Whenever a player has a good season in a contract year, they are always tempted to test the free agent waters. Who can blame them sometimes, right? Sometimes when that happens, things don't tend to go the way the player and his agent think. That is the case with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley.
Traded to the Sabres from the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline in March, Stanley was a big addition to Buffalo's backend for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. In 17 games, he averaged just under 15 minutes a game with five assists and plus/minus plus-5. The 6-foot-7 left-shot left the Sabres and tested the free agent waters and remains unsigned.
Could he return to Buffalo? Yes, of course, there are going to be some suitors for his services before training camp starts. In the end, there is a good chance that Winnipeg's first-round pick in the 2016 Entry Draft is not going to get what he wants.
Given he's not going to command a big deal, could Stanley be the player the Black and Gold need on defense after missing out on Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers?
Bruins should pursue free agent defenseman Logan Stanley
When the reported trade between the Bruins and Oilers fell through on July 1, it left a hole on Boston's backend. Andrew Peeke left in free agency for the Utah Mammoth, and Sweeney brought on Will Borgen in a trade with the New York Rangers and signed Connor Clifton in free agency. It leaves second-year head coach Marco Sturm with an abundance of defensemen, but signing Stanley would be a no-brainer and clearing some of the other blueliners is a move they could be done.
What would Stanley bring the Bruins? He would give them a physical presence on the backend, something that the front office loves. It would make them tougher to play against on the backend. He would be an addition to the bottom four on defense when everyone is healthy, not suspended, and in the lineup.
The Bruins' dire need on defense is for a right-shot blueliner, but adding a player like Stanley is something that seriously should be considered. The Bruins pride themselves on being a physical team and tough to play against. On a prove-it contract, Stanley could be a sneaky-good addition for the Black and Gold.
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