Bold trade suggestion emerges in Boston in hopes of long playoff run

For the past few seasons, the Boston Bruins have always made significant moves ahead of the trade deadline, adding star players to their roster to ensure a successful trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Last year, general manager Don Sweeney acquired Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway, after he has landed Hampus Lindholm in 2022 and Taylor Hall back in 2021.

But it sounds like the team’s plan might be different for 2024.

Insider Fluto Shinzawa believes the Bruins don’t have what is needed to go after a bona fide top-six center or rugged winger or even a star defenseman. Previous rumours have linked the Bruins to Flames’ Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin, but Boston lacks first and second-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 NHL drafts to entice Calgary to make a move. That’s why Shinzawa believes the Bruins should have a different plan and go for forwards that won’t cost them as much, for example San Jose Sharks’ Anthony Duclair, Chicago Blackhawks’ Tyler Johnson or Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique. They could provide Boston with added playoff experience and leadership and be the scoring winger Jake DeBrusk struggles to be this season.

Shinzawa even wonders if, following a trade deadline acquisition on the wing, the Bruins should not part ways with DeBrusk.

“DeBrusk is the Bruins’ biggest worry. The 27-year-old takes scoring goals seriously, to the point that his confidence vanishes when he sprays pucks everywhere but into the net (6.0 percent shooting percentage). Under such pressure, regression to his career standard (12.4 percent) is not guaranteed. An end-of-season parting may serve both parties best."

If the Bruins can land Lindholm up front, yes, they should definitely go ahead and do that. However, a bold yet more reasonable plan sounds like finding a good match for a cheaper return in one of the three options mentioned above and get a needed boost into the postseason.

What would you do if you were GM Sweeney?

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