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Trade Rumors: Kane, Chychrun, Oilers/Kings

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Teams around the league could soon get more clarity on the future of Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane. On today’s edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun relayed a quote from Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, that a decision on whether he’ll waive his no-movement clause is coming “relatively soon.”

As LeBrun says, Kane completely controls his destiny, even if he waives his no-move clause, and he’ll be able to dictate the teams to which he’s willing to accept a trade. If Kane opts for a trade, Brisson says those teams will be notified at least “seven to 10 days” ahead of the March 3 deadline. There does exist a timeline in which Kane rejects a trade and opts to stay put, reconsidering his future in Chicago this summer. Despite just having nine goals in 45 games this season, Kane would still carry a great deal of value at the deadline, although it may not result in a first-round pick at this point.

  • The Boston Bruins could get even scarier. LeBrun also reported on Insider Trading that the team has recently inquired about Jakob Chychrun, which could give them easily the most formidable defense in the league. Even if the Bruins opt to part with Brandon Carlo in any potential Chychrun deal, as his name has begun to enter trade speculation, it would still leave Boston with a top-four defense group of Chychrun, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Matt Grzelcyk. With Chychrun locked into a dirt-cheap, sub-$5MM cap hit for multiple seasons, it could pay dividends for years to come if the Bruins can manage to stay competitive.
  • LeBrun also mentioned that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings seem to be competing for the same trade deadline additions, mainly left-shot defensemen. The two Pacific Division rivals have both been linked to Chychrun, Joel Edmundson, and Vladislav Gavrikov. A potential bidding war for those trade targets would certainly make fans of the Coyotes, Canadiens, and Blue Jackets smile, as the playoff rivals from last season aim to upgrade their group of defensemen.

Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins

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With the All-Star break now upon us, the trade deadline looms large and is just over a month away. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Boston Bruins.

Unlike the two prior teams covered in this series, the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, the Boston Bruins’ goal is not to sink as far down in the standings as possible to ensure the best possible chance at landing Connor Bedard. In fact, the Bruins’ play so far this season makes such a plan at this point almost impossible.

The Bruins have been the best team in hockey so far this season, and it’s not really up for debate. The team is 39-7-2 with 83 points.

Last season, the Washington Capitals made the playoffs out of the Eastern Conference. They won 44 games.

The Bruins have already won 39.

This is a team looking to win a Stanley Cup this season, a year that could potentially be the final campaign for core pieces such as Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

But where the trade deadline is concerned, the team’s success is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the Bruins players have absolutely earned some reinforcements. Should GM Don Sweeney remain entirely passive during the trade frenzy, that could send a poor message to the Bruins’ players, that their immense efforts this season were not rewarded with some additions to their lineup. But on the other hand, it would be reasonable for Boston to be weary of making changes to a lineup formula that has worked so well.

That leaves the team in an intriguing position heading into trade season. There are definitely ways for Boston to bolster its already formidable lineup, and there are quite a few high-end players who would fit very well in coach Jim Montgomery’s lineup. But with how well the team has done as currently constructed, the team’s trade deadline strategy may not be as simple as just trying to add the most talented player available.

Record

39-7-2, 1st in Atlantic

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$3.25MM today, $3.25MM in deadline space, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2023: BOS 1st, BOS 3rd, BOS 4th, BOS 5th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th, LAK 7th

2024: BOS 1st, BOS 3rd, BOS 4th, BOS 5th, BOS 6th

Trade Chips

This is where things get a bit more complicated. The Bruins’ success this season makes it unlikely that they would entertain removing a roster player from their lineup as part of a trade. It’s not impossible, of course, but subtracting from the current lineup in order to add outside talent would be a risk.

But on the other hand, it may be a risk the Bruins are forced to take. Outside of players currently on their roster, the Bruins have one of the thinner pools of assets to deal from in the entire NHL. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler recently ranked the Bruins’ prospect pool as the 30th-best in the NHL, and the team is missing both this year and next year’s second-round picks. (subscription link)

So if the Bruins want to go all-in on this season and have the best chance at putting together a winning offer for a top-end player, their best trade chip is likely 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell. Lysell, 20, has played this season for the Providence Bruins, and scored decently well. He has 22 points in 27 games, and has the potential to be a top-six forward in the NHL.

Like any prospect, there are question marks regarding Lysell’s future and the eventual NHL career he’ll end up having. But he’s an undoubtedly talented offensive threat and clearly the Bruins’ top prospect. If the team is engaged on a player such as Timo Meier, the Bruins may not be able to compete with the offers other clubs can make without including Lysell.

