Lindholm Reaction, DeBrusk, Krejci, Bruins Trade Rumblings

The Boston Bruins snagged one of the biggest names on the NHL trade market Saturday and there have been plenty of rumblings since then that general manager Don Sweeney wasn’t done.

Just two days ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, the Bruins rocked the trade market by acquiring defenseman Hampus Lindholm and defenseman Kodie Curran from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, defenseman John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick. The Anaheim Ducks will retain 50% of Lindholm’s salary.

As my partner-in-scribe at BHN, Joe Haggerty pointed out in his latest column and as I did on Twitter following the Hampus Lindholm trade, Sweeney has finally went out in the NHL trade market and lured in that white whale that was a skilled, physical, two-way, big minutes eater to play on the left side of the first pairing with Charlie McAvoy. I’d also agree with Haggs that Sweeney isn’t done yet.

In a lengthy conversation with one NHL agent on Saturday night, the agent had this to say on the Lindholm deal and what Sweeney still may do:

“This may be his last chance to really hit it out of the park and get them over the hump. Don’t forget, he doesn’t have a contract past this season; then you got the closing window for the Cup on the ice. He’s all in and not done, but either way, this could go down as he his best trade in the end.”

As for who Sweeney who may still add, the lads over at 32 Thoughts on Hockey Night In Canada, Jeff Marek, and Elliotte Friedman, connected the Bruins to a couple of on-going NHL trade rumors. Marek said there’s interest from Sweeney in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Max Domi and Friedman linked the Bruins to Winnipeg Jets forward Andrew Copp.

There was also plenty of NHL Trade chatter on what the Bruins may still do with winger Jake DeBrusk? Could he be dealt in a deal for Domi or Copp? A few NHL sources to BHN on Saturday night once again linked the Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks when it came to the Bruins winger who requested a trade earlier this season, but one source said he also heard the Los Angeles Kings were interested in DeBrusk. This was more scuttlebutt and there was nothing that seemed imminent at this point.

One NHL rumor that just won’t go away, at least amongst plenty of wishful thinking Boston Bruins fans, and some media, is that former Bruins center David Krejci was going to return to the fold with the Bruins for one more run at the Cup with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The idea that Krejci will come back, get picked up on waivers by another team ahead of the Bruins on the waiver wire, and then make his return to the Bruins via the NHL trade market, is quite comical. The reality is though, as one NHL source close to Krejci told BHN Saturday night, that scenario but even more important, a Krejci return to the NHL before the NHL Trade Deadline Monday, are not ‘remotely close’ to happening. It would be a heck of a story but at this point it would take a miracle to occur.

Note: Sweeney was scheduled to address the media Sunday afternoon. Check BHN later today for whatever news comes from that and any more Bruins moves before the NHL Trade Deadline.