Boston Bruins: 3 right wingers to consider trading for
The Boston Bruins are currently in a heavyweight tilt to not only win the newly minted East Division but also the Presidents’ Trophy. After some counted them out with their aging vets and loss of stalwart blueliners Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, the Bruins are firing on all cylinders early.
Don Sweeney should be more active than ever on the phones knowing that this team may have a better chance than ever to hoist the Stanley Cup. One position that has been the bane of Boston Bruins fan’s existence is the right wing position and more specifically finding a consistent guy for second-line center David Krejci that can provide secondary scoring night in and night out.
Trade rumours are starting to heat up as NHL teams around the league realize either that this isn’t their year, or that they are a team that can be competitive in a potential playoff run. There is still a ton of hockey left before the April 12th trade deadline, but the Boston Bruins would be smart to make calls early.
Here are some names at the right wing position that the Bruin would be smart to pursue.
3. Jake Virtanen
Could the former 6th overall pick find better success on a dominant Boston Bruins team?
Jake Virtanen being on the trade block for a struggling Vancouver Canucks organization is currently one of the worst kept secrets in hockey.
After being a highly touted pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Virtanen has struggled to find a spot in the top-six and has been inconsistent ever since entering the league.
Virtanen is one of those guys that has all the tools but maybe not the toolbox. He has shown flashes of his ceiling but can never bring it all together consistently.
The Boston Bruins have verified interest in the Canucks young winger and would be wise to take a chance on a guy that looks like a candidate to break out if given a change of scenery.
Jake Virtanen brings a toughness in his game that would fit in great with this Bruins team. His $2.55 million cap hit over the next two seasons is also extremely manageable. If you know Don Sweeney, you know he loves terms in players he trades for.
2. Phil “The Thrill” Kessel
What a story it would be for the former Boston Bruins draftee to return to where it all began.
He may be out of the spotlight in the desert but Phil Kessel is still putting up solid numbers at age 33.
After years in the spotlight and two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Phil Kessel is quietly playing his game with the Arizona Coyotes. If he wants to play for a competitive team anytime soon though, he could come back to where it all began.
Kessel is still a top-six forward in the NHL even if he doesn’t always take on that role for the Coyotes. Arizona is still part of the playoff hunt in the West division, but their best-case scenario would be that #4 slot, and good luck beating any of those three teams that currently reside in the slots above.
The Coyotes could continue to work in their youth and look to get rid of some of their older talent in order to gain assets. Kessel would be at the front of that list.
The Boston Bruins would probably have to do some cap gymnastics in order to get Kessel, but could try sweetening the pot in order to get the Coyotes to retain salary or send back some salary in Arizona’s direction.
“The Thrill” would be able to immediately slide in as the impact second-line winger the Bruins have been searching for.
1. Kyle Palmieri
The New Jersey Devils winger has been an analyst and fan likened trade target for the Boston Bruins.
It seems like Kyle Palmieri has been mentioned in trade rumours since he signed with the New Jersey Devils in 2016.
One has to wonder what the Devils winger could do if he was placed in a winning group after posting five straight 20-goal seasons. This season looks as likely as any that Palmieri could be moved after New Jersey already seems to be out of the playoff running in the beast of the East Division.
The Boston Bruins shouldn’t struggle to formulate any Palmieri deal with his modest $4.65 million cap hit for a player of his caliber. Like Phil Kessel, Kyle Palmieri would be able to slide in as immediate reinforcements for David Krejci’s right side.
How badly do the Boston Bruins need a right winger?
This year’s Boston Bruins team should be Stanley Cup or bust with all the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming offseason.
Other than a move for a left defenseman, the right wing depth could be improved and ideally, a top-six guy would be a monumental get by the Boston Bruins front office.
Craig Smith has been solid beside David Krejci, but his minutes with Charlie Coyle on the third unit were more impressive. Smith and Coyle displayed instant chemistry during their short time together.
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All of the aforementioned players could play a big part in adding that offensive punch and secondary scoring.