lines. Otherwise the third line could become a chronic weakness for a Bruins that can’t afford to protect a soft underbelly when it comes to the playoffs.” Haggerty went on to say, “The third line needs a left wing with size, strength, experience and some offensive ability, and it’s very difficult to argue otherwise.”

I find it hard to argue with anything Haggerty is saying, the Bruins are a team that relies on their depth rather than the abilities of a few and it’s an ideology thats served them well. You’ll remember when they won the Stanley Cup back in 2011 it was basically because they could roll four lines, which allowed them to wear teams down with their defensive first system and rough style of play.

Now, try and imagine them going on that run without the stellar two-way play of Peverley, Kelly and then line-mate Michael Ryder. This line was phenomenal and sorry, but the Bruins don’t get past the Montreal Canadiens in the 1st round of the playoffs without these guys.

So what can the Bruins do to improve? Is there possibly an in-house solution or is Chiarelli going to roll the dice and make a move?

[LINK: How Will Peter Chiarelli Improve Bruins?]

A likely scenario is that the Bruins standpat and continue forward with what they have, I mean they are 16-3-3. Recently called-up forward Jordan Caron played well on Saturday versus Philadelphia and even assisted on a rare Chris Kelly goal, but lets remember this was against a lifeless Philadelphia Flyers team. Regardless, it’s not like the Bruins are in dire straits and Caron was a 1st round pick, so maybe now that he’s finally healthy he could be the answer or its always a possibility that the Bruins are just showcasing the young forward as a potential trade chip. Whatever happens one thing is for sure, the jury is still out on Caron.

Also, headed into the weekend we found out that Swedish monster, Carl Soderberg could finally be interested in joining the Bruins (they only traded for his rights in 2007). They have him on their reserve list and he wouldn’t cost them anything but money. Soderberg’s situation isn’t that simple however, as his Swedish Elite League team is in the playoffs and he wouldn’t be able to join the Bruins until after his team is eliminated. That could be in 10-14 days or he may not even arrive in Boston until May 1st (if he arrives at all) and the NHL trade deadline is April 3rd. If they wish to go to the Soderberg route of wait and see, they could miss out on the trade market and the chance to improve.

As for making a move, well, earlier in the season I thought this team was fine as it’s currently constructed and that the Bruins should be hesitant to pull the trigger on any potential trades. I still feel that way but after hearing some of the names being mentioned in the same breath as the Bruins, its hard not to get caught up and hope that they add a hired gun.

By now you’ve heard most of the names and scenarios. Ryane Clowe (San Jose Sharks), Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators), Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Brenden Morrow (Dallas Stars) and Mike Ribeiro (Washington Capitals) are a few of the names being tossed around.

Of the players mentioned, I would personally welcome Perry, Ryan or Iginla with open arms. It’s nothing against the others, just these are the guys I would prefer and feel could help the most (no coincidence they would also be the players that cost the Bruins the most). They are all natural goal-scorers who have some size and definitely have an edge to their game. They would fit in seamlessly with the Bruins style of play and any of the 3 would certainly help out the awful power-play situation here in Boston.

I should also note that anyone linked to the Bruins so far this year have been/are solid NHL players and would certainly help the team in ways Chris Bourque and Jay Pandolfo can’t. Just if you ask me they aren’t Perry, Ryan or Iginla.

In the end, do the Bruins really need to make a move? No, they don’t need to make a move and Caron or Soderberg could very well be the answer for the Bruins 3rd line. Also, need is just a very strong word, I think they should make a move but I don’t feel they need to.

If someone can be brought in that can help and its at the right price, he should absolutely make the move or at the very least consider it. After all, this is the man that has traded for Tuukka Rask, Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton, Nathan Horton, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, Adam McQuaid, Rich Peverley, Gregory Campbell, Daniel Paille, Chris Kelly and Mark Recchi, Any of those names sound familiar?