NHL Rumors: Bruins have kept 'close tabs' on Canucks star forward
The Boston Bruins are fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and general manager Don Sweeney could make a major move to give his roster a much-needed jolt.
The Black and Gold have been connected to Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson. Vancouver is open to trading Pettersson due to the now public rift between J.T. Miller and Pettersson. Canucks team president Jim Rutherford addressed the conflict between his two star players while speaking with Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail.
"I felt like for a long time that there was a solution here because everybody has worked on it, including the parties involved... But it only gets resolved for a short period of time, and then it festers again, and so it certainly appears like there’s not a good solution that would keep this group together," said Rutherford.
Pettersson’s name has been floating around the trade market, but the 26-year-old might be hard for the Bruins to land considering he’s signed through 2032 at $11.6 million annually.
The Athletic’s Harman Dayal and Shayna Goldman published a column Wednesday examining the possible destinations for Pettersson. Boston was one of the 10 teams listed.
“Miller is more likely in the Bruins’ price range, but Pettersson would be even better around their franchise cornerstones,” Dayal and Goldman wrote. “Even if the Canucks move Pettersson for pennies on the dollar, the Bruins may not have the assets or the cap space to make a deal happen. But management needs to make their best offers to elevate their center depth.”
Boston could benefit from a boost at center, and Pettersson would greatly improve the Bruins front six. He would also provide a strong partner on the first line with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.
It seems more likely that Miller will be the one traded, and the Bruins have reportedly been keeping tabs on his availability.
"I haven't heard a lot of people talking about the Boston Bruins, and their need for a top-end center has been well-documented," Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said last week on Sports on Prime Canada. "We've also heard Cam Neely, their president of hockey operations, hint at the idea that, 'Hey, we might have to rejig some things here based on the way that this season has played out.
"I do believe that the Boston Bruins have kept very close tabs on the Miller situation with the Vancouver Canucks. I would term them as a team lurking in the weeds right now to try and monitor those prices and wouldn't be surprised if this continues to linger on closer to the March 7 deadline. Even as much as Vancouver seems motivated and Miller seems ready to go, they're a team that could remain in the mix."
Boston signed a top-six center this offseason when they handed Elias Lindholm a seven-year, $54.25 million contract. Unfortunately, Lindholm has not produced at the level and hype of his contract, recording just 25 points in 52 games. He’s been relegated to the third line as he tries to get on track.
Of the two players, Miller seems to be the most cost-effective to fit on their roster, but he’ll have an aggressive market if the Canucks are serious in trading him before the NHL trade deadline on March 7.
