The Boston Bruins are looking to add to their roster ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. Team brass previously attempted to acquire Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames in January. Despite being seen as the frontrunner to strike the deal, the star defenseman was ultimately sent to the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The move largely failed due to Boston’s inability to sign Andersson to a contract extension. Potentially acquiring a rental does not make much sense for the Bruins at the moment. Although the deal collapsed, it was revealed that the Bruins are looking to take another big swing in the market.
One specific player now being linked with Boston is New York Rangers star Vincent Trocheck. NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently claimed that the Bruins targeting the center would “make sense.” The Athletic then included Boston in their top 10 potential destinations for the veteran. According to the outlet, Trocheck would solidify the Bruins’ lineup on the middle of the ice.
If acquired, the current Rangers center would not be a pure rental. Trocheck’s contract does not expire until after the 2028-29 season. His $5.6 million AAV cap hit is also fairly manageable for a quality center in the NHL. Nevertheless, fan reaction to the potential move has mostly been negative on social media.
Vincent Trocheck Deal Would Create Center Logjam for Boston Bruins
Bruins supporters specifically responded to the aforementioned Seravalli comment by claiming that their team does not need an aging center. Despite their position in Eastern Conference standings, Boston has more of an eye on the future. Even if they qualify for the upcoming playoffs, they are not expected to make a deep run towards the Stanley Cup.
Acquiring the 32-year-old Trocheck would make the team better now, but the Bruins would likely have to give up a key young player and high draft picks in a trade. Former 2021 first-round selection Fabian Lysell has been linked to the hypothetical deal. Because Boston is not in a win-now mode, the team should be more focused on keeping these future pieces.
On top of this, the Bruins do not necessarily need to acquire a center. Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, although currently injured, have proven to be reliable players in the position. Fraser Minten is also excelling in his first full season with the club. The versatile Casey Mittelstadt can be deployed at both center and winger as well. All of these players are signed through at least the 2026-27 season.
Boston’s Defense has Been Subpar so far This Season
Instead of targeting a center, Boston will likely be more interested in acquiring a defenseman. The team clearly had an intense interest in Andersson and was willing to make a substantial offer to Calgary. Their insistence on only making the deal if the star blueliner signed an extension also proves that they are committed to the future.
So far this season, the Bruins have scored an average of 3.39 goals per game. This particular figure currently ranks sixth-best in the entire league. On the other hand, the team has allowed 3.14 goals per game, slightly worse than the NHL average. The statistics show that Boston needs to focus on their defense ahead of the trade deadline.
