Team: 2020-21 Boston Bruins

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 9, 2021

Published: Feb. 9, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The Bruins committed to playing the kids on defense this year and so far it has worked out as well as anyone could have hoped. I see no reason to make a deal until the deadline. But then they absolutely need to add a veteran body to the left side. Lauzon and Zboril have been great but a legit Cup contender needs more experience and ability at the top than those two at this point in their careers.

To me, the ideal fit is an impending UFA who is younger and used to playing big minutes. This works in a few ways. 1) they would be a natural fit to skate with McAvoy and play the big minutes required of a top pair in the playoffs and 2) should the Bruins lose any of Grz, Lauzon, or Zboril in the expansion draft, they suddenly have a built-in replacement in a younger UFA who already has experience with the team.

Four players fit the bill: Ryan Murray and Jake McCabe, and to a lesser extent Derek Forbort and Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak is by far the weakest fit and Dallas is very likely playoff bound as well. Forbort has been excellent for Winnipeg this year but has an inconsistent past. The Jets are also very thin on defense and may not want to trade Forbort if they are even close to a playoff spot or if they plan to re-sign him, which they should. That leaves Murray and McCabe who are the best candidates anyway and play for teams who won’t be in the postseason. The two are remarkably similar - age, size, style, stats - making it a tough call. I considered that Buffalo might be hesitant to move McCabe to an Atlantic Division rival and they are also more likely to resign him than the Devils are with Murray. So Murray is the choice. Considering the Devils only traded a 5th for him and he carries some injury concerns, I don’t think the price will be too high. There will be some competition though and I think this is a winning offer.

Up front, I’m really not too worried. Once Kase is back, the top nine is in good shape. You also have your dependable duo on the fourth line in Kuraly-Wagner and a number of options to complete that line in Frederic, Bjork, or even Ritchie. If there is an injury on the fourth line, they also have a ton of veteran options while Bjork and Frederic can also move up if an injury causes a shuffle in the top nine. I think the one thing the Bruins might need is a veteran depth option whose go-to is not defensive play or as an energy source. Especially if Kase gets hurt again, I think a more offensive-minded skill player makes sense to complement the defensive nature of their current forward depth. They can’t rely on Studnicka as their only top-six caliber replacement option. There could be a number of possibilities on the market, but I wouldn’t give up too much to add this player. I think the player who really makes sense as a skilled offensive player who could also come cheap and can be okay with a depth role is Alex Galchenyuk. If he hits waivers within two weeks of the deadline, I would take him easily. By the time he quarantines he can be on the roster without pushing anyone else out. If it’s earlier than that, I would let him clear and then trade for him so he can go to the taxi squad. If he never hits waivers, they could still trade for him anytime within two weeks of the deadline and not have to worry about it. It’s an ideal situation for a luxury addition rather than a must-have.

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