Dec 10, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (44) warms up against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins are still looking for a defenseman for their lines. There was some brief discussion that Michael Del Zotto may have been what they needed, but when the Rangers traded him to the Nashville Predators, it put the kibosh on that idea. That’s probably for the best anyway. Del Zotto doesn’t seem to be the kind of defenseman who could play into the Claude Julien system, and right now what the Bruins need is a relatively low cost, experienced defenseman who would play to the Bruins program.
The Bruins have partially dealt with their blue line problem by signing Kevan Miller for the next two seasons. While Miller does fill in adequately for Dennis Seidenberg, the Bruins are still looking for another defenseman. The Bruins have been running a rotation of damaged d-men, and will need someone to fill in on the squad.
So where does this leave the Black and Gold? They could go back to someone they know. Mark Stuart, currently a defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets is a veteran of the Bruins organization. He’s intelligent (he served as the NHLPA rep for the B’s), has a good hockey IQ, and knows the Julien system. The question for us is how good a fit would he be for Boston right now? Would the Bruins want a player like Stuart for purely a short-term deal?
No, probably not. They could do the same thing to Zach Trotman, but again, that’s only a short term solution. Trotman has done an OK job in Boston, but he still needs a little more time in the AHL. If we’re looking for a body that can 1.) Play to the Bruins system 2.)Not hurt us on cap space 3.) Does not come with any serious baggage and 4.) Wants to play with a club like Boston, we might have to look to Winnipeg. The Jets have come around as of late(that’s more of statement of their lack in faith in former coach Claude Noel, but that’s another story), winning their last four straight. Their defenseman Keaton Ellerby meets the criteria above and might not be a bad acquisition.
I don’t want to see the Bruins family get broken up, but this might be the kind of deal where we can finally end the Jordan Caron experiment with. It would work for both teams, and give us a d-man we could rely on in the closing months of the season.