Minor Transactions: 04/10/17
2017/04/minor-transactions-041017.htmlOttawa has sent Andreas Englund and Nick Paul back to the AHL now that they are ready to take on the Boston Bruins. … The Nashville Predators have recalled Pontus Aberg from Milwaukee to provide some depth during their playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Maple Leafs Call Up Garret Sparks On Emergency Basis
2017/04/garrett-sparks-emergency.htmlIf they are able to pick up even one point, Toronto leap frogs the Boston Bruins and gets to play the rival Ottawa Senators in the Atlantic Division pairing. … Sparks has shown that he deserves another shot at the NHL, but will he get that chance tonight? Could Andersen's…
Minor Moves: Megna, Koppanen, Guhle
2017/04/minor-moves-koppanen.htmlWhether that means the Boston Bruins draft pick will sign an entry-level deal and play in the AHL next season or join the top league in his home country is unknown. … Nevertheless, he's improved over the years and has a legitimate chance to make an impact at the NHL one day, albeit in a depth role.
Maple Leafs Notes: Matthews, Playoff Picture, Trades, Marlies
2017/03/maple-leafs-notes-2.htmlThe Maple Leafs are four points behind the Bruins for third in the Atlantic, and one point up on the Lightning in the wildcard race. … Dangle points out that Chicago has consistently traded NHLers for cheap depth players over the course of their semi-dynasty, and Toronto has had an excess of those players.
Devils-Bruins Notes: Lappin, Prout, Stafford, McPhee
2017/03/devils-bruins-stafford.htmlAhead of tonight's road match-up with the Boston Bruins, the New Jersey Devils have recalled rookie winger Nick Lappin on an emergency basis from the AHL's Albany Devils. … Although Boston and New Jersey are not exactly known for their blue line depth, neither team looks to have many attractive options up front to be exposed in the Expansion Draft.
Trade Deadline Summary: Winners & Losers Of The Central Division
2017/03/deadline-summary-division.htmlAcquired conditional sixth-round pick from Boston Bruins for Drew Stafford… The move gives Minnesota undeniable depth down the middle for the stretch run and postseason and may just make all the difference in the playoffs this time around.
Trade Deadline Summary: Winners & Losers Of The Metropolitan Division
2017/03/deadline-metropolitan-division.htmlBy standing pat as the Panthers and Maple Leafs (and Bruins and Senators and Canadiens) all got better, the Islanders have crippled their own playoff hunt. … The Hurricanes have a ton of salary cap space and have to dip into their depth on defense sooner or later, but this year's deadline was definitely not the time for big moves.
Trade Deadline Summary: Winners & Losers Of The Atlantic Division
2017/03/deadline-atlantic-division.htmlMeanwhile, the Panthers get Vanek for a third-rounder and the Bruins get Stafford for a sixth-rounder and you give up a third-round selection for Stalberg, who is objectively worse than either of those players? Bad over-payment on the part of GM Pierre Dorion. … In 2017, he succeeded in bringing in a reliable depth player and goal-scorer, Stafford, without having to pay the price of a top pick or any of Boston's numerous high-end prospects.
Bruins Acquire Drew Stafford From Winnipeg
2017/03/acquire-stafford-winnipeg.htmlAfter watching all of their Atlantic Division rivals add pieces this week, Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney was able to stay true to his goal of not overpaying this deadline, as he did last year, but still added some quality depth by bringing in Winnipeg Jets winger Drew Stafford for a conditional 2017 sixth-round pick. … If Sweeney had gone through the deadline without adding any additional depth to banged-up Matt Beleskey, he would have been risking the Bruins' good momentum falling apart if either Cehlarik's or Hayes' play fell off.
Trade Candidates: Valtteri Filppula
2017/02/candidates-valtteri-filppula.htmlAnother couple names keep popping up and one of those is center Valtteri Filppula, a player who can offer a playoff team depth down the middle.
Trade Candidates: Radim Vrbata
2017/02/trade-candidates-vrbata.htmlAfter their three biggest competitors in the Atlantic Division acquired help today, many have begun to doubt whether the Boston Bruins can hold true to their plan to stand pat at the Trade Deadline and not risk losing picks or prospects for no reason as they did last year. … Name a contender, and they will have likely put a call in to Chayka by Wednesday’s deadline, whether it be the Washington Capitals, who could use some more speed; the Pittsburgh Penguins or Columbus Blue Jackets, who both need some depth; the San Jose Sharks, who are still sorting out their top lines; or even the Chicago Blackhawks, who seem to always be in the mix and have history with Vrbata.
