Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney has ripped off the Band-Aid.
In a series of shocking moves, the Boston Bruins ended an era at the NHL’s trade deadline. And you have to give Sweeney credit: he’s done what so many other GMs have been unwilling to do.
In trading Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau at this year’s NHL trade deadline, the Bruins GM has acknowledged that this team wasn’t good enough to win a Stanley Cup — much less make the playoffs. And so, the inevitable rebuild has begun for a team that’s 12th in the Eastern Conference and has gone eight years without missing the post-season.
The tear-down process for Boston began earlier this week, when Sweeney sent center Frederic to Edmonton. On Thursday, the Bruins dealt right winger Justin Brazeau to Minnesota. But on deadline day, Sweeney took a wrecking ball to the heart of his roster, moving center Coyle to Colorado, captain Marchand to Florida and Carlo to Toronto.
It had to be a devastating blow to Bruins fans – and Bruins stars David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman, who are left to carry the pieces for the duration of the season – but Sweeney did what was needed. There were no half-measures on Friday. Boston turned the page the way few teams have dared to do. And now, the Bruins are better-positioned to have sustainable success sooner than later.
Picking up above-average former Leafs prospect Fraser Minten in the Carlo trade gives Boston a solid center for the next decade or longer. Getting a second-round pick that could turn into a first-rounder in the Marchand deal also helps Boston’s future. and adding former Avs center Casey Mittelstadt (acquired in the Coyle deal) gives the Bruins a piece they may be able to flip in the off-season. But being willing to bid farewell to Marchand – the heart-and-soul of the franchise – and an excellent defensive defenseman in Carlo are the type of big-swing moves you rarely see in a single season, let alone a single day.
Boston fans will have fond memories of Marchand, Coyle and Carlo to get them through the tough times ahead. But the truth of the matter is this wasn’t going to be a Bruins team that could do much of anything positive the rest of the…