The Boston Bruins (32-20-5) are able to resume their surprising season as they hold on to the eighth and final playoff position within the Eastern Conference. While this is much better than most observers expected from them this season, there is not any reason why they cannot finish the job and earn their spot within the playoffs through the final 25 regular-season games.
The Bruins might have the opportunity to carry on to the No. 2 Wild Card spot and even climb the standings without general manager Don Sweeney making any moves. Nevertheless, head coach Marco Sturm, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman should get as much help as they will from the Bruins front office as a way to make the team stronger.
The Bruins intend to make the playoffs, but the concept is to be as competitive as possible once they get there. Because the Bruins prepare for the house stretch of the season, there are moves to make by the March 6 trade deadline.
The best moves would come with strengthening the team’s blue line crew and adding a veteran forward who can slot in on the second or third line to extend scoring.
Right shot defenseman Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues could be the best candidate to provide the Bruins added strength on defense, while forward Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks could be a nice add up front.
Justin Faulk suits in on the Bruins No. 2 defense pair
The Bruins have been a tricky and physical team throughout the season. They’ve gotten back to their roots by handing out thumping body checks and stopping opponents from dominating within the offensive zone. That didn’t occur last season when the Bruins fell apart and finished in last place within the Atlantic Division.
They’ve defended their very own zone reasonably well for Sturm, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy has led the best way along with his physical play, solid puck-carrying ability and accurate passing.
McAvoy’s defense partner Jonathan Aspirot has been a solid find for the Bruins. He doesn’t get rattled and does what Sturm asks of him.
Hampus Lindholm is a wonderful No. 2 defenseman and he has had a solid season after injuries sent him to the sidelines for nearly all of the 2024-25 season. Mason Lohrei is his defense partner and he has shown some offensive skills, but he cannot at all times win the battle for the puck against more physical players.
That is where Faulk would best slot in if the Bruins were in a position to make a deal for him with the Blues.
Faulk is a 15-year NHL veteran who has spent his last seven seasons with the Blues and his first eight with the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s having a superb offensive season with struggling St. Louis as he has scored 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points.
At 6-0 and 209 kilos, Faulk is way stronger than Lohrei and would have a good chance to win the physical battles that Lohrei recurrently loses.
Ryan Donato might be excellent addition to the No. 2 or No. 3 line
Donato began his profession with the Bruins and he’s in his ninth yr within the league. He spent his first 1-plus seasons in Boston before moving on to the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken. He has been with the Blackhawks for 3 seasons.
He struggled to ascertain himself as a legitimate scorer throughout nearly all of his profession, however the lights went on for him last season when he scored 31 goals and 31 assists.
He has not been quite to that level this season, but he has 13 goals and 12 assists through 57 games and it’s clear that the 29-year-old has scoring talent.
Going back to the team that drafted him would likely spark Donato and provides the Bruins a lift. Donato could play on the second line with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittlestadt or on the No. 3 line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov.
Doing nothing or trading young talent could lead on to Bruins nightmare
The Bruins have a nice team without delay they usually could probably play respectable hockey down the stretch even when Sweeney didn’t make any moves.
Nevertheless, that will send the improper message to the team. The Bruins definitely can get stronger and more experienced by making the fitting trades, but doing nothing would send a message that the front office doesn’t imagine that the team could rise above its current status.
The opposite nightmare scenario could be trading one in all the younger and more talented players for an aging veteran. Trading Third-round draft picks or later could be acceptable. Moving a veteran forward like Viktor Arvidsson could be acceptable, as would trading Lohrei.
Nevertheless, any deals that involve Minten, Khusnutdinov, Alexander Steeves or one in all their first-round draft picks could grow to be nightmarish for the Bruins.