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Is help on the way? *Updated Bruins get Taylor Hall

April 11, 2021, 11:04 PM ET [24 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With the trade deadline set for Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Est, a lot of eyes will be on the Boston Bruins and general manager Don Sweeney.

Coming off back-to-back loses, including Sunday’s ugly 8-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, Sweeney finds himself in the difficult position of deciding how far he’s willing to go to upgrade a Bruins team that certainly needs some help.

The Bruins hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the MassMutual East division over the Philadelphia Flyers by four points.

The Bruins have two games in hand.

Secondary and five-on-five scoring, a top-four left-shot defenseman and a true right winger for David Krejci on the Bruins second line are all areas that Sweeney will be looking to address in the hours leading up to the deadline.

While injuries continue to plaque the Bruins, especially on the backend, it’s been difficult to get a true read on who the Bruins are as a hockey team, and how far they could potentially go in the playoffs, if they even get there at all.

Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller all missed Sunday’s contest leaving Jeremy Lauzon, Connor Clifton, Jakub Zboril, Steven Kampfer, Jared Tinordi and Jack Ahcan to handle the task of stopping the division leading Capitals.

As you would have imagined, it did not go very well.

Although you could pin the lopsidedness of Sunday’s defeat on the Bruins inexperience on defense, you can wonder how much the Bruins uninspiring play over the weekend as a whole will influence any moves Sweeny does or does not make Monday.

Players who certainly could have helped fill the Bruins holes like Nick Foligno, (to Toronto) David Savard (to Tampa Bay) and Kyle Palmieri (to the Islanders) have already been traded.

Who does that potentially leave for the Bruins?

Josh Manson, Taylor Hall, Victor Mete (placed on waivers), Sami Vatanen, Conor Garland, and Rickard Rakell a few names that immediately come to mind.

But with the looming expansion draft, and a salary cap that’s expected to stay flat for at least two more seasons, will Sweeney be willing to give up the picks and prospects to add to a Bruins team that if we’re being honest, is on the outside looking in at the true Stanley Cup contenders?

Sure, a few additions combined with players like Rask, McAvoy and Grzelcyk getting back in the lineup could help turn things around for the Bruins, but at what cost?

In what seems like a buyer’s market, the Bruins lack some of the appealing prospects other teams have to offer.

And we’ve heard Sweeney on several occasions in the past discuss how he’s hated sitting out the first round of recent drafts, although, the upcoming 2021 NHL Entry Draft is not as loaded with prospects like year’s past.

Monday will be an interesting day in Boston.

*Following Sunday's loss, the Bruins announced they have acquired defenseman Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2022 3rd round pick.

Reilly has 19 assists in 40 games this season with Ottawa and as Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan points out, he's been excellent point wise, five-on-five.



*First broke by ESPN’s John Buccigross, Taylor Hall has been traded to the Bruins.

Full deal is Hall and Curtis Lazar for Anders Bjork and a 2nd round pick.
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