Boston Bruins 2017 NHL Trade Deadline: Three Players That Could Be Traded
Boston Bruins 2017 NHL Trade Deadline – Possible Players That Can Be Traded to Recoup Draft Picks
When people talk about the trade deadline, it typically circulates about who teams could be looking to acquire. For the Boston Bruins, making a trade to add to the current team may not be the best plan of action. As it stands, the team simply doesn’t look like they’re ready to compete for a Stanley Cup – regardless of their recent surge.
As Stephen Harris mentioned recently, Don Sweeney has already expressed an interest to stay the course. With that in mind, the Bruins could keep their current group together and see what they actually have in terms of talent. Rather than adding veterans or rentals to the team for a short-term playoff push that may or may not pay off, the team can use their in-house players and let them play meaningful hockey. It’s only then that the Bruins will be able to truly evaluate their players and make a plan of action for the future.
Though the Bruins may be better off using what they currently have on their roster, there’s also the potential to be sellers at the deadline. When selling off players, the return is often higher than it should be around the trade deadline. Teams looking to separate themselves from the pack will overpay to acquire a player that could help them do so. The acquired players aren’t usually stars, but rather, depth pieces that will complement a current group. The Bruins could have some of these depth pieces to offer competing teams at the trade deadline. If they can recoup some draft picks or future assets in the process, they should definitely consider.
Dominic Moore – Center – 36 Years Old – $900,000 Cap Hit
When the Bruins signed Dominic Moore last offseason, they were bringing in some veteran competition to training camp. Winning a job out of camp, Moore has been exactly what the Bruins were looking for. A hard-nosed, depth scorer who can provide energy to the team when they need it.
For years, the Bruins relied on solid fourth line play from the notorious “Merlot Line.” Consisting of Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille, the Merlot Line was the ultimate energy line. Often starting in the defensive zone and finishing in the offensive zone, the Bruins could roll with their fourth line consistently to give a boost to their team and help the top lines get some rest, as well as start their shift in the offensive zone – primed for a scoring chance.
What Moore does is similar – he may not be a player in the same mold as any of the three mentioned, but he’s done his job very well this season in the sense that he’s been reliable, and has scored nine goals on the year for the Bruins. For reference, his nine goals are tied for sixth on the Bruins this season. His 18 points are good for 18th on the roster as well. Moore has also played in every single one of the Bruins games this season and has proven to be as durable as they come for the most part in his career.
Trading Him at the Deadline
With all of this in mind, why would the Bruins move him?
It starts with his age. At 36 years old, Moore is not going to be the Bruins fourth line center of the future. He’s a veteran player, and though the Bruins have seen veterans come and go in recent years without getting anything for them, Moore could bring the Bruins a mid-level draft pick for his hard work this season – something they’d be getting for simply taking a waiver on the centerman in the offseason.
Related Story: Boston Bruins 2017 Trade Deadline Possible Targets
Moore is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. While the Bruins could re-sign him at the end of the year, they’d be better off moving forward with some of their younger players to find their identity moving forward. As such, the Bruins would be better off getting something for Moore now rather than watching him walk away in the offseason for nothing.
If the Bruins do move Moore, they could easily slot Riley Nash into the fourth-line center role behind Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Ryan Spooner. The in-house replacement is not only on the roster already, he’s skating on the line he’d take over. The Bruins chances of making the playoffs likely won’t be affected by moving Moore – it’s a toss-up of whether or not they’ll qualify, or miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. With the future of this season being so uncertain, however, they should simply cut ties and see what they have without him.
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
Joe Morrow – Defenseman – 24 Years Old – $800,000 Cap Hit
Joe Morrow‘s time in Boston could be done at the 2017 trade deadline. While he possesses the potential to be a full-time NHL player, something has kept him out of a full-time role at this point in his career. Whether it’s inconsistency or simply not separating himself enough from every other defender on the roster, Morrow has seen most of his time in the press box or in the AHL since being drafted.
On a one-year deal with an $800,000 cap hit, the 24-year-old might find himself traded for the third time in his young career as the Bruins look ready to move forward with their roster. When looking a the current team, Morrow could slot in alongside Colin Miller on the Bruins bottom pairing, spelling Kevan Miller when needed. The issue, however, is Morrow may be able to get the Bruins some return – no matter how small, and the team could simply make a call-up from Providence to replace him.
Related Story: Joe Morrow Sent to Providence
If the Bruins are looking for a puck-moving, left-shot defenseman, they could give Rob O’Gara another chance on the team. Additionally, Matt Grzelcyk is also an option. If the team decides to hold onto Liles, then the need for Morrow is diminished even further.
Tyler Seguin Trade Lingering
For many, getting little for Morrow may seem like a waste – especially given the fact that he was part of the infamous Tyler Seguin trade. Unfortunately, the Bruins have lost two pieces in the Seguin deal for nothing already with Eriksson signing in Vancouver last offseason and Matt Fraser being picked up on waivers by the Oilers in 2014. Reilly Smith was traded along with the Marc Savard contract for Jimmy Hayes, and that leaves Morrow as the lone remaining piece.
If the Bruins can get something for Morrow at this point, rather than holding him in the press box night in and night out, they would be wise to do so. Morrow could pan out to be a solid defenseman – but for the Bruins, his time may have come and gone already. With just 65 games played in Boston over the last three seasons and nine points to show for it, Morrow just doesn’t look like he’s part of the team’s plans.