One of the Bruins needs are clearly on the blue line, and more specifically a left-shot defenseman.
Adding some size and toughness wouldn’t hurt there either, and that’s where Jacob Middleton comes in.
In Pierre LeBrun’s latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, LeBrun reveals the
Bruins have kicked the tires on Middleton.
As LeBrun mentions in his report, Middleton would be an attractive option to many teams, spending a good chunk of time as a defensive partner with either Erik Karlsson or Brent Burns.
Middleton also is a key component to a successful Sharks penalty kill. Middleton averages 1:30 of short handed time on ice per game, third among Sharks defensemen.
LeBrun also goes on to reveal the Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues also have interest in the 26-year old Middleton.
While LeBrun reports the Bruins have interest in Coyotes’ defenseman Jakob Chychrun, as they should, several other teams are in on Chychrun and likely have more value to offer than the Bruins.
“It’s Florida, it’s L.A., it’s Boston, it’s St. Louis, it’s Carolina, it’s Anaheim among the primary suitors,” LeBrun writes. “But again, we’re inside two weeks from the trade deadline. It could come down to March 21.”
If the Bruins fail to land Chychrun, or any other top-four type defenseman, Middleton is seen more of a plan-B option and a depth addition.
Middleton wouldn’t be an earth-shattering move for the Bruins, but would surely provide the Bruins with a much needed bottom pairing left side upgrade, adding some more toughness to their backend as well.
Trent Frederic and the Bruins saw first-hand earlier this season Middleton’s willingness to drop the gloves when needed. He’s got nine fighting majors on the season.
For most of Middleton’s professional career, he’s bounced between the NHL and AHL. However, this year, he’s managed to stick around more consistently, appearing in 39 of the Sharks 56 games.
We’re less than two weeks away from the trade deadline, the Bruins surely have moves to make.
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