A Surprising Development Has Surfaced In The Boston Bruins Selling At The NHL Deadline
The Boston Bruins are in a really weird spot. They haven't been looking like a wild card or playoff team as of late, however, they've turned it on and have won two straight games and are first in the wild card standings.
The Bruins currently sit at a 25-20-6 record, putting them at 56 points and first place in the wild card race.
The next two teams are the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets with 55 points each.
The trade deadline is coming up on March 7th and poses a lot of questions for the Bruins.
Should they sell or buy?
First off, Boston has $4.3 million in cap space and an extra $6 million coming off on LTIR because of defenseman Hampus Lindholm.
Hampus Lindholm isn't the only injury as another defenseman, star Charlie McAvoy, is also injured, as well as forward Mark Kastelic.
The Bruins are beat up right now but 20 losses in regulation and six overtime losses still isn't a good look. Many fans have criticized the team, and rightfully so.
Selling won't be the worst case scenario because with a good free agent class and possible late lottery pick Boston can retool for the next couple seasons.
However, retooling won't help David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Brad Marchand.
If they choose to buy, the Bruins should target a depth forward or defenseman.
If Boston's blue line falls again, and they have to reach deep again, they'll be hurting like they are now in the late second half of the year.
Elias Lindholm's $7,750,000 AAV cap hit isn't working out for Boston at all as he's been demoted to a bottom-six center being the team's 4th highest paid player; maybe you find someone to compliment him better than what you have now who would fit well with him.
Maybe Boston finds a team who can retain some salary and get both.
Either way, you're still in a playoff spot, and an extra loaded healthy Bruins team could sneak into the playoffs, so in hindsight, buy some pieces.
