Boston Bruins: Looking back at 5 bad trades in hindsight
As the trade deadline approaches, let’s take a look at some of the trades the Boston Bruins have made recently that they might want back.
With every trade deadline in the NHL, fans spend a lot of time wondering and hypothesizing about who their team might deal for. Will their team be a buyer or seller? Can the organization add a piece that helps secure them the Stanley Cup? This season, with the Boston Bruins currently being 2nd in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference as currently comprised, there’s a chance they may stand pat and ride the horses that got them there.
The thing about trades is that while they may seem win-win at the time they are made, only time can tell which organization won or lost the trade. As we slowly creep towards the trade deadline, which may very well quiet for the Bruins, I figured I’d step into the WABAC Machine with Sherman and Mr. Peabody and examine the Bruins trades of yesteryear that would not be classified as wins for the oganization.
Now, let me preface this now. I am classifying these as “bad trades” solely on the basis on the overall impact of the trade after time, and what could have been for the Bruins had the trade not been done. This obviously can only be evaluated using hindsight, and will involve much conjecture and speculation. Also, in picking only 5, I only ended up back in 2007. Let me know if you think there are any I missed, or trades that happened before 2007 that you think would fit the bill.
One that clearly comes to mind is the 2005 mid-season deal that saw the Bruins captain, and future first-ballot hall-of-fame center Joe Thornton sent to the Sharks. Oh, and here’s a fun fact for you. In 2007, the Bruins traded their 2007 5th round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for current Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. That 5th round pick ended up with the Dallas Stars, who selected at #129…Jamie Benn. Crazy how things like that work out.
June 29, 2015
Bruins receive: Zac Rinaldo
Flyers receive: Bruins 2017 3rd round pick
There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Zac Rinaldo is one of the sorriest individuals to happen to the NHL in its existence. His tenure in the NHL is about a decade or so late, because all he was good for is physicality. And unfortunately, for the most part, his physicality tends to dirty in nature, and leads to him being a frequent customer of the NHL Department of Player Safety.
In his first season with the Bruins, Rinaldo was suspended for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette. While on his NHL suspension, the Bruins waived him and he was sent to Providence. While in Providence, he continued his dirty ways, and ended up being suspended in the AHL for another illegal hit.
Rinaldo got another shot in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes this season, and what do you know, another suspension for a sucker punch to young Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard. Just added another black mark to Rinaldo’s career, if you can find a spot to put it.
The Bruins actually gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 2017 THIRD round pick for this guy? Are you kidding? This was one of General Manager Don Sweeney’s first moves after taking over for the fired Peter Chiarelli. And boy, this was an absolute dud. There’s a lot of good talent that can be had in the 3rd round. For example, Brad Marchand was a 3rd round pick.
But we’ll never know what could have been of that Bruins 3rd round pick. All I know, is if given the option of wearing a Zac Rinaldo Bruins jersey or being set on fire, I would supply the gasoline.
March 2, 2015
Bruins receive: Brett Connolly
Lightning received: 2015 2nd round pick, 2016 2nd round pick
This trade wasn’t necessarily bad at the time it was consummated. The Bruins were looking to find a speedy, scoring winger to put on David Krejci’s right wing. Connolly hadn’t exactly lit things up in Tampa Bay, but at the same time, his skill was noticeable. Connolly was a 1st round pick in 2010 (#6 overall), so if he could reach his potential in Boston, it could have been a steal.
Unfortunately, things just didn’t pan out for Connolly in Boston. Immediately after the trade, Connolly broke a finger and missed 6 weeks, only playing 5 games for the Bruins after being acquired in March.
The following season, Connolly was projected to be a top-6 forward, but had a very underwhelming year, with 9 goals and 16 assist in 71 games played with a 12:58 ATOI. After the 2015-2016 season, the Bruins didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Connolly as a restricted free agent, and he joined his current team, the Washington Capitals.
The Bruins essentially handed division rival Tampa Bay TWO 2nd round picks (2015 and 2016) for a player that only suited up for 76 games and only contributed 27 points. As a reference, Olympian and Minnesota Wild prospect Jordan Greenway went after that 2015 2nd round pick, and the young stud Colorado Avalance defenseman Samuel Girard who Zac Rinaldo buckled with a sucker punch went in the 2nd round in 2016.
July 4, 2013
Bruins receive: Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow, and Matt Fraser
Stars receive: Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Ryan Button
You want fireworks on Independence Day? This was it. This trade is the one that will forever define Peter Chiarelli’s legacy as General Manager of the Boston Bruins. Tyler Seguin was an outright star-in-the-making in Boston, after being taken 2nd overall behind Taylor Hall (with a pick stemming from another questionable Chiarelli deal involving Phil Kessel).
Seguin, 21 years old at the time, was about to start the first year of a 6 year, $34.5 million ($5.75 AAV) extension. Seguin reportedly had been having some off-ice issues, and as a young player who played a bit fast-and-loose, didn’t necessarily fit Claude Julien’s system. But with that, he was one of the best young players in the league, and was still entering the prime of his career.
