By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
There were trade rumors swirling on social media linking the Boston Bruins to Rasmus Andersson, only for the Vegas Golden Knights to swoop in and acquire the defenseman, quieting any similar discourse for the time being. However, the back-and-forth surrounding Andersson does open Pandora’s box for the first time this season when it comes to what the trade deadline could look like for the Bruins.
With the 28-19-2 regular season unfolding as it has, ups and downs included, and factoring in the assets general manager Don Sweeney has at his disposal, it makes the organizational decision seemingly a difficult one to navigate. However, with Sweeney and the front office surviving the disappointment of last season for a rare chance to retool, perhaps the decision was made for them before this season even began.
Sell
With a player like Pavel Zacha surely worth around a first-round pick based on last year’s deadline, the organization would be set up nicely to continue stacking assets. Even someone like Casey Mittelstadt or Viktor Arvidsson could fetch a second-round pick at least, or provide a chance to acquire another previously undervalued prospect, as Will Zellers has proven to be.
Based on prices like these, it must be even more motivating for Sweeney to move forward with the retool without any pit stops. It’s possible he views a second consecutive ultra buyer’s market as an opportunity to enter a “buy” phase for the organization’s prospects and picks roster, so to speak.
Mix & Match
It’s also possible to deal Mittelstadt without moving Arvidsson and so on, but this approach would be the most difficult of the three. With the team’s record being volatile so far and the identity wavering based on intangibles more than anything else, the team’s performance could potentially suffer significant losses if even a player like Sean Kuraly were removed from the mix.
Times are different from when the front office could deal a few pieces and expect others to seamlessly fill those roles. This approach would certainly test Sweeney’s ability as a GM to navigate the transition from one era to the next.
Buy
Could the organization move a lesser fit like Mason Lohrei and some of their picks for a player who can help immediately? Surely, but a dedicated observer of the team would agree that adding a player or two wouldn’t automatically align with what’s being built here.
The player coming to Boston would need to closely align with the forecheck the team wants to play, and it’s only a little easier to find depth players who fit that style than big names who do. They are few and far between, and no one knows if even the newly acquired Andersson would have consistently played the hard-nosed physical style in front of the net that the front office has aimed to implement.
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