Other trade chips from the team’s prospect pool include Ohio State defenseman Mason Lohrei, undrafted winger Georgii Merkulov, and OHLer Matthew Poitras, though it’s unlikely anyone in that trio would be able to center a trade offer the way Lysell could.

Should the Bruins be forced to deal from their NHL roster in order to get a trade over the line, potential names they could deal include speedy winger Jakub Lauko, whose path to success on the team’s left side seems cloudy, or Trent Frederic, who is in the midst of a breakout year offensively but will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent in the summer.

Other potential trade chips: 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick, Jakub Zboril, Mike Reilly, John Beecher

Team Needs

1) Another high-end offensive weapon: It’s difficult to really pick any major “needs” on the Bruins’ roster, as the team is extremely well-rounded. When the roster is at full health, 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall is the Bruins’ third-line left winger. That’s the kind of depth and roster balance most teams can only dream of. But if there’s one thing the team could prioritize going into the deadline, it’s adding another high-end piece to really solidify their spot at the top of the NHL. Sweeney hasn’t been shy about adding big-name players in the past, whether it’s in trades for players such as Hall, Hampus Lindholm, or Rick Nash. If the Bruins are committed to going all-in on this year’s team, they could shop at the top of the market once again.

2) Left-Shot Defenseman: At the current moment, the Bruins have Reilly, an NHL veteran, in the AHL due to not only his cap hit but also the immense amount of depth the team has on the left side of their defense. But if the Bruins want to add major cap dollars to their roster, trading Reilly could be one of the more viable ways for the team to get that done. In that case, adding another left-shot defenseman could end up being a priority. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote on his 32 thoughts column that the Bruins are “believed to be in the left-defense market,” citing names such as Jakob Chychrun and Vladislav Gavrikov as possibilities.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Boston Bruins Place Vinni Lettieri On Injured Reserve

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The Boston Bruins placed forward Vinni Lettieri on injured reserve Wednesday, per a tweet from CapFriendly.

Lettieri lands on injured reserve just a day after Boston recalled him from the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Originally expected to join the team for their ongoing game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he sustained a lower-body injury in Providence’s last matchup and did not travel with the team, head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters yesterday morning.

Boston can activate Lettieri as soon as Wednesday, February 8. With the timing of the All-Star break, the team doesn’t have another game during that timeframe. As Jake DeBrusk is an option to return by the time the Bruins play again on February 11, Boston will likely re-assign Lettieri to Providence when his stint on injured reserve is over.

It’s disappointing for Lettieri, who still stands out as a strong AHL presence. He leads Providence with 37 points in 41 games this season and got his first taste of international experience last year at the World Championships with Team USA.

Boston Bruins Recall Jakub Lauko, Vinni Lettieri

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11:05am: Head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters including Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now that Lettieri suffered a lower-body injury and won’t be traveling to Toronto for tomorrow’s game after all.

9:15am: The Boston Bruins have added a couple of new faces to the mix just before the break, recalling Jakub Lauko and Vinni Lettieri from the minor leagues. The moves come after they sent Marc McLaughlin and Joona Koppanen down yesterday.

Lauko, 22, was a third-round pick of the Bruins back in 2018 but has barely touched NHL ice in the years since. This season he made his debut and played seven games, still spending most of his time in the minor leagues with Providence. The young forward had two points during his previous stint.

Lettieri, meanwhile, has been right on the fringe of the NHL since signing with the New York Rangers out of the University of Minnesota in 2017. With 82 career games under his belt – including 31 last season – he brings a little more experience to the bottom of the roster.

Through 41 games this season for Providence, Lettieri has 16 goals and 37 points, once again proving he can be a high-level player in the minor leagues. Whether he can translate any of that production to the NHL remains to be seen.

Boston Bruins Reassign Marc McLaughlin, Joona Koppanen

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With just one game before the break, the Boston Bruins have sent Marc McLaughlin and Joona Koppanen back to the minor leagues. That reduces the team to just 12 forwards on the active roster, though things could change again before Wednesday’s match against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

McLaughlin, 23, played just 9:08 in yesterday’s tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes, his second NHL game of the season. The young forward scored three goals in 11 games down the stretch last year but hasn’t been able to register a point or secure regular minutes this time around. Even the minor leagues haven’t been especially kind to his offensive production, with just seven goals and 17 points in 39 games so far.

Koppanen meanwhile has just one point in five games with Boston this season, the first NHL action of his career. The big forward hasn’t got a ton of ice time and appears to be nothing more than an injury replacement at this point in his career.