Loui Eriksson had been a consistent scoring threat when paired with James Neal and Brad Richards in Dallas from 2009-2012. And to be honest, when Loui was in Boston and was healthy, he performed well, recording a 30-33–63 point season in 2015-2016. But just look at what Seguin has done in Dallas since the trade, and you’ll see just how bad this deal has ended up for Boston:
- 2013-2014: 37 goals, 47 assists
- 2014-2015: 37 goals, 40 assists
- 2015-2016: 33 goals, 40 assists
- 2016-2017: 26 goals, 46 assists
Can you imagine Seguin playing on David Krejci’s wing in Bruce Cassidy’s system? That would be simply unreal. Now obviously, Julien was the coach at the time and there was no indication that he would be fired in the future. But still, it’s a scary thought to think about.
Also, to note, none of the pieces received by the Bruins in this deal are still on the team. Loui walked in free agency after his 63 point season. Reilly Smith moved on to Florida and now Vegas, where he’s had success both places. Joe Morrow now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, and Matt Fraser hasn’t been in the NHL since 2014-2015.
February 18, 2011
Bruins receive: Tomas Kaberle
Maple Leafs receive: Joe Colborne, 2011 1st round pick, 2012 Conditional 2nd round pick
I will absolutely be honest, and own up to this: I was ecstatic when this trade happened in February 2011. The Bruins were on the precipice of being a contender for the Stanley Cup. All they needed was a solid, puck-moving defenseman.
The rumor mill started early that Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs would be available for the right price, and at the time, I didn’t care what it cost the Bruins. The two teams were linked to trade talks for what seemed like a decade, until the deal was finally sealed. The Bruins landed what very well could have been the missing piece, shortly after adding veteran forward Chris Kelly and adding Rich Peverley on the same day. The Bruins were in-it-to-win-it.
Kaberle looked like a fish out of water in Boston. In 24 regular season games, he only contributed 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists) in 24 games, whereas before the trade he had 38 points in 58 games for Toronto. In 25 playoff games, he did record 11 assists, but never seemed to integrate himself fully into the lineup. He was supposed to help the Bruins struggling power play, but that didn’t happen. Wouldn’t you know it, that was Kaberle’s first and last season in Boston.
Looking back at the 2011 Stanley Cup win, I would argue the Bruins won IN SPITE of Kaberle being on the team, not because he was on it. It’s obviously hard to second guess the deal now because the Bruins won the Cup. But if you have time, take a look at the 2011 NHL draft, and you will see a TON of talent the Bruins missed out on.
The Anaheim Ducks (who ultimately ended up with Boston’s pick after it was dealt by Toronto) selected 2018 All-Star Rickard Rakell. Vincent Trochek, Johnny Gaudreu, and potential Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov all went in later rounds. The 2012 NHL Draft wasn’t too bad either in the 2nd round and beyond. And Joe Colborne…well, not that big a loss.
Bruins receive: Brandon Bochenski
Blackhawks receive: Kris Versteeg, 2008 Conditional 5th round pick
Brandon Bochenski was an incredible player…in the AHL. Before landing in Boston, Bochenski had put up incredible numbers for the Binghamton Senators and the Norfolk Admirals. In ’04-’05, ’05-’06, and ’06-’07, Bochenski played 143 AHL games, and scored a whopping 89 goals and 93 assists for 182 points. Obviously, it looked like he may be the real deal.
However, in those same three seasons while in the NHL (in Ottawa, Chicago, and Boston), Bochenski played a total of 81 games and only mustered 21 goals and 20 assists. After starting the ’07-’08 season with the Bruins and playing 20 games with only 6 assists, the Bruins shipped Bochenski out to the Anaheim Ducks for Shane Hnidy. Talk about a short stay in black and gold. Shortly thereafter, he left the NHL for the KHL.
Kris Versteeg is not a superstar by any means. But the NHL journeyman is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, and a 4-time 20 goal scorer. The 2004 5th round pick of the Bruins put up solid numbers in his only year in the organization, the ’06-’07 AHL season, which ended up being a partial season due to the trade.
Versteeg played 43 games for the Providence Bruins, scoring 22 goals and 27 assists, for 49 points and a more than a point-per-game average. After he was dealt to the Chicago organization, he put up an additional 23 points in 27 games for a season total of 72 points in 70 games. Not too shabby, especially since he followed it up with a 49 point in 56 game performance in the AHL the next season, before he made his jump to the NHL.
Next: The Bruins and the Curse of the President's Trophy
Overall, playing 10 (currently in his 11th) seasons in the NHL for 7 teams, Versteeg has 149 goals and 209 assists, for 358 total points. Not a hall-of-fame career, but definitely a serviceable NHL forward and a MUCH better career than that of his trade counterpart. Add in the fact that a draft pick also went with Versteeg (it was conditional, and didn’t end up exercised), and the Bruins clearly lost this deal.