The NHL regular-season calendar has flipped to its second half. In the most recent four-game stretch, the Boston Bruins have been carried by their improved secondary scoring. How might it affect their trade deadline approach?
The Boston Bruins trade season is just around the corner. On February 24, the NHL will offer its participants a last shot at making a move ahead of the rest of the season.
Last year, the Bruins managed to acquire two essential components of the later Stanley Cup playoffs run, Marcus Johansson and Charlie Coyle.
This year, there have been many rumors swirling around the Boston Bruins. Quality wingers like Tyler Toffoli, Chris Kreider, Brandon Saad, Wayne Simmonds or Kyle Palmieri, have all been mentioned in recent weeks.
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However, every one of those choices poses two significant issues. Firstly, what would it cost them? Those are not fourth-line skaters, the Boston Bruins would have to part ways with some good prospects and high draft selections.
Secondly, the salary cap space remains an ongoing issue. The Boston Bruins would have to somehow beg their trade partner to swallow some portion of the player’s salary-cap hit, with 50% being the best possible outcome for the Bruins.
Still, that doesn’t really solve the problem for them. Besides, committing a team to retain the salary-cap hit means that Boston has to add something extra to sweeten the pot.
Lately, Boston improved its secondary scoring. In the three-game stand before the Moms’ Trip, the Bruins scored only four goals and three of those goals came on the power-play. The only even-strength goal arrived with Joakim Nordstrom bouncing one off his skate versus the New Jersey Devils. And, that’s it.
In the past four games, facing some really tough opposition, Boston scored a total of 19 goals; this time with 14 even-strength goals included. Remember, the Bruins scored only three even-strength goals in the previous five games.
The reason for such improvement has been the awakening of the Bruins’ middle-six pack boosting its offensive production. Jake DeBrusk has a four-game point streak with three goals and four assists for seven points. His center David Krejci has three goals and an assist for four points in the same stretch.
The Bruins Head coach Bruce Cassidy decided to promote Anders Bjork to play on the second-line right-wing position. Bjork has a goal and two assists in his last two games.
The third line came to life, as well. Charlie Coyle has two goals and three assists for five points in his last four games. Danton Heinen gathered a goal and four assists in his most recent four contests.
On Monday in a disappointing outcome against the Flyers, the Bruins’ most-utilized offensive line at even-strength was the one of DeBrusk, Krejci, and Bjork. They logged 12:43 of the ice-time at five-on-five with the CF% of 51.85, which was the Bruins best that night.
How much this affect the Boston Bruins trade strategy? The Bruins still have some valuable options down in Providence as Karson Kuhlman, Trent Frederic, or Zach Senyshyn.
Is it worth, let’s say, giving up a first-round pick and/or a top prospect for a rental? We will no doubt find out in the upcoming weeks.