Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney did not shy away from the fact that he would like to make a move to get the Bruins back into the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
"Obviously, you’d like to have multiple picks," Sweeney said during his year-end media availability on Thursday. "When you’re left empty-handed on Friday night you wonder whether or not, okay, is there a move to be made that you can get back in there. I’ve had some discussions [with teams], so there could be. It’s just, at what cost?"
The Bruins moved their 2018 first-round pick in the Rick Nash deadline deal, and it's not believed that the Bruins are going to re-sign the 33-year-old Nash, who had just three goals and five points in 12 playoff contests, leaving Sweeney to try and recoup a lost asset.
"But, it hurts [not having a first-round pick]," Sweeney admitted. "It stings from a projection, from a planning standpoint, there’s no question it impacts your organization. So, I don’t think it’s in your best interest to do it repeatedly, and if there’s an opportunity, I’ll explore it.
"We’ll have some discussion about it. Certainly, we’re preparing like we would have a first-round pick and having the guys making sure we’re in tune. We’ve got interviewing the guys that we felt we’d be drafting if we were in those slots and prepare accordingly."
Given where the Bruins' strengths are, an attempted trade-up would likely have to involve a defenseman or one of the glut of young forwards the Bruins currently have on their roster.
Should the Bruins be concerned about David Backes?
The Bruins have seen diminishing returns on David Backes in back-to-back postseasons, and his second playoff run with the Bruins ended with a concussion. The Bruins also have another three years -- and at $6 million per season -- with the 34-year-old Backes on the roster. Is it time to get a little concerned about his potential fit and impact with the Bruins?
My latest for 98.5 The Sports Hub...
Ty Anderson is a digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, and has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010. He and has been part of the Boston Chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Contact him on Twitter or send him an email at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com. 
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • 
Join the Discussion:
»