The Boston Bruins have been in search of a top-six winger even after acquiring Charlie Coyle and have found their man in Marcus Johansson. The Athletic’s Joe McDonald was the first to report that the team had acquired Johansson from the New Jersey Devils. TSN’s Bob McKenzie adds that the return is a 2019 second-round pick and 2020 fourth-round pick. The Devils will also retain 40% of the impending UFA’s salary – approximately $1.833MM – so as to allow the Bruins room to allow room for bonuses in their year-end cap accounting.
The Bruins had been linked to nearly every major rental forward available at the deadline, but seemingly balked at the high prices. While Johansson isn’t exactly the right-shot goal-scoring forward that would have been the ideal fit, he will certainly help with the team’s lack of secondary scoring. While injury issues have limited Johansson’s offensive totals in New Jersey, his per-game production has been back at his regular career levels this season. His shooting percentage is also down, but could improve on a superior team. A creative offensive player, Johansson should add to Boston’s potent power play and could slot in on a line with David Krejci or the newly-acquired Coyle. Bruins GM Don Sweeney opted for the safe play at the deadline, but Johansson has the upside to fit in well in Boston (so long as he can put his past with Brad Marchand behind him).
Meanwhile, New Jersey GM Ray Shero deserves credit for the haul he has been able to bring in at the deadline for Brian Boyle, Ben Lovejoy, Keith Kinkaid, and now Johansson. The Devils picked up two seconds, a third, a fourth, and a fifth, as well as young defenseman Connor Carrick in exchange for expiring pieces that haven’t exactly been world-beaters this season. It’s been a nice deadline for New Jersey in an otherwise disappointing season.
2nd and a 4th with 50% retained is what I’ve heard.
It’s not getting you past TB
Marcus say hello to your new teammate Brad marchand
Maybe even his new linemate.. that should be plenty awkward
Super ironic, given that the rumors were Boston was shot down by Eric Staal, Thomas Vanek, and Tyler Toffoli, only for the one guy who was concussed last year by Brad Marchand to tell them, “Sure, I’ll go to Boston!” Weird. And of course Sweeney can’t let a deadline go by without trading away multiple draft picks.
Well you have to give something to get something. The team is clearly in a win-now mode so they’re going to make moves to add to the team. Whats the alternative? Not make a trade? Than everyone would be complaining about how they stood pat at the deadline and didn’t try to make a push.
The problem is when Sweeney is backed into a corner and feels like he has to “do something” (whether trades or FA signings) the B’s end up with such luminaries as Matt Beleskey, Jimmy Hayes, John Michael Liles, Zac Rinaldo, and David Backes.
Nice book reference
Shero continues to impress. Please involve some of these picks in a trade
MJ90! Welcome to BeanTown!
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-The LBOH
Love what the Bruins did at the deadline. Once healthy, they will be able to roll 4 lines again and have players that can slide up and down the lineup too. All without subtracting from the current roster…. one that got the to 2nd place in the East.
That’s how trades work. Trade actual people and the keyboard warriors flip out. Trade picks and the keyboard warriors flip out. It would be so much easier if people just gave Boston top players for nothing in return.
sweeney sucks at drafting, so trading picks is actually a good thing
Agree. Just don’t think Sweeney has the disposition to make trades let alone when there’s some urgency. He tends to get overwhelmed and is prob better in player development than on the front lines dealing with other GM’s.