While he does have 20 points in 36 games for Providence, Koppanen will turn 25 next month and is scheduled to reach Group VI unrestricted free agency in the summer.

Boston Bruins Recall Marc McLaughlin

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It’s time for the hometown kid to get another chance. Marc McLaughlin has been recalled by the Boston Bruins, after some strong play in the minor leagues.

McLaughlin, 23, was signed last season as an undrafted NCAA free agent after captaining Boston College and suiting up at the Olympics for Team USA. The North Billerica native played in 11 games down the stretch for the Bruins, scoring his first three NHL goals in the process.

This year, he’s been with the Providence Bruins for the entire season, recording seven goals and 17 points in 39 games. Seven of those points have come in the last five games, as his game has hit a new level of late.

Boston is hitting the road for five straight, starting in Montreal tomorrow night before stopping to play Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, and Toronto before the All-Star break. Having another forward was necessary for the long road trip, meaning McLaughlin’s strong play came at the perfect time.

Brandon Carlo Won't Miss Time With Lower-Body Injury

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  • Don’t expect the Washington Capitals to follow in the Boston Bruins’ footsteps regarding load management. While it was reported earlier this week that Bruins might consider resting captain Patrice Bergeron at points down the stretch, Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette told The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir that he does not intend to employ a similar technique with the Capitals roster, which has been prone to injuries for much of the season. El-Bashir suspects that the Capitals’ slim cushion on a playoff spot in a tight Eastern Conference discourages Laviolette from resting any stars, something the Bruins and their world-shattering pace don’t have to worry about.
  • Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub and NBC Sports Boston reports that Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo will play tonight when they host the San Jose Sharks. Carlo sustained a lower-body injury in a January 19 game against the Rangers but will not miss any further action. One of the league’s best pure defensive defensemen, Carlo has a goal and seven assists in 41 games this season, along with a career-high +23 rating.

Bruins Considering Giving Patrice Bergeron Some Games Off

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Load management is a term that has become more commonplace in the NBA in recent seasons but it’s not something that’s typically done with any sort of regularity in the NHL.  However, that could be changing as Bruins center Patrice Bergeron acknowledged to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that the team has talked to him about the possibility of selectively resting him down the stretch.  The 37-year-old is in the midst of another strong season and has 36 points in 45 games so far while anchoring their top line but at his age and the minutes he has logged over the years, a night off here and there might not be a bad idea.  Of course, it certainly helps that Boston has a 13-point lead on Toronto in the Atlantic Division, giving them a sizable cushion that lessens any risk from attempting to give their top center some extra rest.

Tomas Nosek To Miss At Least Four Weeks

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The Bruins will be without a key depth veteran for the next little while as the team announced that center Tomas Nosek suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left foot on Thursday night.  He will miss at least the next four weeks due to the injury and will be re-evaluated at that time.

The 30-year-old is in his second season with Boston after signing a two-year, $3.5MM deal with them last summer.  Nosek is one of their most-used penalty killers, ranking second to only Charlie Coyle in shorthanded ice time among forwards while he has won over 58% of his faceoffs, good for second on the team behind Patrice Bergeron.  Offensively, he has chipped in with three goals and five assists in 42 games but his biggest contributions certainly come at the defensive end.

Notably, this injury dropped the Bruins down to 11 healthy forwards on their active roster so a recall from AHL Providence was expected.  While not announced by the team yet, they have recalled forward Joona Koppanen, per the AHL’s transactions log.  While they have next to no cap space, they do have plenty of flexibility in LTIR with Jake DeBrusk and his $4MM AAV on there while Nosek is eligible to be moved to LTIR as well considering how long he is set to miss and Koppanen’s recall will trim that space.

Latest On Brandon Carlo

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The Boston Bruins have announced that defenseman Brandon Carlo has suffered a lower-body injury, and is unlikely to return to tonight’s game against the New York Rangers. Carlo, a 26-year-old stay-at-home defenseman, is no stranger to injury issues, although this one is thankfully of the lower-body variety. While no injury is ever good news for a player, Carlo has battled concussions during his tenure as a Bruin, meaning the fact that this injury isn’t adding to that history is worth being thankful for.

Carlo blocked a hard shot from New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad in the second period of tonight’s game, and it’s likely that this injury has something to do with that block. The Bruins will hope that Carlo leaving tonight’s game proves to be an ultimately unnecessary precaution, as Carlo has been an important part of the team’s defensive formula and they’re likely to want him back on the ice as soon as he’s able.

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