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Boston Bruins: Would you do this all-in trade with the Nashville Predators?

By Jack Long

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 27: Mattias Ekholm #14 and Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators celebrate after a 2-1 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena on March 27, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 27: Mattias Ekholm #14 and Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators celebrate after a 2-1 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena on March 27, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 18: Goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates Filip Forsberg #9, Mattias Elkholm #14 and Nick Bonino #13 after a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 18: Goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators is congratulated by teammates Filip Forsberg #9, Mattias Elkholm #14 and Nick Bonino #13 after a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Boston Bruins – Nashville Predators blockbuster

It’s a big haul in each direction.

Jake DeBrusk at age 24 still has tons of promise in the NHL. A past 27 goal scorer, DeBrusk has struggled to find consistency on the Boston Bruins this year. He looks ready for a change of scenery. With the deadline in sight – DeBrusk has had a lot of trade buzz and is said to command a lot in the trade market. This just goes to show that teams see the player he can be and the Nashville Predators would be a great fit.

Urho Vaakanainen has played less than 20 games in the big leagues, but the 22-year-old has impressed when he has suited up. One of the Boston Bruins’ top prospects – Vaakanainen looks like he will be a defensive stalwart in this league for years to come. He won’t provide you with a ton of offence, but is a machine defensively. He had 6 blocks on February 28th against the New York Rangers.

The two first-round picks are a big addition, but necessary for players of this caliber.

Yes, this is a lot to give up for Don Sweeney who hates giving up anything that mortgages the future at all. It is more than worth it though when you see what’s coming back.

The Boston Bruins get two heavy impact players in return.

Filip Forsberg is a great scorer who would immediately bring that secondary punch after the Perfection Line. Forsberg is a crafty player who at age 26 already has five 50 point seasons under his belt (would’ve been six had it not been for Covid). This isn’t Don Sweeney’s classic semi-upgrade veteran rental fill-in player – this guy is a stud.

Mattias Ekholm is a top-tier blueliner who is a force on both ends of the ice. A big body at 6’4″ who is physical and great defensively – he also has had at least 30 points in his last three seasons. This is a first pairing guy on most teams in the NHL.

The beauty of both of these players is that they’re not expiring deals. Both are 2022 UFAs meaning any team acquiring these players could have them for this postseason run and a subsequent season.

At a cap hit of $3.75 million, Mattias Ekholm’s great value salary would basically swap with Jake DeBrusk’s. Filip Forsberg has a bit of a heftier deal at $6 million, but with the Boston Bruins having just over $6 million in deadline cap space – it would be no problem for Don Sweeney to make it work.

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