Grading the Boston Bruins’ trade deadline one week later
By Jack Long
I’m not a huge fan of the immediate trade grades given out after any deal is made. It can take weeks, months, and sometimes years to see how well the deal really worked out for both sides – especially if there are prospects and picks involved. Saying that, after only a week of play since the deadline – it seems fair to give a current trade deadline grade to the Boston Bruins.
If you’ve been able to watch any number of the Boston Bruins 4 games played so far with their new additions – you’ll have seen the immediate impact that these three guys have had on this roster.
Taylor Hall has been a perfect fit on David Krejci’s left wing so far. He looks like a guy who is happy to be out of Buffalo and I don’t think anyone can blame him. Hall doesn’t have to be ‘the guy’ on this Bruins team and is getting a ton more opportunities on a currently rolling second line with Craig Smith flanking on the right side. Three points in 4 games for Hall is a wicked start.
Mike Reilly is perhaps the biggest surprise for many Boston Bruins fans. Reilly has been a horse on the Bruins’ back end through 4 games averaging over 22 minutes in ice time a night. Reilly has been absolutely snapping the puck around and has 2 points in 4 games while playing first-team power play minutes.
Curtis Lazar was a sneaky addition to the Taylor Hall trade, but he hasn’t been quiet in his first 4 games with the Boston Bruins. Lazar has single-handedly rejuvenated the Bruins fourth line. With Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner flanking him on the left and right side respectively, the fourth line looks like your classic Boston fourth line – causing havoc and generating offence. Lazar has 1 goal in his short stint so far.
Boston Bruins trade deadline grade.
The Boston Bruins only had to give up Anders Bjork, a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for these three immediate contributors. As mentioned earlier, who knows what kind of player Bjork and these picks will become – right now though this deal looks like an absolute steal for the Bruins.
Since these three players have come into the fold, the Boston Bruins are looking like legit Stanley Cup contenders.
Taylor Hall creates a two-pronged offensive attack with the combination of the Perfection Line and the newly formed Hall-Krejci-Smith line that surely gives opposing defences fits. Mike Reilly is playing top minutes including the power play. Curtis Lazar has completely revamped the fourth line.
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Boston Bruins fans have to give Don Sweeney props for this 2021 deadline. Sweeney has been hesitant to pay the price for a big deadline swing, but this year may have been the best to do it.