Players the Bruins can go ahead and trade: John Beecher (Forward), Oskar Steen (Forward), Derek Forbort (Defenseman)
Derek Forbort (Defenseman)
Out of these three players, the only one who has stayed up in the NHL for the longest is Derek Forbort, but with the emergence of Jakub Zboril and the intangibles he brings with him, it might be time to show Forbort greener pastures.
In 2022-23, the now 31-year-old defenseman did set career-highs in goals, and assists with five and seven, respectively, but he only played in 54 games. After playing nearly three-quarters of the season, you would think Forbort’s numbers would have been a bit higher, but unfortunately, they were not.
What makes him valuable then? His plus-minus rating. In 2022-23, he carried a plus-minus rating of +12.
John Beecher (Forward)
Coming out of the University of Michigan in 2022, John Beecher was heralded as a great skater, and as one that has excellent balance.
Unfortunately, in his two years in 70 games in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, it has not come to fruition. In those games he has only been able to muster 12 goals, and 16 assists (28 points). While he did set career-highs in goals and assists, it was almost too little, too late (ironic considering he stands at 6-foot-3.
What could make Beecher valuable to another team is his potential, not to mention being a left-handed center. While the Bruins may opt to keep him around just to give him one more season of development, it’s likely they will look to move him, and eat some of his Entry Level Contract money, especially if it means pursuing a veteran player than can start right away.
Oskar Steen
Oskar Steen has unfortunately become one of those players for Boston who looks like an excellent pick-up down in the AHL, but as soon as he’s brought up to play in the NHL, he looks like a shell of himself.
In four seasons in North America, Steen has played in a combined 196 AHL games with 41 goals and 59 assists (100 points). Meanwhile, in three season where he was with Boston, he has played in a combined 26 games, scoring just three goals, and racking up four assists (seven points).
Steen has shown that he can be a valuable depth piece at center, and it is possible he stays in Providence, but if he is given more time in the NHL, I’m sure he sharpens his skills, and develops into a more consistent goal-scorer, like he is in Providence. If the Bruins were to pursue a veteran forward, look for Steen to be part of that trade.