Boston Bruins: Who are the alternatives if there’s no Chris Kreider trade?

Kyle Palmieri (New Jersey Devils)

This idea won’t go away but you have to question whether the New Jersey Devils really want to make it, otherwise surely they would’ve already sorted a trade out; it’s not like there’s isn’t apparent interest.

Blake Coleman and Andy Greene have already been dealt by the Devils’ interim General Manager, so it’s not as if he’s simply waiting for the trade deadline.

On the other hand, maybe he’s allowing the market to grow even stronger for Kyle Palmieri before pulling the trigger. If Kreider does end up moved and it’s not to the Boston Bruins, you’d have to imagine they’d go heavy for Palmieri, especially considering Tyler Toffoli is already no longer available.

Financially, he’s a better fit than Brandon Saad though of course, offloading a salary would be useful in this scenario given there is term on Palmieri’s contract.

Routinely posting 40-50 points in a season, he would be the perfect scoring fit on David Krejci‘s line and wouldn’t require juggling on Bruce Cassidy‘s part as he is naturally a right-winger.

Asset-wise, you’d have to imagine the closer to trade deadline we get and the longer the Bruins go without pulling the trigger, the higher the price goes.

Danton Heinen has been speculated as a core piece in any package, while it also would be no big surprise to see at minimum a higher round draft-pick and maybe even a middling prospect like Connor Clifton thrown in.

We’ve previously stated that prioritising him over Chris Kreider is something the Boston Bruins should absolutely do. Whether or not the Devils are willing to ‘play ball’ or not though is a whole different question.