We should undoubtedly anticipate that the Boston Bruins will make a move—or a number of moves—before the NHL trade deadline on March 8 if previous franchise history is any guide.
They have a chance to win the Stanley Cup and are among the greatest teams in the NHL once more, but general manager Don Sweeney is no stranger to making bold decisions.
It was Curtis Lazar and Taylor Hall three years ago.
It was Hampus Lindholm two years ago, who also inked a long-term deal to stay in Boston.
It was Tyler Bertuzzi and Dmitry Orlov a year ago.
With the Bruins’ limited salary-cap room and their drastically reduced draft pick and prospect pool in recent years—largely as a result of the aforementioned trades—Sweeney will have to get inventive if he hopes to have a comparable season.
Now, let’s examine a few win-win scenarios that could assist the Bruins get the missing parts for their championship puzzle.
Given their position in the standings, this would appear to be the exact opposite of what the Bruins would need to accomplish or want to do at the deadline.
They are a contender, and most contenders don’t look to move an NHL roster player, especially one that has the potential to be fruitful. However, it could be an opportunity for the Bruins to think outside the box in an attempt to address more urgent concerns on the squad.
The Bruins don’t have many trade assets, to start. They will not have a pick in the second, third, or first rounds this season, nor in the second round in 2025. In terms of prospects, their farm system is among the thinnest in the NHL. Their options for selling teams across the league are significantly limited by those two considerations.
One potential workaround for that would be to move DeBrusk.
He wouldn’t be much use to a seller as an impending unrestricted free agent, but if the Bruins could flip him to a buyer, ideally in the Western Conference, they might be able to recover a few draft selections or a respectable prospect that could be used in another possible trade.
Although DeBrusk has been engaged in trade speculation for a few years, there may be a good case to move him at this time. They could use another selection or prospect, his production has declined, and it would also free up a $4 million salary from their cap. Numerous other opportunities to bolster the roster would become available as a result.