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Could The Bruins And Canadiens Enter Bidding War For Keith Yandle?

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Could the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens enter a bidding war for defenseman and Milton, MA native Keith Yandle?

Multiple NHL sources have confirmed to Boston Hockey Now that both the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are two of a multitude of teams that have expressed interest in Yandle, who was recently bought out by the Florida Panthers.

The New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Carolina Hurricanes are also believed to have an interest in Yandle.

One NHL source stressed that while Yandle to the Boston Bruins may seem like a slam dunk: ‘Not so fast.’

It is no secret that the Boston Bruins have had an interest in Yandle. There literally may be no bigger Boston sports rumor than ‘Yandle to the Bruins’. Every Boston hockey fan and connected source in the Boston hockey scene has tried to wish this rumor to become a reality since Yandle broke into the NHL. That was when the always beleaguered Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes franchise selected Yandle in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. While the Bruins were close to acquiring Yandle last October, there are now more teams that are looking into him.

Just prior to the NHL Expansion Draft, another NHL source confirmed to BHN that a trade was in place last October to send Yandle to the Boston Bruins. The same source also confirmed that Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin fancied Yandle to play a major role in the Canadiens’ powerplay for the 2021 season. That interest is still there, as is the intrigue from many more GMs to sign Yandle at a lower cap hit that is still growing.

While the salary cap has turned NHL GMs away from signing specialty players, there is no arguing that Yandle is one of the best powerplay quarterbacks of the last five NHL seasons, and could help a contender. Since the Panthers signed Yandle to a seven-year, $44.1 million contract, he has been the anchor of the Cats’ power play attack. Yandle had 39 power play points in 2018-19 and finished Top 5 on the man advantage prior to this past season.

According to sources close to Yandle, he is working out wiith specialists at TB12 and hoping to sign a new contract soon.

 

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