Daily Bean: Bruins Blue Line is Running Thin, Gameday, NHL Trade Talks

BOSTON – It is a Boston Bruins gameday, and they have won their last four games at TD Garden. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers are in town for tonight’s contest. The Bruins have been battling injuries all season and are unlikely to get any help back today, but they did claim a 24-year-old off the waiver wire this week. While battling injuries, the black and gold have done better than stay afloat; they are 20-14-0 and sit in second place in the Atlantic Division.

Around the league, trade talks still loom after the deal that sent Quinn Hughes to Minnesota, along with reports on which teams were in the mix for Hughes. Buffalo’s new general manager is already making his mark with his new club, and a former Bruin has landed across the pond in Scotland.

Also, I wanted to take this chance to introduce myself, as I am a new name on this website. My name is Jack Studley. I am from Dorchester, MA, a Fairfield University alum, and a lifelong fan of the Boston Bruins. I am incredibly fortunate to join the HockeyNow team and get started here at BostonHockeyNow. Thank you to Dan Kingerski and Mark Allred for the opportunity. I was previously with Black N’ Gold Productions, where I discovered the joy of covering the Boston Bruins. I am incredibly grateful for my time with BNG, and I look forward to writing the next chapter.

Boston Bruins

On Tuesday afternoon, the Boston Bruins claimed Vladislav Kolyachonok off waivers from the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old left-handed defenseman has played in 85 games spread out across five seasons in the NHL, and for four different teams. He arrived in Boston ahead of their practice on Wednesday, and the leadership group tried getting him into the mix early. He led the team’s stretch, per Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. Head Coach Marco Sturm mentioned that the Bruins were “running thin” on defense, and added that he is unsure when Kolyachonok will make his debut, but when he does, he will don the number 74.

With that, the Boston Bruins placed defenseman Jonathan Aspirot on injured reserve. The 26-year-old defenseman has skated in 19 games for the Bruins this season after winning a spot out of training camp; he scored his first career NHL goal and is a plus-eight. Aspirot left the Bruins game in Winnipeg with an upper-body injury. He skated for seven shifts, picking up 4:19 of ice time. Aspirot joins a laundry list of Bruins injuries on the blue line this season: Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, and Michael Callahan are all currently on the injured reserve, and Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both missed time this season.

The Bruins (20-14-0) are getting set for a game with the new-look Edmonton Oilers (16-12-6). It will be the first time that Bruins first-round pick Trent Frederic will be back in the building. He was dealt to the Oilers ahead of the trade deadline and inked an eight-year extension over the summer. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has picked up wins in his first two games with the Oilers, and Leon Draisaitl just eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, making him the first German NHL player to do so.

NHL News & National Hockey Now

ESPN: Two teams in the Atlantic Division, the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings, took a shot at trying to land Quinn Hughes. The New Jersey Devils also had a chance, but the Canucks wanted their captain, Nico Hischier.

New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols explains why the Devils need to make a move before it gets too late, especially when you consider the injuries that they are dealing with. Players with no movement clauses reportedly denied trades to Vancouver, but that does not put Tom Fitzgerald on the hot seat.

The Athletic ($): Although each of these three players have clauses in their contracts to prevent trades, the Blues could look to move around Jordan Binnington, Justin Faulk, and/or Brayden Schenn. However, Doug Armstrong is “not selling 50 cents on the dollar out of anger.”

NHLTradeRumors.me: Ken Holland is listening to offers on forward Phillip Danault, and a deal could happen before the holiday roster freeze, per Frank Seravalli. Montreal and New Jersey are the teams that are looking to bring in the 32-year-old center.

ESPN: Jarmo Kekalainen is the tenth general manager in Sabres history, and the first since Scotty Bowman (1979-87) to have previous experience as an NHL GM. Immediate changes are coming to Buffalo’s three-goalie rotation. Kekalainen is also looking for character, as he claims it “is the biggest part of talent.”

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Fenway Sports Group is nearing a sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it is expected to be in the $1.7-1.8 billion range.

Daily Faceoff: Milan Lucic will be signing for the Fife Flyers of the EIHL (UK). This comes after the 37-year-old had been released from a professional tryout with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).