Boston Bruins: Is it time to trade prospects to add a defensemen?

If the Boston Bruins are going to add a veteran piece to their defense, then they will have to part ways with prospects.

After not making a free-agent splash on defense and losing Torey Krug to the St. Louis Blues via free agency, as it stands now, the Boston Bruins will open training camp at Warrior Ice Arena with a young defensive core.

Of course, captain Zdeno Chara could still return for a 15th season with the Bruins if he re-signs as he is currently an unrestricted free agent. Chara could still leave and sign with another team also, but rumors have it that the 43-year old blueliner is waiting to see what the 2020-21 NHL season looks like before deciding if he will play another year.

Prior to the NHL Entry Draft in October, the Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks were two teams that were interested in trading for Arizona Coyotes defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Neither team was able to work out a deal, but something tells me that it is not the last we have heard about Ekman-Larsson and the possibility of him being traded by the Coyotes.

There is also a thought out there that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney might be able to look into trading for Calgary Flames defensemen Noah Hanifin. The 23-year old Boston native is currently entering the fourth year of a six-year contract with a $4.95 average annual value (AAV).

Parting ways with prospects is needed to acquire a defenseman.

If Sweeney is going to get a veteran presence on the blue line, prospects will have to be part of any deal. Prospects that the Bruins could consider moving to bring in a veteran blueliner are defensive prospects Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril.

Top prospect Jack Studnicka would be off-limits, but beyond that, it would interesting to see what Sweeney would be inclined to part ways with. It is not out of the question either that Brandon Carlo could be moved by the Boston GM off the current roster.

Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk will return with Carlo as of now, but that could change. Kevan Miller was re-signed in October by Sweeney and Connor Clifton is another player that could be in the works on the blue line. Jeremy Lauzon saw important minutes last season and Chara is still another piece that could return.

If Sweeney is going to land Ekman-Larsson, Hanifin, or another veteran defenseman through a trade, parting ways with prospects is almost certain. For a team that is seeing its window closing with their core to win a Stanley Cup, it is time now to move prospects in the right deal to bring in defensemen to help the young blue line.