As all fans are aware, the Boston Bruins have been in serious talks with both the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils to inquire on forwards Chris Kreider and Kyle Palmieri before the trade deadline this Monday.
Many big-name trades have gone through in the last couple of weeks, and the price for a top-six winger has basically been set in stone: a roster player, a high-end prospect, and a first-round pick. After the Bruins gave up all three of those pieces in a trade for Ondrej Kase a couple of days ago, it seems like they are still in the hunt to try and make one more big-name guy work on the team. But with the steep asking price, it is being reported that the Bruins are willing to explore the secondary market to find their pieces for a shot at the cup this Spring.
Some names that are being reported to Full Press Coverage are Ilya Kovalchuk (MTL), Conor Sheary (BUF), and Mikkel Boedker (OTT).
As we all know, the Bruins made a big run earlier in the season for UFA Kovalchuk before he decided to take his talents to Montreal, and the Bruins seem to be willing to give up a second-round pick and a potential conditional-pick in order to lock up the once-superstar. He is still putting up great numbers in Montreal, and it’s up to their front office to discuss whether it’s worth it or not to try and resign him, or flip him for some future assets.
Sheary is a name that has been very quiet this trade deadline, but on a crumpling Buffalo franchise, it would make sense to try and move the 27-year-old to a cup-contender to try and help load up the future of the team. Sheary has nine goals and 19 points through 54 games this season on a lackluster team who is barely hovering above .500 at the moment. Sheary is not a name that the Sabres believe they need to hang onto, and with his contract coming to an end this year at a $3M cap hit, I would expect the Sabres would be willing to make a deal work to get him out on their terms, rather than his.
Lastly, Boedker is a name that was once much more popular than it is now, as you may remember him as the 50+ point scorer from Arizona not too long ago. He has since declined in production, but a change of scenery from the pathetic Senators franchise surely couldn’t do him any harm. He currently has three points through 11 games and would serve as a great depth piece on this already deep Bruins squad. The price for him would certainly be the cheapest, and while he still hasn’t produced much this season, still contains plenty of upside if the price were to be a fifth/sixth-round pick, which is most likely the case.
No one liked the Marcus Johansson deal last year, but if you could bring him back now, I’m sure you would! Don’t get too caught up on the name, the piece we could need might not even be a Kreider or a Palmieri, but it sure would be helpful!
