Bruins Wrap: Don Sweeney Contract Up In Air? Bruins, NHL Trade Rumors

With the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline just over two weeks away, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney still hasn’t signed an extension. What does this mean for him and the Bruins as he approaches a crucial period for the franchise?

Speaking of Sweeney, with the emergence of a legit third line for the Bruins, does this change his top trade targets?

That and more in the BHN Bruins Wrap:

Boston Bruins

My partner-in-scribe at BHN, Joe Haggerty and me opined on the contract status of Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, who is yet to sign an extension past this season.

With the emergence of Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith as solid two-way third line, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy now has the ability to roll three lines that can produce. So with just over two weeks to go until the NHL Trade Deadline, will Bruins general manager Don Sweeney be soley focused on a top 4 LD?

If Sweeney strikes out on big fish like Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun on the NHL trade market, would a rental like Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nick Leddy make sense for the B’s?

Speaking of Craig Smith, here’s a quick look back at easily his best game as a Bruin.

National Hockey Now

NYI: If and when the New York Islanders decide to become sellers on the NHL trade market, who should they move?

Pittsburgh: Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller called the NHL trade rumors swirling around him ‘BS’

Philly: The Colorado Avalanche are intensifying their scouting on Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux as the NHL Trade Deadline grows closer. Could a third team like the Montreal Canadiens jump in to help alleviate the cap issues of a potential Giroux trade to Colorado?

Colorado: We won’t let Miller know, but our man in Denver, Adrian Dater, wonders if the Colorado Avalanche are actually interested in the Canucks center.

San Jose: How should the San Jose Sharks approach the rebuild on the NHL trade market and in free agency?

Canada Hockey Now

Montreal: The trade value of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry keeps improving and whether it’s before the NHL Trade Deadline or in the offseason, the Habs are likely dealing him away.

Vancouver: The Vancouver Canucks are suddenly right back in the Western Conference playoff race; so are they sellers or buyers before the NHL Trade Deadline?

NHL

The New York Rangers are all in and they’re ready to attack the trade market as major buyers.

The fallout in the hockey world from the Russian Invasion of Ukraine continues to move in so many different directions.

Here’s your Irish Track of the day, ‘Big Fellah’ by Black 47 and it goes out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: