It has been highly speculated that the Boston Bruins are looking to add a right handed shot defenseman to their top four. In order to do this, they will need to acquire more cap space by trading away the contracts of Dennis Seidenberg and/or Chris Kelly.
Since there are many teams, other than Boston, who are also in conversations with these defensive free agents, it seems unlikely that a team would trade away assets of their own for Seidenberg’s contract of $4 million dollars a year when they can just sign a free agent defenseman for roughly the same amount.
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That leaves the Bruins with the option of trading Chris Kelly. To do this, Boston must find a trading partner that has the cap space available to comfortably take on Kelly’s contract, of $3 million dollars, and has the need for a player like Kelly. Also, the trading partner must be a destination that Chris Kelly wants to go to so that he will waive the no trade clause that was given to him when he signed. With these three factors in mind, here are the teams that the Boston Bruins could potentially make a deal with.
Anaheim Ducks
Believe it or not, the Anaheim Ducks lead the NHL with the most amount of cap space at just over $16 million dollars in room. With that kind of cushion, the Ducks might not mind taking on another versatile veteran forward, regardless of what he is being paid. With Anaheim still seen by most as a Stanley Cup contender, it can be assumed that Kelly would agree to a trade here.
Winnipeg Jets
It has been suspected that the Bruins might be making a deal with the Winnipeg Jets for the services of Dustin Byfuglien. It would not be a surprise to anyone if Chris Kelly’s name was being tossed around in conversation as well. With around $12.5 million dollars in cap space, the Jets could use more depth and experience in their bottom six. Making the playoffs last year could be enough to entice Kelly to waive his no trade clause and join this Winnipeg club.
Oct 8, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Chris Kelly (23) holds a stick after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory
: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nashville Predators
Another team in the Western Conference, poised for another trip to the playoffs, the Nashville Predators have just under $12.5 million dollars in cap space and would not shy away from adding another reliable depth forward. This trade would reunite Chris Kelly with his former Ottawa Senators teammate, Mike Fisher, which would most certainly influence Kelly’s decision to waive his no trade clause.
Ottawa Senators
Speaking of reuniting, if a deal were to get done between the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins, Chris Kelly’s choice to waive his no trade clause would be an easy one. The Senators are a young team, with almost $10 million dollars in cap space, that would greatly benefit from the veteran guidance and work ethic of Kelly. Also, the return of Chris Kelly to Ottawa would be a great treat for the fans who had always enjoyed and respected his style of play.
Florida Panthers
It seems that the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers have indeed become trading partners over the past few years. With former Bruins teammates, Riley Smith and Shawn Thornton, on the team, Kelly would feel right at home and would blend in very well with a Florida team that currently has only eleven roster spots filled at the forward position and still has $11.5 million dollars left in cap space (all contract information can be found on the salary cap site General Fanager).
Puck Prose
There are other teams in the league that the Bruins might also be able to make a deal with, but when it comes to teams that Chris Kelly would be interested in, the ones above seem most likely. As far as what the Bruins would get in return for Kelly is concerned, a request for a 2017 third round draft pick would make the most sense, since the pick Boston had was given to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Zac Rinaldo. To help sweeten the deal, if necessary, the Bruins would also offer one of their two 2016 fifth round draft picks.
If the Boston Bruins were able to pull off a trade like this, with Chris Kelly waiving his no trade clause, they would be in prime condition to sign, or trade for, a top four, right handed shot, defenseman. What do you think? Does Chris Kelly and a 2016 fifth round draft pick in exchange for a 2017 third round draft pick seem like a possibility? What team do you think is most likely to be the Bruins trading partner?