The Boston Bruins are holding onto a playoff spot, and they could look to be buyers ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
Boston was hoping to compete for a playoff spot this season, and that has been the case. But, after the Olympic break, NHL teams will only have a handful of games before the trade deadline hits, so teams will have to make a decision quickly on whether they are buyers or sellers.
Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic expects Boston to be buyers and believes the Bruins will look to add a right-shot defenseman.
“So Sweeney will have to determine which direction is best for a playoff team that is still building after a 28th-place finish in 2024-25," Shinzawa wrote in an article published on Tuesday. "It may be in both ways: buying and selling. As for the former, the Bruins’ chase of Rasmus Andersson signaled they are eager to improve their blue line. Specifically, the right side behind Charlie McAvoy.”
Not only do the Bruins want to add a defenseman, but Shinzawa believes the team is interested in players under control whose age also fits the timeline.
“But the fact that they targeted the 29-year-old Andersson clarifies the profile of additions they’d prefer to make: ones who fit the current life cycle. … Ideally, they want to add players who will be around to help Pastrnak (29 years old), McAvoy (28) and Swayman (27), and not just a right-shot defenseman. They could use a hand on the wing. They would not turn down a pace-pushing center. They have multiple long-term needs.”
Ultimately, with the Bruins holding onto a playoff spot, general manager Don Sweeney is expected to make some additions to Boston’s roster.
The Bruins entered the Olympic break holding onto the final wild card spot with a record of 32-20-5.
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