(Photo by Sarah Connors)
The world of Boston sports is buzzing: the C’s are vying for the one seed in the East, the Sox have kicked off Spring Training with newly-acquired slugger J.D. Martinez, sports pundits and beat writers alike are trying to decipher Rob Gronkowski’s cryptic tweets about possible retirement, and Rick Nash seems to be fitting in nicely in his new Bruins sweater.
The February 26 NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and @SNstats reported via Twitter that there were 16 trades completed, 31 players and 18 draft picks moved, and $30.8 million in player salaries shifted around the NHL landscape. Now that the dust of the deadline has settled, let’s take a look at how the Bruins fared:
Trade: Rob O’Gara and 2018 third round pick to the Rangers for Nick Holden
Analysis: The benefit of my “post-dust-settling” analysis is that I have some window into what the players have done since being dealt. O’Gara has played four games for the Rangers and is sporting zero points with a -4 plus/minus, while Holden hasn’t yet seen the ice in Boston. Obviously, O’Gara should improve as he gains experience, but this is a fifth round draft pick who probably wasn’t going to make a significant contribution, especially considering the wealth of young talent already on the Boston roster. This is also the last year of O’Gara’s entry-level contract, so it makes sense for the B’s to get something out of the asset before he becomes a free agent. What mostly concerns me about this trade is that the Bruins sacrificed a solid draft selection for a defenseman that may hardly play. Holden is slated to play his first game tonight against the Penguins, but if Bruce Cassidy regularly makes Holden a healthy scratch, this trade is really pointless. I get that they got some depth at the blue line, but is it worth losing a shot at a solid prospect? I say no.
Grade: D
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Trade: Frank Vatrano to the Panthers for third round pick
Analysis: Right off the bat, I’ll say that I don’t mind this trade. Vatrano has had several stints in the NHL, but he’s never really clicked at the pro level. At 23 years old, Vatrano has a similar outlook to O’Gara’s: he should get better as he gets older, but he’s not going to be an all star. His ceiling is probably a second- or third-line winger who pours in 30-40 points a season; it makes perfect sense that the B’s would want to (more or less) get back the pick they lost in the Holden deal for a prospect that has little importance to the franchise overall. Pretty good trade.
Grade: B+
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Trade: Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren, Matt Beleskey (+50% of salary), 2018 first round pick, and 2019 seventh round pick to the Rangers for Rick Nash (+50% of salary)
Analysis: Many are criticizing the Bruins for giving up too much to acquire the services of veteran winger Rick Nash, but here’s what they don’t seem to understand: you have to give up valuable pieces to get something great in return. If you read my last Bruins article, you know how excited I was about Rick Nash after his first game with the Bruins, and lo and behold, he cashed in on the score sheet Tuesday evening. Additionally, the B’s got back $2 million in cap space for the next two years by moving half of Matt Beleskey’s salary off the books. Lindgren is a talented prospect, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves about his capability at the NHL level. I believe he could be a top four to six defenseman, but he’s no Charlie McAvoy. To me, Lindgren is the Jae Crowder (in the Kyrie Irving trade) of this deal, and people are overvaluing him. Maybe I’ll eat my words when he’s a 2022 all star, but for now I’m sticking with this take. The 2018 first-rounder hurts too, but I bet you won’t be complaining about it when Rick Nash is scoring goals late into June.
Grade: A
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Trade: Conditional 2019 fifth round pick to the Blackhawks for Tommy Wingels
Analysis: How did Wingels do in his Bruins debut, you ask? Big Tommy netted a goal and dished out an assist, and many sportswriters are saying that he’s already outperformed expectations. I’m certainly not here to tell you that I think Wingels has already proven his worth, but what he showed on Tuesday against Carolina suggests that he may be able to serve an important bottom-six role for the Bruins come playoff time. Additionally, the Bruins gave up a ninth-rounder that will probably end up having little to no value. One of the best things about Wingels is that he’s so comfortable in his role. He said on Tuesday that “[Bottom-six guys] might get a couple less [scoring chances], but there’s no reason they can’t produce on those. It’s just about bearing down on those chances and I’m going to try to do that down the stretch.” A huge aspect of the 2011 Cup run was having players who knew their roles. The Paille-Campbell-Thornton fourth line was chock full of grinders who simply did their job. I like Wingels to fill a similar role here.
Grade: A-
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Signing: Brian Gionta, one year / $700,000
Analysis: This signing really isn’t a big deal; 700k is pocket change in the NHL. Why not give a guy who’s been great in the past a shot with the team? We’ll see how he does tonight against the Penguins, but the B’s can cut bait if things go poorly. (Side note: Similarly, Jarome Iginla is also practicing with the Providence Bruins, so keep an eye on that.)
Grade: B
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Overall, the Bruins added depth at the forward position without giving up too much, not to mention acquiring a real difference-maker in Rick Nash. It would’ve been nice to see them bolster the defense somewhat, as I’m unsure how Carlo/Krug will hold up come playoff time. The only major loss at the deadline came in Tampa Bay when the Lightning dealt for stud defenseman Ryan McDonagh, a move that should solidify the Lightning as the favorites in the Eastern Conference. In any case, Sweeney and the rest of the Bruins front office showed the players that they truly believe Boston to be a serious contender. Expect Rick Nash to show up big when things get more physical in the postseason.
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