Along came video games, SIM leagues, Fantasy Hockey Leagues and even live betting. With those came an increase in hockey fan’s desire for trades. And lots of them. Venture onto any hockey forum chat rooms and you’ll see proposals and even “wishful thinking” trades.
The fact is, trades are rare during the National Hockey League season, unless it is trade deadline day, or approaching it. You should be use to it by now, especially in a cap world.
But yesterday, the Boston Bruins sent Patrick Brown to Providence, waived Ian Mitchell and signed Jackson Edward to a contract. And the speculation began. Let’s try and put an end to the speculation by understanding what the Bruins actually did, beginning with the Edwards signing.
Edward is not headed to the Bruins. First off, he can not be recalled from the London Knights of the OHL unless it is under an emergency situation. And then, he could only remain with them until the emergency comes to an end i.e., injuries. Secondly. He can not be a replacement for someone in Providence who is about to be called up to Boston. Just like Matthew Poitras, because Edward is 19 years of age, he is not eligible to play in the AHL this season until his OHL season comes to an end. As a 2022 draft pick, the Bruins needed to sign Edward before June 1, 2024. This is signing is just regular business and the contract will slide this year and not take effect until the 2024-2025 season.
Next up: Brown. The Bruins placed Brown on waivers back on October 9 and he cleared the following day. That means that for 30 days, or unless Brown plays in 10 games, he can be sent down and be brought back up at anytime in that timeframe and not require waivers to do so. It’s something Assistant General Manager and cap king Evan Gold has done when they are not in LTIR space to bank cap space. You can expect this to happen throughout the season with Brown or other players when the team is on an extended homestand – it will not happen when they are on the road unless they have several days off. The cost to the players is that he will receive his AHL salary for one day instead of his NHL salary unless they are on a one-way contract. And Brown is on a one-way deal.
Moving onto Mitchell: With the injuries to Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko, the Bruins needed two forwards. Brown was brought back up and the Bruins also recalled Jesper Boqvist. The Bruins did not have the cap space to call up both Brown and Boqvist. As the seventh defenceman, Mitchell was the only option to go on the waiver wire (he cleared) and be sent to Providence to open up the cap space. The good news is that like Brown, the Bruins can now move Mitchell up and down to also bank cap space for 30 days or 10 games without having to clear waivers again – when the team is healthy. And like Brown, he has a one-way contract so there is no cost to the player.
So, you can relax. There is no imminent trade and no imminent Danton Heinen signing because of these moves.
On another note, a very good source informs me that Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion is busy working the phones. No confirmation on whether that included a call to Bruins GM Don Sweeney. But if there was, the moves yesterday and today have nothing to do with it.
Dom - Hockey 