The Boston Bruins: Upgrading the Blueline
At the trade deadline, there were rumors that the Boston Bruins were interested in Dan Hamhuis. Potentially on the table were a few forward prospects who had been picked in the first round.
With the blueline still unsolved and disintegrating after not being able to make the playoffs, the Bruins are going to make some kind of a move to get a new core started on the blueline.
“We’re going to be aggressive.”
– Bruins GM Don Sweeney
After all, how much longer can giant Zdeno Chara play top-four minutes with much success? Maybe reality will settle in for those who think that this Canucks team is just a handful years past the glories of a Game Seven in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Boston-Vancouver era is past. Chara is 39 years old.
Also on the Bruins blueline this past year, John Michael-Liles is 35 years old and now a free agent. Aside from Adam McQuaid, there isn’t much in terms of proven physicality on the Bruins blueline.
Therefore, in a system already filled with a plenty of mobile defensemen like Tory Krug, I think the Bruins will be glad to add a guy like Luca Sbisa.
Zach Senyshyn is the right winger drafted 15th overall at last year’s entry draft. He is a typical “Benning-type” winger who is defensively decent with a combination of size, skill, and good hockey IQ. At 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, he is not a pushover, as displayed by the 45 goals and 65 points he put up in 66 regular season games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.
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With the Bruins overflowing up front with talent and the Canucks being devoid of good under-21 wing talent beyond Jake Virtanen and Brock Boeser, 19-year-old Senyshyn would be a great addition for Vancouver.
I would think that Vancouver sweetens the pot just a little bit in that deal.
If the Canucks choose rather to pursue a left winger, last year’s 14th-overall Jake DeBrusk could also be an option. Although not an all-around player, he is a prolific scorer with chance to make the NHL this coming September.
But perhaps more realistic is this trade. Again, feel free to add minor parts to this deal on both sides. I am suggesting just a framework, based on this quote from Bruins GM Don Sweeney:
"“We’re exploring a bunch of different things trade-wise. It’s difficult in this league, but I think we’re in a position with two first-round picks to either be selecting really good players or be in the marketplace.” (GM Don Sweeney, NESN Nicholas Goss)"
This trade will land the Canucks the *late first-round pick* they gave up in the Gudbranson trade. As it is San Jose’s pick, the exact position of the pick won’t be determined for a couple of weeks from now, but it is either going to be the 29th or the 30th overall selection.
The Bruins also have the 14th-overall pick this year, but it will cost the Canucks too much as the Bruins have many reasons to like the prospects ranked in the middle of the first round.
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