NHL Trade Rumors: Boston Bruins Looking For Speed On The Blue Line

The Boston Bruins are the best team in the NHL’s Atlantic Division. With their play over the past few season’s, that’s not the surprising. However, with this season, there was a few changes made that could put a few doubts into fan’s eyes.

The biggest changes were on the blue line. The biggest loss was Andrew Ference, who left in free agency to sign with the Edmonton Oilers. This has led to more playing time for youngsters Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton.

For the most part, the Bruins’ young defensemen haven’t disappointed. They have performed well enough to keep them at the top for a while now. What makes it more amazing is the Bruins’ blue line has been without Dennis Seidenberg for the majority of the season.

With all this, it is no surprise that the Bruins have been involved in trade talks surrounding defensemen.

Joe Haggerty of the CSN New England notes that the Bruins could be looking for more speed on the blue line because as a whole, the Bruins are a slow team.

The first defenseman Haggerty brings up is the New York Islanders’ Andrew MacDonald. He would only cost a few draft picks that wouldn’t be first-rounders.

Players that Haggerty lists as doubtful to come to the Bruins are the New York Rangers Dan Girardi and the Ottawa Senators Chris Phillips. They won’t give up a first-rounder for Girardi and it looks like the Senators don’t want to trade Phillips.

Then there are other players he lists like the Calgary Flames’ Mark Giordano, the Buffalo Sabres’ Henrik Tallinder, the Los Angeles Kings’ Willie Mitchell and the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Stuart that could interest the Bruins. Giordano would obviously cost a lot and Haggerty says the others wouldn’t bring an improvement to their current top six.

"“There are really not that many players available, so beggars can’t be choosers really at this point… With each passing game, I see our D maturing, I see them making fewer mistakes, and it makes it a little easier on me. But I always feel that we need eight good NHL defenders going in to the playoffs."

That is what General Manager Peter Chiarelli said before leaving for the Olympics. With that comment, it definitely looks like we’ll at least see one deal from the Bruins.