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Boston Bruins 2017 NHL Trade Deadline: Three Players That Could Be Traded

By Brandon Share-Cohen

Jan 22, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Joe Morrow (45) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Joe Morrow (45) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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John-Michael Liles. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
John-Michael Liles. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

John-Michael Liles – Defenseman – 36 Years Old – $2 Million Cap Hit

John-Michael Liles falls in the same boat as Dominic Moore. The Bruins already have a plethora of depth defensemen that can play a role on their team. As it stands, Joe Morrow, a former first-round draft pick, has been out of the lineup for most of the season – though he was recently sent to the AHL for conditioning. With Morrow not finding his way into the lineup, and Liles not playing, the Bruins are looking at eight defensemen for six spots, not counting players in Providence who could be called up in a pinch for bottom-pairing minutes.

Related Story: Liles Acquired at Trade Deadline

Recouping Draft Picks

Liles has been a solid player throughout his career. At 36 years old, he could still help a team looking for depth at the trade deadline – something the Bruins thought would be worth while last season. In 64 games with Carolina last season, Liles put up six goals and 15 points. That production allowed the Hurricanes to receive a 2016 third-round pick, a 2017 fifth-round pick, as well as prospect Anthony Camara. This season, Liles has five points in 30 games. He likely wouldn’t command much on the trade market, but even getting simply a fifth-round draft pick for him at this point would be worth it for the Bruins after failing to make the playoffs last season.

Liles is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. If the Bruins see Liles best suited as a depth defenseman, their best bet would be to move him at the trade deadline rather than losing him for nothing. The Bruins may or may not be a playoff team this season, but getting something for nothing is exactly what the team should focus on right now – not a what-if scenario of making the playoffs, and potentially being eliminate

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