After Gaining Cap Space, Could the Bruins Still Add On Defense?

The trade deadline is a week away, and the Boston Bruins have already made a splash in the trade market by acquiring defenseman Dmitry Orlov and winger Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals. In the process, the Bruins accomplished two things. They did not relinquish their coveted prospects and actually gained cap space, allowing them to explore more trades in the coming week. The Bruins are the best team in the National Hockey League, and it is up for debate if the team needs any more additions to a club that has gone 44-8-5 on the season. But General Manager Don Sweeney mentioned Thursday that the Bruins would be gunning for a second Stanley Cup for core members Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Brad Marchand. It would also be the first championship under Sweeney as GM.

The needs of the team now might seem bottom-six center and a depth defenseman. Which side the help is needed on defense is also up for debate. The Bruins are deeper on the right side with the addition of Orlov. Still, left-shot blue liners Jacob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes and Vladislav Gavrikov of the Columbus Blue Jackets have been at the forefront in connection with the Bruins. Vancouver Canucks’ right-shot defenseman Luke Schenn has also been linked to Boston. But another defenseman has been rumored to be in the mix as well.

According to sources, Chicago Blackhawks left-shot defenseman Jake McCabe is now becoming an option for Boston. David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period had reported that several teams have inquired about the 29-year-old defender and that the Bruins are one of those teams. Sources believe that McCabe will be dealt before the deadline. McCabe has two years left on his contract, with a salary cap hit of $4 million annually. The Bruins would have to move some money off the current roster to make the deal happen. McCabe does have a seven-team no-trade list that he can submit to Chicago. If the Bruins make this move, the Atlantic Division leaders would have to move on from Matt Grzelcyk, who has had an underwhelming minus-18 In postseason play but is a plus-36 this season.

McCabe registered two goals with 17 assists in 54 games with the Blackhawks in 2022-23. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin native has 115 blocked shots and 119 hits on the season and is a solid stay-at-home defender. McCabe’s plus-6 rating is impressive on a last-place team, and his average ice time is 19:31 per game. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound defenseman is three points away from matching his career high in points achieved last season.

One interesting fact about McCabe is that despite playing 482 career NHL games, McCabe has not played a single postseason game and has never been a part of a team that finished above .500. This leaves a bit of an u known if McCabe is traded to a contender.

Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast

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