Are the Bruins all-in on trying to win now? Or will they just tinker around the edges and hope they get hot in the playoffs? That’s the dilemma facing Boston general manager Don Sweeney leading up to the NHL’s March 21 trade deadline.
If it were up to John Buccigross, the Bruins would be all-in. Appearing on Gresh & Keefe on Wednesday, the ESPN NHL analyst and broadcaster made his case for doing whatever it takes to compete for the Stanley Cup and compared the Bruins to this year’s Super Bowl champion, the Los Angeles Rams.
“Do they add on the blue line? Which is where I think they need to add if they want to be a serious contender,” Buccigross said. “…They’re probably gonna play Carolina or Tampa Bay or Florida in the first round. Those are three really good teams, so you have to start putting your roster on a white board and their roster on a white board and say, ‘Can we beat this team in a best-of-seven with what we have?’ I just think they need to go out and add.
“I’d love to find a way to get [Jakob] Chychrun on defense. He’s exactly what I think they need on that second pair. Going forward as well, he’s a guy you’d keep long-term. I would keep trading first-round picks like the Rams if I’m Don Sweeney. This is their window. This is the championship window. The better players are around 30. I wouldn’t go halfway. I’d mortgage everything and deal with everything else down the stretch. They’re a team that can be a player in the postseason. You might as well go for it. There’s no need to go halfsies at this point.”
Part of Buccigross’ plan would also be holding onto the red-hot Jake DeBrusk, despite the fact that DeBrusk’s agent said this week that his trade request is still in place.
“They can’t trade him now,” Buccigross said. “He has to stay. He needs to play with good players. He’s not gonna drive a line. He’s not that kind of a guy. He’s straight ahead, take advantage of other great players making good plays, and he’ll finish. Great skater, he’s a great kid, but he’s not gonna make a line better. He needs to play with good players. So you have to kick that can until the summer. … I think they’re gonna not trade him now and drive him home with that first line, see what happens in the offseason, and figure something out then.”
Listen to the full interview with Buccigross below: