On ESPN Thursday night, Emily Kaplan called the Bruins “the team to watch” as Friday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline approaches and said she keeps hearing “that they’re up to something big.” Earlier in the day, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he believes Boston “has a lot of stuff going on” and that “there’s just been a lot of noise from there.”
Mike Milbury talks Bruins' trade deadline needs, approach
As of late Thursday night/early Friday morning, no one seems to be able to pin down what the “noise” and “stuff” and “something big” might be. There were reports that they were making a renewed bid for center Elias Lindholm, but that was contingent on the Vancouver Canucks getting Jake Guentzel. They didn’t do that, as Guentzel wound up going to the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night instead.
“We know that Boston still needs a center, so look for them in that space,” Kaplan said. “They’ve been shopping around Matt Grzelcyk. I think that Jake DeBrusk’s future is in question. Getting a lot of calls on Linus Ullmark. I don’t think he moves [Friday], but keep an eye on the Bruins. They could be up to something.”
Her ESPN colleague, Kevin Weekes, dropped a late-night bomb suggesting the Bruins trading a goalie is still in play.
Anything and everything seems to be on the table, up to and including the long-debated goalie trade, and yet it also wouldn’t be surprising at all if general manager Don Sweeney stands pat, unable to find something that makes sense given Boston’s lack of cap space, draft picks and blue-chip prospects.
Six days ago, after arguably the worst loss of the season for the Bruins against the Islanders, a shakeup just for the sake of a shakeup may have been as good an option as any. It was their ninth loss in 13 games since the All-Star break, and reasons for optimism were dwindling.
But then the Bruins put together their best week of hockey in at least a month and a half, and suddenly there’s some reason to believe again. On Thursday night at TD Garden, the Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs – their first-round opponent if the season ended today – by a 4-1 margin for the second time in four days, completing the season sweep of their rivals in the process. In between those two games, they held the high-flying Oilers to one goal in regulation on the second night of a back-to-back before ultimately losing in overtime.
“A different level,” Jeremy Swayman said of the team’s defensive play in front of him this week.
On Tuesday, they held the Oilers, the NHL’s fifth-ranked offense, to nine high-danger chances, Edmonton’s third-fewest in a game all season. On Thursday, they held the Maple Leafs, the NHL’s third-ranked offense, to seven high-danger chances, Toronto’s second-fewest in a game all season. Thursday was also one of the most physical games the Bruins had played in a while, with the likes of Charlie Coyle, Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau leading the way.
When the Bruins play like this, they can compete with and beat just about anyone. They can certainly win a first-round series against Toronto. On paper, they still wouldn’t be one of the top Stanley Cup favorites, especially with so many other contenders already making big moves, but after last season, they know better than anyone that being the favorite on paper doesn’t mean squat.
“Regardless of what happens [Friday], we feel good about our group, and I think we showed that the last three games,” Brad Marchand said. “When we play the right way and play within the structure of our group and the way that they've tried to push us to play, we're a really good team and we can compete with anybody. It's just having that belief that we're a top team and that we have to play the way we have this week so far, every single night. It's not an easy thing to do, but if we can continue to find that drive and that energy and emotion each game, we’re gonna put ourselves in a good spot.”
Swayman hopes Thursday night was not his final goalie hug with Ullmark. He started to get emotional when asked about that possibility after the game.
“That guy is my brother for life, and he's a huge reason why we've had success every year,” Swayman said of Ullmark. “I have no doubt that there's not going to be any surprises, hopefully. I love that guy to death. Whatever happens, happens. It’s a business. I know it just as well. Whatever happens, happens. We've dealt with it over the years, but I don’t even want to think about that.”
The Bruins are scheduled to practice at Warrior Ice Arena at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Whether everyone who was in the locker room to celebrate Thursday’s win is still there before, during or after practice remains to be seen. There may be more emotional hugs to come. The trade deadline clock is ticking.