Ex-NHL GM Explains How Bruins Should Approach Trade Deadline..
ormer NHL general manager and TSN analyst Craig Button is quick to point out that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has been through this before.
The Bruins are faltering with the March 7 NHL trade deadline approaching. They have lost three straight games following the 4 Nations break. Boston is currently outside the playoff picture, trailing the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets by four points for the wild-card spots.
Sweeney will have to make a decision soon about what direction he wants to take at the deadline and Button explained on NESN’s “The Hockey Hub” podcast how he thinks things will go down for the Bruins next week.
“I think the Bruins have shown exactly what they are. I don’t think they’re a contender. I think they have some flaws. They have some injuries that are going to really hamper them. I think Don Sweeney has to look at the team with respect to ‘what are we going to do to try to position ourselves to not be in this spot next year,’” Button said. “They don’t have a lot of high-end talent, high-end skill. That’s where their offensive struggles come in. So, how do you try to look to improve that? … I think it’s always been about Boston being a contender. Don Sweeney has the experience of having gone through this previously. I think he’s in the exact same spot.”
The last time the Bruins didn’t qualify for the playoffs was in the 2015-16 season, Sweeney’s first season as general manager. That year, Sweeney decided to add John-Michael Liles and Lee Stempniak at the deadline while also holding on to Loui Eriksson.
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It certainly will be interesting to see what Sweeney does this time around with Boston’s playoff hopes diminishing.
