With the Boston Bruins beat up and lacking in the scoring department the team has been involved in multiple trade rumors. Let’s look at some players that have been linked to the team.
The Boston Bruins are a walking hospital unit at this point. Injuries have haunted the team throughout the season.
That isn’t Boston’s only problem. The team is extremely top heavy lacking consistent scoring from anyone who isn’t on the 1st line. It seems like the Bruins need to make a move if they want to be serious contenders for the Stanley Cup.
The Bruins are becoming a one-dimensional team due to the fact that the only line they can rely on to score is the top line. If these guys are having a bad night Boston is probably leaving the arena as losers.
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Now there are many solutions to fix this. Bruce Cassidy could switch up the lines. When Patrice Bergeron is healthy he could move David Pastrnak down to the 2nd line and give a winger like Jake DeBrusk a chance to shine on the top line.
Cassidy has been pretty hesitant to mess with his top scoring line. The only time we have seen him play with the trio is during a game for a certain period of time. Usually, the head coach just goes back and has David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand playing together.
I will admit that I get nervous that a change in lines may ruin the momentum that these guys have, but they are talented players. They could probably score if they were all on separate lines.
But since there are a ton of trade rumors let’s look at the guys who might be coming to Boston before the trade deadline.
1. Kevin Hayes
Kevin Hayes is probably my favorite guys to come out of the Bruins trade rumors.
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Hayes is a young winger who could help the Bruins scoring woes. In 30 games this season he has 7 goals and 14 assists.
Now the Hayes name will ring a bell in Boston Bruins fans heads. Yes, he is Jimmy Hayes‘ brother. If Kevin comes to Boston hopefully he will be better than his bro.
7 goals isn’t a ton of scoring, but compared to some guys on the Bruins roster it is lovely. Hayes would fit in wonderfully in Boston. He is still a hard-nosed player who isn’t afraid of contact. He would adapt to the Bruins style of play almost immediately.
The Bruins and the New York Rangers have been trade happy as of late. The Bruins sent Ryan Spooner to New York last season and Adam McQuaid this offseason.
Also, Hayes is a Massachusetts native. The Bruins have 3 players from the state and Noel Acciari was born in Rhode Island. I think it is fair to say that Boston likes hometown guys.
2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins wouldn’t be your typical Boston Bruin, but he would definitely help the team out a lot.
Nugent-Hopkins is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He tied his career high in goals with 24. This season Nugent-Hopkins has continued to succeed. In 31 games this season he has 10 goals and 19 assists.
Now it is pretty clear. Nugent-Hopkins is a quality goal scorer. He could help balance out the Bruins roster. Imagine having Nugent-Hopkins on Boston’s 2nd or 3rd line.
The thing is that Nugent-Hopkins is a skill player. If you are worried about teams going after the Bruins star players, Nugent-Hopkins will be just another target. He is going to help you out in the offensive zone and that is it.
That could lead to Bruins fans calling Nugent-Hopkins out for his style of play if he struggles early on. We all saw what happened with Ryan Spooner.
It would be interesting to see Nugent-Hopkins in a Bruins uniform, but with what Edmonton would want from the Bruins, I don’t think it will happen.
3. Jeff Carter
One of the latest names to be linked to the Boston Bruins is Jeff Carter. Fluto Shinzawa said that the Bruins should look to bring the veteran to Boston.
Carter would definitely fit well in Boston. He is a more offensively skilled David Backes. Carter is near the end of his career, but still has a good few years left.
It has been a long career in the NHL for Carter. He has played 14 seasons and has 358 goals and 329 assists. Carter is also a proven winner. He has won 2 Stanley Cups.
Carter would be a great guy to add to the Bruins locker room. He could help the young Bruins roster succeed in the postseason.
This hasn’t been Carter’s best season, but he would still be a quality scorer for Boston. If Carter was on the Bruins he would be among Boston’s top 5 goal scorers.
Carter would bolster a 3rd line that could use a veteran presence. I think he could bring the best out of Ryan Donato and Danton Heinen.
So now Bruins have to wait, possibly all the way to the trade deadline. If Boston grabs one of these guys I think the Bruins will have a great chance at winning the Stanley Cup.