It’s amazing what two trades can do to a team.
Barely hanging onto the fourth and final East Division playoff position, the Boston Bruins had needs at the trade deadline and general manager Don Sweeney sent a message loud and clear from the front office to the locker room that he knows and was willing to better his club for the remainder of the regular season and hopefully a postseason run.
Yes, the Bruins have injuries, but also have a roster of some underperforming players. Sweeney added depth to the defense by adding a left-shot blueliner in Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators. It’s only been three games, but what a start to his Bruins’ career he’s having. He is an offensive defenseman that the group has been missing and plays well in all three zones.
Upfront was the biggest splash made by Sweeney Sunday night. He snagged Taylor Hall from the Buffalo Sabres. Ok, yeah, the Black and Gold were in the market for a right wing, but when Hall is available and you don’t have to give up a first-round pick, then you try and make the deal work. Add in the fact that the Sabres were retaining 50-percent of his contract, it’s a no-brainer.
Also part of the deal was a bottom-six forward named Curtis Lazar. All he has done in three games is come in and give a major spark and jolt to the Bruins fourth line, something that had been missing for some time. Since Lazar’s arrival on Causeway St., there has been a difference in play for the bottom-three forwards.
Boston has won three games in a row since the trades and with some of the injured players getting healthy and nearing a return, there are going to be some decisions that have to be made in regards to the roster when everyone is available. Let’s take a look at three Bruins whose roster spot could be in trouble in the not too distant future.