Boston Bruins: Assessing the trade deadline pick-ups so far
The Boston Bruins advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight after a dominating 3-0 Game 6 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Boston Bruins will be returning to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2013 and we have one man to thank for all of it, Don Sweeney.
Let’s rewind here for a moment. While many of the Boston faithful were getting their hopes up with names like Mark Stone and Artemi Panarin, the Teflon Don was in the shadows figuring out what holes this team needed to fill.
Six days before the NHL trade deadline, Boston Bruins General Manager, Don Sweeney sent struggling rookie, Ryan Donato and a 5th round pick to the Minnesota Wild for Charlie Coyle.
Besides being a hometown kid, Coyle made all sorts of sense for the Bruins as he was a great candidate to fill the black hole in the Bruins third line center role.
Six days later on trade deadline day, the fan base saw Mark Stone end up with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Columbus Blue Jackets load up. Instead of unloading assets, the Bruins acquired Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils for a 2019 second round pick and a 2020 fourth round pick.
Fans seemed very frustrated at the time as years prior this strategy hadn’t worked. Until now!
Charlie Coyle did not have the best start to his Boston Bruins career, scoring just 2 goals and 6 points in the final 21 games after the trade deadline.
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To make matters worse, the B’s faithful were forced to watch Ryan Donato show flashes of what he failed to produce during his time with the Bruins.
Fast forward to today, Charlie Coyle has arguably been Boston’s best forward in all three zones, as far as consistency and production go. Coyle has 5 goals and 3 assists so far in this playoffs, but most importantly, he has been an absolute rock in that third line center role.
For the Massachusetts native, you know he has to be feeling great living out his childhood dream. When Coyle was acquired, I had written that he gave me the Chris Kelly 2011 vibe. Suffice to say, Coyle has found an incredible chemistry with Marcus Johansson.
Marcus Johansson, just like Charlie Coyle, had a rocky start to his Boston Bruins career having picked up a couple of injuries, and only had one goal and three points in the 10 games he was healthy enough for.
Looking at tonight’s second round series clincher, and it’s remarkable how far these two trade deadline acquisitions have come.
Aside from putting the first nail in the Columbus coffin by extending the lead to 2-0 in the third period of tonight’s game, the key for Coyle and Johansson has been the way they play in all 3 zones.
If this Boston team is going to make it to the big dance, they will need the two new boys on the third line to keep playing at the level they’ve reached now with continued dedication to the fore-check and cycle game that has made them arguably the best 200 foot third line in these playoffs.
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Donny boy, I think I am almost ready to forgive you for the Zac Rinaldo trade!