Bruins Wrap: Defensemen Trade Targets For Bruins, NHL Trade Rumors

Will Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney grant head coach Bruce Cassidy’s wish and acquire a ‘prick’ defenseman on the NHL trade market?

One prominent NHL media member still believes that the Marc-Andre Fleury to the Bruins NHL trade rumors are true. 

Is Tuukka Rask a hall of fame-worthy goalie?

That and more in the latest Bruins Wrap: 

Boston Bruins

Following the game-day skate, Saturday in Ottawa, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy sent a smoke signal out to general manager Don Sweeney to add some toughness on the blue line. Cassidy told the media that Bruins defensemen need to play more like pricks and not be so nice. My partner-in-scribe Joe Haggerty looks at some defensemen on the NHL trade market that the B’s could acquire and who could be the prick Cassidy is looking for. 

Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons thinks that the Marc-Andre Fleury to the Bruins NHL trade rumors are true. He lists the B’s as the only team Fleury may end up with. 

The Bruins blue line did play tougher hockey in a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators Saturday night. 

Hall of fame puck scribe Larry Brooks does not think that Tuukka Rask should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, nor should he have his No. 40 hung in the rafters at TD Garden. 

National Hockey Now

NYI: Stefen Rosner had a dose of Murphy’s Law hit him on his first road trip covering the New York Islanders. 

Philly: Will the Philadelphia Flyers move defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on the NHL trade market? Will they sign Johnny Gaudreau if he hits the free agency market next summer? Sama Carchidi gives his take. 

Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Penguins locked up depth defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year extension that will carry an $800,000 salary cap hit. 

Washington: Are the Washington Capitals pursuing Montreal Canadiens utility winger Artturi Lehkonen on the NHL trade market?

Florida: How much do the Toronto Maple Leafs regret moving Mason Marchment to the Florida Panthers on the NHL trade market two years ago?

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights may have Jack Eichel in their lineup now but they still find themselves mired in a mini-slump. 

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens are expected to get back Ben Chiarot Sunday as the defenseman’s name remains in a whirlwind of NHL trade rumors. 

Calgary: If Saturday night’s win in defenseman Mark Giordano’s homecoming game is any indication, the Calgary Flames have moved on from Giordano and won’t reacquire him on the NHL trade market. 

Vancouver: After the Vancouver Canucks lost two defensemen in an embarrassing 7-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, could they be scouring the NHL trade market for some depth on the blue line?

NHL

It’s no coincidence that now that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have bought into two-way hockey that the Edmonton Oilers have ripped off five straight wins. Sorry, but John Tortorella was right when he said things wouldn’t change there until the team’s two best players decided to play defense. 

Former Boston Bruins winger Nick Ritchie was finally traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night. The Leafs sent Ritchie and Arizona’s choice of Toronto’s third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft or Toronto’s second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. In exchange, Toronto acquired Ryan Dzingel and defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin. 

The Anaheim Ducks are parting ways with their assistant general manager Dave Nonis.