Back in the preseason, everyone was talking about the strengths of the Boston Bruins roster: Goaltending and defence.
The goaltending has been as expected but there are genuine concerns on the blueline. Charlie McAvoy has missed time due to injury and suspension and can’t seem to get into a grove; Hampus Lindholm is not playing near as well as a season ago when he garnered Norris Trophy consideration; Derek Forbort has missed time with injuries; Matt Grzelcyk is also not living up to past performances and has battled injury. Mason Lohrei has shown a lot of promise but can be vulnerable; Brandon Carlo has been their best blueliner from the start, but he too has had some meh moments.
So, is General Manager Don Sweeney looking for help on the blueline?
The Bruins have been linked to Noah Hanifin, where it is presumed the Bruins had interest going back to the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. It is speculated that the Calgary Flames are willing to trade the fifth overall pick from the 2015 Draft if they feel they can not sign him to an extension. Renaud Lavoie of TVA has written that many teams are shying away from dealing for the blueliner because it is well known Hanifin wants to come home and play for the Bruins.
“The thing with Hanifin is, he’s been on the market, if I’m not mistaken, for the last two years. But the problem is, everyone knows that he wants to play for the (Boston) Bruins. So, no one’s ready to make that move, because that connection with the Bruins is there. It kind of handcuffs everyone, because they all know that at one point he’ll sign with (Boston). So, it’s a tricky situation for him.”
But let’s look at the 2016 Draft.
There was plenty of speculation around the draft that the Bruins were targeting Dante Fabbro who was coming off a good season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and headed to Boston University. It wasn’t until McAvoy “fell to them” at the draft that they decided on McAvoy who was coming off his freshman year with Boston University. Fabbro went three picks later to the Nashville Predators and the pair would spend their draft-plus-one season together at BU.
It’s no secret that the Nashville Predators would like to move on from Fabbro and that Fabbro himself would like a fresh start, although he has not officially asked for a trade. He too would probably want to be closer to home and being a British Columbia native, the Vancouver Canucks would make sense for him in that regard. But he also spent three seasons with BU and really enjoyed his time in Boston.
The Preds attempted to move Fabbro at last season’s trade deadline and couldn’t work out a deal. They tried again in the offseason and again couldn’t find a deal. Now, Fabbro is finding himself a healthy scratch on some nights. With Fabbro, Alexander Carrier, Tyson Barrie and Luke Schenn, the Preds could afford to trade one of them for help somewhere else on the roster. And Fabbro could land them a decent return.
The problem?
Fabbro is a right shot defenceman and the greatest need for the Bruins right now is on the left side. But we know Sweeney always has the future front and center when looking at potential trades. And this move would not only help today, but for the future. A right side of McAvoy, Carlo and Fabbro would be the best right side they’ve iced in some time.
If you believe the reports that Hanifin will only sign with the Bruins, then it makes sense to use assets to acquire Fabbro and then take your run at Hanifin in the offseason. This is a transition year and I’m sure that is how management is looking at it.
The question is: have there been discussions? Sweeney would never admit to that.
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Dom - Hockey 