Bruins Wrap: Bergeron Closer; Habs Trade Toffoli, NHL Trade Rumors

The NHL trade market heated up Monday as the Montreal Canadiens traded winger Tyler Toffoli and appear to be on the verge of trading another veteran player.

With the Toffoli trade, the NHL trade chatter picked up, and more and more it appears that former Boston Bruins and current Arizona Coyotes winger Phil Kessel will get moved.

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is getting closer to a return but he won’t play with the Bruins at Madison Square Garden Tuesday when they take on the New York Rangers.

That and more in the latest Bruins Wrap:

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is getting closer to returning from a head injury he suffered a week ago but he won’t play on Tuesday night at MSG when the Bruins take on the Rangers. 

Great times in a recent interview with my partner-in-scribe, Joe Haggerty, and Me when we welcomed on former NHL goalie and current ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes to discuss Bruins and NHL trade rumors; Henrik Lundqvist and the giant steps the NHL and society need to take to fight racism.

For those who continue to tout the false and baseless narrative that Tuukka Rask didn’t care about his teammates or the Bruins, or even the delusional folks who believe rushing home to your sick kid in a hospital is quitting on your teammates, I give you Jeremy Swayman, Rask’s potential successor on the recently retired Rask:

“First and foremost, Tuukka’s been a great mentor to me. He had an incredible career, so I give tons of kudos to him,” Swayman said this past Saturday after he posted a 30-save shutout. “It was incredible to be (in a tandem) with him and obviously all the accolades he’s compiled over the years is pretty incredible. Hall of Fame-bound, for sure. And what an incredible mentor.

I can’t have enough good things to say about him. That’s all I’m focused on, giving him the kudos. He wants what’s best for the team, so do I and so does everyone in that locker room. Whatever I can do to perform at my best and give the team the best chance to win is what I’m going to do.”

National Hockey Now

Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane prepared for his first game back in San Jose after the Sharks banished him earlier this season by taking verbal shots at my colleague Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. 

The Montreal Canadiens have officially started their roster purge on the NHL trade market. On Monday, the Habs sent winger Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick, forward Tyler Pitlick, and prospect Emil Heineman.

Could Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot be the next domino to fall from the Habs on the NHL trade market even though he’s currently on injured reserve?

For now, the Vegas Golden Knights will fit Jack Eichel back into their lineup Wednesday by placing Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve. Will they eventually use the NHL trade market to bring Stone back before the regular season ends or will they pull a Tampa Bay Lightning and bring him back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Are the Vancouver Canucks close to acquiring New Jersey Devils forward Pavel Zacha? 

Colorado Avalanche forward Nicolas Aube-Kobel gave his opinion on former Philadelphia Flyers teammate Claude Giroux and the rampant NHL trade rumors linking the Flyers captain to the Avs. 

Washington Capitals goalie Vanek Vanecek is a name to keep an eye on as the NHL Trade deadline grows closer. Vanecek is healthy again and traveling with the Caps on their West coast trip. 

Former Boston College netminder and Marblehead, MA native Corey Schneider has been recalled by the New York Islanders from Bridgeport in the AHL. Schneider hasn’t played a game since March 6, 2020. That was before the initial 2020 COVID Pause. 

Our man in Philly, Sam Carchidi has the latest on the Giroux NHL trade rumors. What would the Avalanche send back if they acquired Giroux?

Since becoming a player being bantered about in NHL trade rumors, Florida Panthers forward Owen Tippett has picked up his game. 

NHL

Could Phil Kessel or Conor Garland be the next dominoes to fall on the NHL trade market?

The Los Angeles Kings are going to honor defenseman Drew Doughty for playing in his 1000th game Tuesday before their game.