Atlantic Notes: Boston’s Defense, Red Wings, AHL Affiliates

While it’s no secret that the Bruins could use some help on the blueline, CSN’s Joe Haggerty suggests that the help may be coming later rather than sooner in the form of a midseason trade instead of an offseason addition.  As things stand, the UFA market for defensemen is getting rather thin quickly and there aren’t many teams willing to trade impact defenders at this time.  Players like Anaheim’s Cam Fowler and Colorado’s Tyson Barrie have been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks but the asking price for those players is justifiably quite high.

Haggerty suggests that some in Boston’s front office are growing skeptical that one of Brandon Carlo, Robbie O’Gara, or Matt Grzelcyk will be able to step into a top six role to start the season.  That would put more pressure on returnees Colin Miller and Joe Morrow, as well as John-Michael Liles, who will begin his first full season with the team.

The Bruins lost Zach Trotman to Los Angeles in free agency while buying out Dennis Seidenberg, thinning their depth on the back end accordingly.

More from the Atlantic Division:

• Detroit head coach Jeff Blashill is a big fan of the Wings’ moves so far this offseason, writes MLive’s Brendan Savage. Early in free agency, the team re-signed center Darren Helm while adding centers Frans Nielsen and Steve Ott as well as winger Thomas Vanek.  Blashill acknowledged that Nielsen is expected to center Detroit’s second line next season though he wouldn’t go as far as suggesting who the wingers on that unit may be.  Vanek would be a candidate, as would returnees Justin Abdelkader and Tomas Tatar.
• Both the Senators and Canadiens are expected to move their AHL affiliates in time for the 2017-18 season. Jason Miller of the Ottawa Citizen reports that the Sens will move their affiliate from Binghamton, New York to Belleville, Ontario.  Meanwhile, the Habs have called a press conference for Monday morning in Laval, Quebec where it’s expected that they will announce what has been speculated for a couple of years, that they will move their farm team from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Laval to play at a new 10,000 seat arena that’s expected to be ready in 2017.