Bruins Wrap: Hockey World Unites Behind Ukraine, NHL Trade Rumors

Monday marked three weeks until the March 21 NHL Trade Deadline but trade rumors didn’t dominate the hockey headlines on Monday. The international hockey world continued to unite behind Ukraine and against the Russian invasion of that proud hockey country as the NHL and IIHF came down hard on Russia and the Russian Hockey Federation.

At 3 PM ET, the IIHF released this statement regarding Russia’s status for all upcoming IIHF-sanctioned tournaments and games:

The IIHF Council has suspended all Russian and Belarusian national and club teams from IIHF competitions until further notice and withdrew the hosting rights of the 2023 #WorldJuniors from Russia.

READ MORE: https://t.co/SpSMGTlZw1#hockey #icehockey #Ukraine #Russia #Belarus pic.twitter.com/YYb1JduvWE

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 28, 2022

Then, just 25 minutes later the NHL made its first public statement on the Russian invasion into Ukraine and ceased all business with all of their Russian business partners.

Statement from the National Hockey League: https://t.co/r4jOj5uCrw pic.twitter.com/TPh84ntbDm

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 28, 2022

That and more in the latest BHN Bruins Wrap:

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman was slated to make his third straight start Monday night. Is Swayman emerging as the No. 1 guy between the pipes for the B’s down the stretch?

The Bruins (four games) and Los Angeles Kings (five games) both bring winning streaks into tonight’s tilt at Crypto.com Arena.

In the Boston Bruins pre-game media availability Monday, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media that he likes the balance he has in the current top 6 forward group.

In the humble opinion of this puck scribe, unless the Boston Bruins are getting an absolute and proven, young, elite player on the NHL trade market for Fabian Lysell, they cannot trade the top prospect that is ripping up the WHL for Vancouver.

National Hockey Now

NYI: New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin earned his 30th win and his eighth career shutout have in just 57 career NHL games with a 4-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Pittsburgh: Plenty of NHL teams have been scouting the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline and that has our man in Pitt, Dan Kingerski, wondering what players the Pens may be targeting?

Philly: Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost has been the subject of NHL trade rumors and on Monday the Flyers sent Frost to Lehigh Valley (AHL) to find his game again. 

Washington: Washington Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek was recalled from a conditioning assignment with Hershey (AHL) Monday and is ready to find his game again.

Florida: As a result of Jokerit (KHL) pulling out of the KHL playoffs due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Florida Panthers have gained a defenseman. On Monday, the Panthers signed Petteri Lindbohm, a 26-year-old Finnish defenseman. Lindbohm will need to clear waivers before he can officially join the Panthers.

Detroit: Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now says the time is now for Joe Veleno to be the scoring winger the Wings always believed he could be.

Colorado: Man, I feel old! Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson is set to play in his 1000th game.

Canada Hockey Now

Montreal: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is reportedly ready to make his team become major players in the 2022 unrestricted free agent market. Our man in the 514, Marco D’Amico, takes a look at some potential UFA’s the Habs could target over the summer.  

NHL

If the Anaheim Ducks can’t sign the likes of forward Rickard Rakell and defensemen Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm to extensions before the NHL trade deadline, new Ducks GM Pat Verbeek plans on trading them.

What or who should be the top trade target for the Toronto Maple Leafs before the NHL trade deadline?