BHN Daily: Will Bruins Go Shopping At Preds’ NHL Trade Auction?

Will the Boston Bruins go shopping at the expected Nashville Predators auction on the NHL trade market?

The Boston Bruins and plenty of other teams are getting shanked in power rankings this week. 

Again, unlike those putting those power rankings lists together, you may want to take notice of the 2021 Boston Bruins before the bandwagon fills up. 

That special Bruins team could be getting healthier this week too.

Here’s your BHN Daily:

Last week, it was suggested here that if and when Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm becomes available on the NHL Trade market, the Boston Bruins need to try and acquire the left-shot d-man to bolster and secure the left side of their blue line. Well, it appears that the Bruins and 29 other NHL clubs will not only be able to make offers for Ekholm but for every Predators player except goalie Pekka Rinne and defensemen Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi. Per Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Predators are expected to listen to NHL trade offers for anyone other than that trio and the Preds’ firesale on the NHL trade market is about to commence in Nashville. (Sportsnet)

Maybe they’re missing the ‘Storm Surge’? Or maybe they haven’t adjusted to focus more on points percentage than points due to the likelihood that’s what will determine standings and playoff seedings this season? 

Whatever the reason, the pollsters that do the Sports Illustrated/Hockey News Power Rankings somehow had the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of not just the Boston Bruins but the defending Stanley Cup champions and the team that actually occupies first place in their Division. In the last week, the Hurricanes, who have more points and a better points percentage than the Lightning but lost to them last week, were ahead of the Champs. They were also ahead of the Panthers who didn’t just beat the Canes head-to-head this past week but are also ahead of them in points and points percentage. 

Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have one less point than the Canes but are ahead of them in the more important points percentage. So what gives with the blind love for The Surge? (SI/Hockey News)

In case you slept off a hangover Sunday into Monday or live in a cave and missed the epic late eighties/early nineties Reverse Retro tribute by the Boston Bruins at the NHL Outdoors game against the Philadelphia Flyers, you may want to read this column from my partner-in-crime Joe Haggerty on how that team-bonding off the ice has led to success on it as witnessed in the 7-3 rout of the Flyers at Lake Tahoe on Sunday. (Boston Hockey Now)

This special team that is forming is also getting healthier and the Boston Bruins blue line could be getting some reinforcements this week. (Boston Hockey Now)

Another team that could have some big names on the NHL trade market really soon is the struggling Buffalo Sabres. The Jack Eichel NHL trade rumors are already starting to percolate again. Now, with winger Jeff Skinner a healthy scratch on Monday and falling into the dog house of head coach Ralph Krueger – who’s so nice he doesn’t usually have a dog house – Skinner’s name has entered the NHL Trade Rumor circuit. The problem with Skinner though is that his contract will be very difficult to move. (Yahoo)

As if the New York Rangers haven’t dealt with enough on and off the ice this season, now their best player is on a leave of absence due to safety concerns after a political hit job from the Vladimir Putin loyalists running Russian state media. (New York Post)

Plenty of critics around the NHL laughed at the Toronto Maple Leafs somehow thinking that 41-year-old Joe Thornton could come in and fit in a lineup built on youth, speed, and skill but the former Boston Bruins captain has done that and more skating on the team’s top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. (Toronto Sun)

Don’t ever question the heart of the future hall of fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist!

https://twitter.com/SamanthaJPell/status/1364258676723372044

National Hockey Now

Just wondering: Where are all the media and fans that said the Boston Bruins should’ve kept Martin Jones and put Tuukka Rask on the NHL trade market at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft? FOBHN Sheng Peng looks at the nightmare that has become Martin Jones’ career in San Jose. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders are undefeated in regulation at home in their second final season at the Nassau Coliseum. The Isles have already beat the Boston Bruins twice in regulation at the old barn in Uniondale and now the Bruins will play there again this Thursday. FOBHN Christian Arnold takes a look at what’s been a great swan song for the Coliseum but sadly with no fans. (NYI Hockey Now)

Finally, been a bit since the last Murph’s Music Pick of The Day so in honor of the Bruins’ Reverse Retro late eighties/early nineties tribute here’s probably my favorite band from that era on one of my favorite shows!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td8zIQrWAw4