Another day, another year that the Boston Bruins need secondary scoring and a second-line right winger. And with the trade deadline just three weeks away, GM Don Sweeney has some evaluating to do.
Sweeney has stated that:
"“The health of our group and how well we’re playing will sometimes determine (the trade deadline moves).”"
So that will be something to keep an eye on over these next few weeks.
But a new name is beginning to pop up in trade rumors with the Bruins and that’s Scituate, MA native Conor Garland of the Arizona Coyotes. Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet had this to say about the Coyotes’ winger in his most recent “31 Thoughts” column:
"“I’m told the way the Coyotes see it is they need to replenish, and moving him could do it. He’s also arbitration-eligible this summer and next, followed by unrestricted free agency, so a much-deserved raise is on the way.One thing Arizona has told teams: It’s not interested in multiple picks that are late in rounds. So you’ve got to bring more than that. Obvious onlooker: Boston. The Bruins need to score, and he’s a onetime junior Bruin. That makes them contractually obligated to trade for him…”"
Conor Garland checks all the boxes for what the Boston Bruins need.
Garland has developed into a legitimate top-six winger for the Coyotes and the 25-year-old has nine goals and16 assists this season, good for 25 points, which leads Arizona. He’s at a very team-friendly salary hit of just $775,000 which might make the asking price a bit higher from Arizona’s side, but as a budding player in this league, the Bruins could take a swing at him.
Not only would Garland bring in the secondary scoring needed on Boston, but he fits the bill of a Bruin. He would join the likes of Charlie Coyle and Chris Wagner as natives of Massachusetts that the Bruins go out and get.
It certainly has worked out with Coyle, after being acquired at the trade deadline in 2019, and Garland could be a part of the Bruins’ core moving forward if the Bruins decide to sign him to an extension.
Garland has overcome a lot of adversity in his path to the NHL. His size is one thing, as he is listed at 5-foot-10, 165 lbs, and after being passed over in the 2014 draft, he was taken late in the 2015 draft (fifth-round, 123rd overall).
A prove-it chip on his shoulder if you will, to show he can play despite his stature and late-round status. He finally got a shot with the Coyotes in 2018-19 before a breakout season last year, where he led the Desert Dogs in goals (22) and finished third on the team in points.
As Friedman mentioned above, the Coyotes aren’t looking for multiple picks. They’ll want a prospect and a high draft pick in compensation. It would most likely be Urho Vaakanainen or Jakub Lauko to be sent out to the desert, but Sweeney would be bringing in not just a player to fill a top-six role, but someone who has proved they can thrive in a top-six role.
A player like Conor Garland is what the Bruins need and he adds a couple extra bonus points with his ties to the Bay State. Don’t be surprised to hear his names ramped up more in trade rumors as the deadline gets closer.