Trade deadline began with the Bruins announcing that they have extended defenceman Parker Wotherspoon to a one-year extension. The contract is a one-year, one-way deal that carries an AAV of $800,000.
The left shooting Wotherspoon will turn 27 years of age in August and quickly became a fan favorite once he got into the lineup. Wotherspoon was set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and could sign anywhere.
General Manager Don Sweeney then acquired Pat Maroon for Luke Toporowski and a conditional 6th round pick in 2026 from the Minnesota Wild. The condition applied to the pick is that if Maroon plays in 1 playoff game for the Bruins, the pick will transfer to the Wild.
Toporowski was an underrated free agent signing a year ago but has struggled for much of this season and the Bruins to find the offence he displayed a year ago.
Maroon is currently out while recovering from back surgery. The move put the Bruins over the cap but can easily become compliant by placing Maroon on LTIR – which he had been on with the Wild.
Milan Lucic was supposed to be “that guy” this season that would provide some sort of deterrent when other teams wanted to take liberties against the Bruins stars and allow everyone in the lineup to “play bigger” but we all know what happened there. It’s been lacking for almost the entirety of the season.
Maroon, if and when he becomes healthy will be the guy the Bruins have been looking for since Lucic left the team. He Brings leadership, experience and a deterrent to the Bruins. He will not be afraid to drop the gloves to defend a teammate, throw some crushing hits and will cause havoc in front of the opposition net.
With less than an hour to go before the deadline closed, the Bruins shipped off defenceman Jakub Zboril to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for right shot defenceman Andrew Peeke, who has two more seasons after this season on his deal that carries a cap hit of $2,750,000.
There is something interesting in Peeke here, providing a change of scenery is what was needed. He’s a stay-at-home defender who had a tough time cracking the Columbus roster this season. Over his last three seasons, he ranks sixth among defenders in blocked shots per 60 minutes among blueliners with 3000+ minutes. He also ranks 35th among hits.
The Bruins were lacking in some of the areas that Peeke can help them in. But it remains to be seen how coach Jim Montgomery will now use the defencemen at his disposal, especially when Hampus Lindholm returns.
Follow me on X @dominictiano. Follow the blog and never miss a post.
Dom - Hockey 