4. Trade One Pick
The Bruins could look to trade one of their picks to help bolster an area of need. The most notable spots that the Bruins could look to improve this off-season include defense, as well as right-wing depth.
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It’s been no secret over the last few years that the Bruins defense is getting weaker and weaker by the season with Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg aging, Adam McQuaid getting continuously injured, and top-pairing candidates such as Johnny Boychuk and Dougie Hamilton being traded in consecutive years.
With that in mind, the Bruins could use one of the draft picks to help acquire a top-four defenseman, although it would likely cost an additional player or prospect to sweeten the deal. The return likely won’t be one of the more handsome names on the market, but a depth move is not out of the question for Don Sweeney who could look everywhere for help.
As Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald suggested, “(Sweeney) likely can get a good player with that first pick, but might be smarter to use it in an effort to find the veteran blue line help this team so sorely needs.”
With the top available free agents this year looking to cash in on large paychecks this off-season, the Bruins may need to address their needs through the trade market. Last season, Troy Brouwer was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for TJ Oshie, and while the pick was a simple hockey trade as a player-for-player swap, it shows that players like Brouwer and Oshie could be available for the right price. Trading one of his two first round picks this season along with a prospect, or a later pick might entice another general manager to part ways with one of their right wingers this off-season.
Next: 3. An Unattractive Option