The Bruins are the best team in the NHL, with 91 points and a 43-8-5 record. With this regular season success, the Bruins have put themselves in a position to make a deep playoff run come playoffs. Before they get to that point, though, it seems they are adding some firepower to an already powerful team. Boston has been linked to a handful of players over the past few weeks, and it seems one of those rumors has finally become a reality.
This morning huge news on the trade front emerged from a well-known insider as he stated a trade is ‘’in place” and ‘’near the finishing line” for a defenseman. The Bruins and general manager Don Sweeney have been in the market for a left-handed defenseman, with the two targets to date being Vladislav Gavrikov of the Blue Jackets and Jakob Chychrun of the Coyotes.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Bruins are very close to getting a deal done for one of them. As per Pagnotta:
”Vladislav Gavrikov Watch 2023 may be nearing the finish line. Per source, #CBJ & #NHLBruins have the framework of a trade in place (talk of a 1st/3rd in package), but Boston has to clear cap space. One player I’m told they’re shopping is F Craig Smith.”
‘’However, #CBJ won’t wait forever. It’s understood that if another team swoops in with a competitive/better offer, they could go that route. Ball (or puck) is in Boston’s court as they try to make the $ work. Adding Gavrikov could surely eliminate Boston from the Chychrun talk.”
With this news coming to light, it seems the Bruins are ready to go all in and ensure there will be no holes in their defense for their playoff run. Before they can make the deal, they must clear cap space by trading away Craig Smith. This will be a challenging task considering no team picked him up when he hit the waiver wire earlier in the season. If the Bruins want to move Smith, they will be forced to attach a sweetener along with him furthering the price it will cost to land Gavrikov in Boston.
The Bruins find themselves in an interesting spot in terms of the return they are willing to give up for Gavrikov, as the 27-year-old is on an expiring contract and is a defense-first defenseman. He has three goals and seven assists in 52 games on the season.
The price for a solid defenseman at the deadline over the last few years has been a first-round pick and more. Even though that has been the price, giving up a first and third-round pick does seem like an overpay, especially if Don Sweeney can not sign him long-term. This could be just like last season when the Florida Panthers gave up a first-round pick for Ben Chiarot just to watch him sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the offseason.
If Sweeney can sign him long term just like Hampus Lindholm at last year’s deadline, the Bruins would have their top four locked up for the foreseeable future, and the price won’t seem that bad.
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