The Bruins find themselves squarely in contention for a playoff berth amid deadline week, not a spot most expected them to be in back in training camp. Their 5-2-3 record in their last 10 has somewhat upended their push, but they still remain with a a 54.2% chance at a postseason spot, per MoneyPuck – a slightly favorable coin flip.
Amid a crowded field, the Bruins aren’t keen to sell off more assets after last season’s deadline fire sale. Instead, general manager Don Sweeney yesterday reiterated his desire to reward his group for a strong start, but confirmed they’re not much concerned with the rental market and are instead focused on “moving forward as well.”
Sweeney did add yesterday that he’s “not in a rush to usher guys out the door” when asked about the futures of pending unrestricted free agents Andrew Peeke and Viktor Arvidsson (via Joe Haggerty of Boston Sports Journal). That’s a bit of a course reversal from last month when The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa indicated they were more willing to dangle Peeke for futures (or a longer-term upgrade elsewhere on the roster), although they weren’t keen on moving on from Arvidsson at that time, either.
It does make perfect sense that Sweeney won’t sell the farm for a pending UFA as he has in years past, even with the B’s in playoff position. Last season’s quick retool has paid immense dividends thus far, but isn’t complete. There’s a bit of restraint shown in not accelerating it too much, especially amid an incredibly crowded field of Eastern Conference competitors down the stretch.
That said, if a name can help them for the rest of the decade (or at least past this season), it’ll be something they consider. Per The Fourth Period’s updated trade board today, they’ve at least kicked the tires on veteran names with term all around the lineup like Jake DeBrusk, Justin Faulk, Nazem Kadri, and Rasmus Ristolainen, among others. Another report last week linked them to Flyers winger Owen Tippett. It’s also clear they’re willing to leverage some of their mid-to-high-end prospects, namely pivot Matthew Poitras, to make it happen.
Is Matthew Poitras a prospect, Or a decent player at the AHL level.
I think Letourneau is the more interesting option. The Flyers have more than enough potential 3Cs on the team and in the system.
Poitras is a decent AHL-er who the Bruins would dearly love being thought of as a “prospect” so they can deal him for better players.
DeBrusk has always been streaky & is now overpaid.
Faulk is aging.
I’m not sure Kadri fits their system.
Risto is a constant injury risk.
Tippett would be intriguing, but Philly wants teams to back the truck up, which might work for a team closer to real contention, but not a bubble team like BOS.
Tippett is a 25-30 goal scorer and can be a 2nd line or 3rd line wing for the next 6 years with a cap hit that will age well at $6.2 per. They should be able to demand something good for him. Not something crazy but wanting a 1st or 2nd along with a mid level prospect or 2 is fair.
I don’t disagree, I just don’t think BOS is the team that should make that deal (as this latest incarnation of the team has looked alternately amazing and atrocious.)