Atlantic Notes: Miller, Bishop, Bruins
2017/02/atlantic-miller-bishop.htmlAlthough the Bruins were active in the rental market last season by bringing in right winger Lee Stempniak and defenseman John-Michael Liles, GM Don Sweeney suggested to CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty that they’re unlikely to go that route again. … That hasn’t stopped Miller from hoping that a team will want him as veteran depth for the postseason, something he…
Deadline Trade Market: Defensemen
2017/02/deadline-market-defensemen.htmlWhile there are several depth players available, there are also some blueliners that could be moved that would be impact acquisitions for their new teams.
Trade Candidate: Drew Stafford
2017/02/trade-candidate-stafford.htmlThe Bruins have played their way back into the playoff picture and have plenty of cap space to work with. … Out East, Senators GM Pierre Dorion has talked about the importance of forward depth all season.
Vermette To Be Suspended Ten Games
2017/02/vermette-suspended-games.htmlLouis Blues, and additionally host Eastern playoff hopefuls in the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. … It is not a good time to lose a major piece and if Vermette's ten-game suspension is upheld, Anaheim may have to shift its focus at the Trade Deadline to adding some depth down the middle.
Trade Candidates: Dennis Seidenberg
2017/02/candidates-dennis-seidenberg.htmlThe Islanders trail the Toronto Maple Leafs by three points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, still sit a point back of the Philadelphia Flyers as well and must make the most of their games in hand to catch the Boston Bruins. … Atlantic contenders like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Rangers are all in need of defensive depth.
Capitals Notes: Burakovsky, Depth, Connolly
2017/02/capitals-burakovsky-connolly.htmlConnolly is also starting to pick up the pace offensively as he matched his career high in goals with a marker last night while he also has a shot at besting his 25 point output with the Bruins last year.
Deadline Primer: New Jersey Devils
2017/02/deadline-primer-jersey.htmlHowever, New Jersey trails the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Florida Panthers for the final wild card slot in the Eastern Conference, with little chance of catching any of them. … As far as this year goes, New Jersey can be content with getting what they can from their pending unrestricted free agents (as they already did with Vernon Fiddler) and dealing struggling depth players as they continue to stockpile picks and prospects and have another lottery pick in their sights.
Trade Candidate: Gabriel Landeskog
2017/02/candidate-gabriel-landeskog.htmlThe Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins have both previously been rumored as potential landing spots for Landeskog. … Anaheim, with their blue line depth would seem to make for a natural match for the Avalanche, and the Ducks also appreciate size and physicality in their forwards.
Snapshots: Canadiens, Bjorkstrand, Avalanche
2017/02/snapshots-canadiens-bjorkstrand.htmlHe does have a solid AHL resume, including a .934 save percentage last year for the Providence Bruins. … With Semyon Varlomov out, the team has been relying on Calvin Pickard and would like to have a little more depth behind him.
Trade Candidates: Jarome Iginla
2017/02/candidates-jarome-iginla.htmlIronically, Iginla vetoed a trade to the Boston Bruins, instead opting to join the Pittsburgh Penguins, only to have the Bruins end his Cup hopes in the Eastern Conference finals. … Instead, two teams that jump out as having the space and the need for some bottom-six depth and playoff experience are the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Snapshots: Stars, Oilers, Bruins, Capitals
2017/02/snapshots-oilers-capitals.htmlThe Bruins were criticized, not only for firing Claude Julien, but for the timing. … TSN's Darren Dreger spoke about the Oilers' deadline plans on That's Hockey, and said while there's no desperation, GM Peter Chiarelli would like to add a depth center for the playoff run.
Nashville Predators Acquire Vernon Fiddler
2017/02/nashville-predators-acquire.htmlThe Devils have now acquired three additional picks for this summer's draft, adding this to the Bruins' second-round pick and Avalanche's third-rounder. … Nashville will add Fiddler to their depth down the middle that has been questioned at times this year.
Trade Candidates: Teddy Purcell
2017/02/trade-candidates-purcell.htmlThe Boston Bruins are not in any position to go wasting assets on big playoff rentals this season, as they currently are fighting just to qualify. … After signing Purcell, who they had originally signed out of the University of Maine back in 2007, to a reasonable deal to add some depth to their forward corps, L.A.
Trade Deadline Notes: Shattenkirk, Fleury, Ribeiro
2017/02/trade-shattenkirk-ribeiro.htmlLeBrun believes that the Rangers and Bruins have already reached out to the Blues, and that spending assets to acquire a rental like Shattenkirk isn't in the cards for building teams like the Oilers and Maple Leafs. … Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is on the record as saying having two legitimate starting goaltenders in Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury "doesn't work ideally." Despite this, Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Tribune's Jonathan Bombulie that his "preference is to keep both these goalies here this year." While it's understandable to want goaltending depth (they used three goaltenders in last year's playoffs), the 32-year-old Fleury is clearly the backup now.