Bruins add Tommy Wingels, apparently can’t get enough veteran forwards

In case you thought the Boston Bruins were done inflating the average age of their roster, they did it again on Monday, adding forward Tommy Wingels in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Boston Bruins sent a conditional fifth-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks just ahead of Monday’s trade deadline in return for forward Tommy Wingels, as 670TheScore’s Jay Zawaski first reported:

If the Bruins reach at least the second round of the playoffs, the pick becomes a fourth-rounder. Same thing if the Bruins re-sign Wingels this offseason.

However, it’s probably safe to say Wingels is a rental. The Bruins are sitting at third place in the Eastern Conference, and apparently general manager Don Sweeney felt that to really make a run for it, the team needed to go all-in on aging veterans.

In the week leading up to the trade deadline, the Bruins:

• Acquired 30-year-old defenseman Nick Holden from the New York Rangers
• Went back to the well with the Rangers to trade for 33-year-old left wing Rick Nash
• Signed Team USA captain Brian Gionta, 39
• Added 29-year-old Wingels minutes before the trade deadline

It’s fine and maybe even smart for the Bruins to shore up their bottom six depth ahead of the postseason, but didn’t they accomplish that with Gionta?

At best, Wingels projects to be a 13th forward. He gave the Hawks some nice depth, netting seven goals and five assists in 57 games so far this year.

But the kitchen is a little crowded with Wingels and Gionta both, and it’s possible one of them could be headed to Providence. If the team thinks Wingels could help the Bruins out on their penalty kill, that could earn him his keep in Boston.

Related Story: Bruins acquire Rick Nash from Rangers in huge trade

If nothing else, Wingels should be a positive presence in what could prove to be a buoyant Bruins dressing room if the team keeps up its winning ways heading into June. He was was the Blackhawks’ represenative for Hockey Is For Everyone month and was reportedly well-liked in Chicago.