(Photo Credit: Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports)

By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis

As far as most Wednesdays go, yesterday was quite a doozy. Two days ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, teams around the league sprung into action, leaping at the opportunity to snatch up any assets as they hurdle toward the playoffs. The Boston Bruins weren’t one of the teams that made a move, but that doesn’t mean the numerous transactions didn’t impact them.

In total, six trades were made yesterday, with the feeding frenzy starting on the evening of Tuesday, March 5th, when the Vegas Golden Knights traded for Capitals’ forward Anthony Mantha. Here are the moves that were made around the league yesterday (in chronological order):

  • The Ottawa Senators traded forward Vladimir Tarasenko to the Florida Panthers for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024 and a third-round pick in 2025.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick in 2026 to the Colorado Avalanche for forward Ryan Johansen and a conditional first-round pick in 2025.
  • The Buffalo Sabres traded forward Casey Mittlestadt to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram.
  • The Anaheim Ducks traded forwards Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick, as well as goalie Ty Taylorand, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a first-round pick in 2024 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2025 (Tampa Bay received a fourth-round pick from Edmonton).
  • The Seattle Kraken traded forward Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers for a second-round pick in 2024 and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2025, and
  • The Calgary Flames traded defenseman Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights for a first-round pick in 2025, defenseman Daniil Miromanov, and a conditional third-round pick (Philadelphia received a fifth-round pick).

Of the players traded yesterday, the Bruins were rumored to be interested in Tarasenko, Walker, Wennber, and Hanifin. Those names may be off the board, but that doesn’t mean General Manager Don Sweeney is out of options. Plenty of quality players are still available, and many rumors are still swirling through the air.

Elias Lindholm

The former Calgary Flame and current Vancouver Canuck is someone the Bruins have been linked to since the second Patrice Bergeron’s retirement rumors started. The Swedish forward is a 200-foot centerman who plays on both the power play and penalty kill, wins faceoffs at a career clip of 53.4 percent, and averages approximately 55 points per season. Many deemed the Lindholm door closed after Calgary traded him to Vancouver, but insiders Chris Johnston (who had the report first) and Kevin Weeks reopened it yesterday with rumors of a potential three-team trade:

A trade for Lindholm would provide the Bruins with a legitimate top-six center who can slot in between David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha on the team’s first-line, a new threat in the bumper position on the power play, and a faceoff ace who can win draws late in games in the defensive zone. He improves Boston’s depth at its weakest position and will most likely be acquired for significantly less than if the team traded with Calgary directly.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t any risk involved, as Lindholm’s numbers have waxed and waned over the years depending on who his linemates are. In his best season (42-40-82 in 2021-22), Lindholm was flanked by NHL elites Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. In his career as a Flame (not including last season because he only played 49 games), Lindholm is averaging 28 goals and 65 points. Throughout his career, he’s proven that if you put him with talent, he’ll produce, and if he’s skating on a line with David Pastrnak, you can bet he’ll be lighting up the score sheet sooner rather than later.

Defensemen

It was a surprise to see Massachusetts native and trade deadline big fish go to Vegas after the Tampa Bay Lightning seemingly emerged as his top suitor. The Philadelphia Flyers chose to extend Nick Seeler and traded away Walker, eliminating two players the Bruins had seemingly been scouting for months. So, what’s left on the defensive market?

If Don Sweeney and the Bruins brass don’t want to make a significant move due to their absence of assets, plenty of defensemen may be available to fit Cam Neely’s stiff defender request. Jake Middleton is a rugged defender on a two-year, $2.5 million deal who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves and can solidify their bottom pairing. Alex Carrier from Nashville is a solid two-way defenseman who excels on the penalty kill and can help improve Boston’s in-zone defense late in games.

Perhaps the Seattle Kraken are willing to part with former Stanley Cup Champion Brian Dumoulin. The Maine native makes a hair over $3.2 million a year, so Boston may need to get a third team involved, but he’s the kind of stay-at-home, defense-first defenseman with experience and pedigree who can make a difference late in games. If the Bruins want to shop in the bargain bin, they can go after St. Louis’ Marco Scandella, Arizona’s Matt Dumba, or Washington’s Joel Edmundson. All three would be upgrades over Derek Forbort and provide some much-needed snarl on Boston’s backend. A recent tweet from Darren Dreger confirms that the Bruins are in on Edmundson (6’5″, 221 pounds) and may be closing in on acquiring him.

Scoring Wingers

I don’t see Sweeney making a move for a winger unless every center and defenseman they have on their radar either gets scooped up by another team or ends up staying put. That being said, there are options that the organization at least has to consider. Anthony Duclair is on a one-year deal in San Jose and is on pace to eclipse the 20-goal mark. I can’t imagine he wants to stay with the Sharks and can’t see General Manager Mike Grier missing the opportunity to acquire draft capital.

Jason Zucker is a veteran winger who, when correct, can consistently score 20 goals. Tyler Toffoli is an established scoring winger who is currently on a Devils team that is down on its luck. Toffoli is one of the few available wingers who is a legitimate upgrade over Jake DeBrusk; the only question is, would a trade for him cost the Bruins Linus Ullmark?

WEEI’s Scott McLawhichpeculated on the last option, and this is Buffalo’s Alex Tuch. The former Boston College Eagle is giant and physical and can still put the puck in the net. If I’m Don Sweeney, I’m seriously considering going back to the Sabres and trying to go after Tuch.

The trade deadline is coming, and the Bruins need to make at least some moves to solidify their roster and add grit and sandpaper. We’ll see what Don Sweeney does today as the pressure amps up and the trades keep flowing.