This is the first article of my new weekly series, and I will be writing a report detailing five players the Bruins could potentially trade for at each position.
The Bruin’s center position has been questioned a lot during the offseason. With long-time second-line center David Krejci departing to play in the Czech Republic, it has raised many questions about who will replace Krejci at the second-line spot and what the future of the Bruins center position looks like. Currently, the Bruins don’t have a rich center prospect pool, with the best two currently being Jack Studnicka and Brett Harrison. Charlie Coyle has had a good start in his newfound role as the second-line center in place of Krejci. Below I will list five centers the bruins could target to take the second-line role.
Ryan Strome, New York Rangers
Strome had 14 goals and 49 points in 56 games during the 2020-21 NHL season. He is a right-handed center with good playmaking upside and scoring ability. Strome is currently 28 years old, adding a younger center to the Bruins and giving us a potential top-line center. Strome can become a UFA at the end of the 21-22 season, currently making 4.5 million.
Dylan Strome, Chicago Blackhawks
Strome has found himself at the front of many trade rumors to start the 2021-22 season, with him being scratched most games. He had nine goals and 17 points in 40 games for the Blackhawks in the 20-21 season. The 24-year-old wouldn’t be a player who could slot straight into the second-line role, but he would be a longer-term project to get him to become a future top-six center. Strome is an RFA at the end of the season, currently making 3 million.
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
Cirelli has shown the upside of an elite two-way forward at the age of 24. He put up nine goals and 22 points in 50 games during the 20-21 season. If the bruins tried to move for Cirelli, he wouldn’t be cheap but would be able to replace some of Bergeron’s two-way capabilities when Bergeron retires. The 24-year-old has two years left under contract with an AAV of 4.8 million; he would be an RFA when the contract expires.
Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
Thomas had three goals and 12 points in 33 games played in the 20-21 season. The 22-year-old can become a top-six center in a couple of years, and he wouldn’t be highly expensive to bring to Boston. Thomas has two years left under contract with an AAV of 2.8 million; he would be an RFA when the contract expires.
J.T Miller, Vancouver Canucks
Miller had 15 goals and 46 points in 53 games during the 20-21 season. The 28-year-old can play at the center and the wing, giving him the versatility to play up and down the lineup. He has good playmaking and is defensively responsible. He has two years left under contract with an AAV of 5.250 million; he can become a UFA when the contract expires.
I didn’t know we were looking for another center
And we have what “assets” to make sure a trade? The first two are not an upgrade over Coyle or what we have. Cirelli would be a welcome addition but what Brinks truck do the Bruins have to give to Tampa? The reality is the B’s as presently configured are “old” and have few assets to deal with that any other team would want. A free agent signing is more likely as we don’t have to give up assets (that we don’t currently have.)