On the Boston Bruins …
Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: The Bruins need to add some speed to their lineup next season. Sweeney is aware that he didn’t adequately replace Dougie Hamilton. They weren’t able to move up in last year’s draft to select Noah Hanifin, or acquire a top-pairing defenseman, and they were only able to add John-Michael Liles to their blueline at the trade deadline.
The Bruins need to add at least one top-four defenseman this offseason, with two being preferable.
” have to present themselves,” he said. “You can’t go out and force things. But I suspect with the chatter there will be movement up and down the draft board with some teams in the same position that we were (last year), cap-wise.
“I’ve made no bones about the fact we are willing to do anything to improve our hockey club.”
The Bruins need to decide if they want to buy out defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. They should look to trade Adam McQuaid.
Keith Yandle would be the top free agent option, though he’s a left handed shot and likely wouldn’t lineup up beside Zdeno Chara on the top pairing. Alex Goligoski could be another option for the Bruins.
“We’re in a position financially , but you just want to make sure you’re target-specific so you don’t get boxed in. But we’re in a position to be aggressive if we find the right player that fits the bill.”
On the trade side of things, the Bruins have lots of prospects, two first-round picks and some veterans that might be of interest to some teams.
Potentially available defensemen include Tyson Barrie, Jacob Trouba, Hampus Lindholm and maybe P.K. Subban.
Source saying the Avalanche are dangling Matt Duchene to the Jets for Trouba. Source saying the Oilers will move either Taylor Hall or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a defenseman. That may not be good news for the Bruins who may have been hoping a Ryan Spooner/first round pick/prospect or possibly a David Krejci package.
Craig Custance of ESPN: GM Sweeney has the cap space and the assets to acquire a top-four defenseman, but knows it’s not easy.
“That’s easier said than done. It clearly is,” Sweeney said. “Teams are not going to be eager to give them away. We have assets, players at different levels and places developing. If it lines up, I’ll do it through trade. If not, we’ll do it through free agency.”