Boston Bruins: Why a trade for Ondrej Kase would be a good fit

The latest name linked with the Boston Bruins, Ondrej Kase, could be the best fit of any potential trade targets.

Ondrej Kase is a 24 year-old Czech right winger plying his trade with the Anaheim Ducks, who it’s safe to say grabbed a late-round steal picking him in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. For the Boston Bruins, he could be the perfect foil to his countryman David Krejci on the second line.

Few seventh round draft picks tend to make it to the NHL, even fewer hang around for more than a game or two. Ondrej Kase is a rare case of the player that surprises everyone. Nearing 200 NHL games and with 96 points to his name, he has shown he has the ability at this level.

For the Boston Bruins, he could be the ideal player to pick up for a number of reasons. Firstly, he seems likely to be able to settle in rapidly. Much like Charlie Coyle settled in so comfortably because of general familiarity with Massachusetts, the Slovak and Czech players in the Bruins line-up would certainly help Kase adapt.

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The likes of Zdeno Chara, Jaroslav Halak, David Pastrnak and potential line-mate David Krejci all have shared language and likely traditions and upbringing, meaning there’s likely a bond there already. In fact, Pastrnak has turned out alongside him at international level already.

He would also likely not cost a fortune for the Boston Bruins to acquire and still has term to his contract. At a cap hit of $2.6 million and with one more year at the end of this season, he is the perfect rental plus term addition to the line-up.

You’d have to imagine that there is potential to work a one-for-one hockey trade along similar lines to the Charlie Coyle deal that saw Ryan Donato heading the other way last trade deadline. Maybe you offer Danton Heinen to the Ducks?

At a very similar cap hit and with the same level of versatility in terms of having played both wings, Heinen is a very similar player statistically albeit having had slightly higher career-best seasons, maxing out at 47 points two seasons back.

Even the fact that both can handle duties on both special teams scream out ‘even trade’ to give both a change of scenery.

A dead-rubber trade would surely hold some appeal, maybe a later round draft pick thrown in as a sweetener as the Ducks will no doubt know the Boston Bruins intend to contend again this spring.

There’s almost definitely unlock-able potential with Ondrej Kase; at even-strength this year his most common linemates have been a pair of youngsters in Sam Steel and Max Jones. If he came over to the Boston Bruins, he’d likely be plugged in with Krejci and Jake Debrusk.

Although the Ducks’ youngsters no doubt have future potential, the Boston Bruins group has far more current potential to make Ondrej Kase an even better player and for Kase, the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup sooner rather than later.