2024 NHL trade deadline: Analyzing Bruins’ best assets to make moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins have been one of the NHL’s most active trade deadline teams since Don Sweeney took over as the general manager in 2015.
He has made at least one deal before the deadline in each of his eight seasons in charge. Sometimes he makes multiple deals, including last season when the B’s went all-in.
Even though the Bruins sit atop the Eastern Conference again, it would be surprising if they were as aggressive at the trade deadline this season as they were in 2023. The B’s don’t have a ton of high-quality trade assets, especially when compared to other contenders. Boston’s salary cap situation — less than $1 million in space, per CapFriendly — also is an issue.
But we should still expect the Bruins to try to make some kind of move, even if it’s a small depth piece.
So, what assets do the Bruins have to make deals before the trade deadline? Here’s a rundown of what they could use (Note: This list is not based on any reporting).
NHL roster players
Don Sweeney has done a great job adding very good veteran players at the trade deadline in recent years, including the likes of Charlie Coyle, Marcus Johansson, Rick Nash, Hampus Lindholm, Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov, etc. He’s never had to give up a meaningful player from his own roster to make those deals. They’ve mostly involved prospects and draft picks. Doing that this season will be more of a challenge because the B’s have less than $1 million in salary cap space. That’s a very, very low amount. If the Bruins want to bring in a veteran with a salary cap hit above $3-4 million, they might need to trade a player off their NHL roster.
Grzelcyk, when healthy, is a very good driver of puck possession, a strong skater and someone who creates scoring chances with his playmaking ability. He has tremendous chemistry with longtime teammate Charlie McAvoy going back to their Boston University days. He’s also able to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grzelcyk is too valuable to the Bruins’ quest for the Stanley Cup to trade just because he could leave in the summer. Of course, it wouldn’t be great for the B’s if he walked for nothing as a free agent, but he still has good value to this year’s team. His salary cap hit for this season is $3.68 million.
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW
The Bruins have to make a decision with DeBrusk. He’s their best forward who can become a UFA this summer….