{"id":480197,"date":"2026-02-14T20:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T20:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/480197\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T20:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T20:34:11","slug":"bruins-gmr-don-sweeney-will-be-on-clock-as-nhl-trade-deadline-nears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/480197\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruins GMr Don Sweeney will be on clock as NHL trade deadline nears"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boston (32-20-5, 69 points) is in playoff position and if it remains there, Sweeney likely would be in more of a buyer\u2019s mind-set. That could change if there\u2019s a post-Olympic hangover \u2014 the Bruins do have seven players competing in Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sweeney, with Team Canada for the Milan Cortina Games, was among the most active GMs ahead of last year\u2019s deadline. He moved big names (Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, and Trent Frederic among them) and received big returns.<\/p>\n

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Black and Gold diehards may have bemoaned the moves at the time, but the return haul has been impressive and could end up being even better. A quick recap:<\/p>\n

For Marchand, the Bruins received a 2027 first-round draft pick; Carlo brought a 2026 first-round pick, a 2025 fourth-round choice (defenseman Vashek Blanar, who will play at UMass in the fall), and Fraser Minten, who has blossomed<\/a> into one of the NHL\u2019s top rookies; In return for Coyle, Boston landed Casey Mittelstadt<\/a>, forward Will Zellers (a freshman at North Dakota who shined at the World Juniors), and a 2025 second-round selection (defenseman Liam Pettersson, who is playing in Sweden, at 61st overall). In the Frederic transaction (which included Max Jones), Boston got AHL Providence defenseman Maximus Wanner (goes by Max, but Maximus is way more fun, right?), a 2025 second-round pick (forward Will Moore, who is currently a freshman at Boston College<\/a>), and a 2026 fourth-round pick.<\/p>\n

In addition, Sweeney acquired Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko from the Wild for Justin Brazeau. Khusnutdinov has played up and down the Bruins lineup<\/a>, including first-line center (between Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak). The Wild, meanwhile, let Brazeau walk and he is now with the Penguins.<\/p>\n

Sure, losing Marchand and watching him win the Stanley Cup with the Panthers stung the fanbase, but overall, the swaps landed heavily in Boston\u2019s favor. <\/p>\n

Many deserve acknowledgement for the Bruins jockeying for a postseason berth<\/a> after such a roster overhaul and Sweeney deserves a healthy slice of the credit pie.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely Sweeney would unload a lot of the treasure trove of picks he has \u2014 the Bruins have nine selections in June\u2019s draft \u2014 unless he can land a true difference maker.<\/p>\n

The Bruins made it clear that rentals need not apply when they bowed out of the bidding for defenseman Rasmus Andersson without a long-term deal in place. <\/p>\n

Smart decision.<\/p>\n

Andersson landed in Las Vegas and is only signed through the end of this season.<\/p>\n

Now, are there potential fits out there for the right price? To quote my favorite Minnesotan, Marge Gunderson, \u201cOh, you betcha, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

A look at some intriguing possibilities:<\/p>\n

Vincent Trocheck, center, Rangers: Chris Drury sent up the white flag on the Rangers season pretty early (are letters to season ticket-holders ever a good idea in a major market?) and made a major pre-Olympic trade by shipping Artemi Panarin to the Kings<\/a>. The \u201cBread Man\u201d won\u2019t be the only one on the move. <\/p>\n

Trocheck could be next.<\/p>\n

He makes sense in Boston for a number of reasons, the first being he is a reliable, 200-foot player who could play up and down the lineup. While there\u2019s depth in the pipeline (Minten, Khusnutdinov, Matt Poitras, James Hagens), Trocheck is polished and ready now and with current injuries to Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm, he provides valuable insurance.<\/p>\n

Trocheck\u2019s age (32) and term (signed for three more seasons at a reasonable $5.625 million salary cap hit) make him attractive as well. Center is the hardest spot to fill, so Drury will have multiple suitors. It\u2019d likely take a prospect or two and a pick or two to spring him out of Manhattan, but the Bruins should be in the conversation.<\/p>\n

The Kings, Wild, Hurricanes, and Red Wings also make sense for Trocheck.<\/p>\n

Evander Kane, wing, Canucks: Somebody will overpay for the 34-year-old, pending unrestricted free agent. Will it be the Bruins? Probably not, but the Garden folks would love him.<\/p>\n

Kane plays with an edge, has playoff experience, and can put the puck in the net. At the right price, Kane could provide some real pop. <\/p>\n

The Avalanche, who know Kane well, could make a play here, too.<\/p>\n

MacKenzie Weegar, defense, Flames: The Bruins were in on Andersson, so it makes sense they\u2019d be interested in Calgary\u2019s other righthand shot defenseman. The 32-year-old Weegar is in a different category, however, because he is under contract through the 2030-31 season (average annual value of $6.25 million) and has a full no-trade clause \u2014 not always an easy obstacle to overcome. <\/p>\n

Weegar is rugged. He\u2019s strong along the boards and in front of his net. He also provides some offense, as evidenced by his 20-goal, 52-point campaign of 2023-24. He\u2019ll command a big return (first-rounder and multiple prospects), but his consistency and durability make him a good target.<\/p>\n

Nazem Kadri, center, Flames: Let\u2019s stay in Alberta for a check-in on the 35-year-old Kadri, who has seemingly been on the trading block for the last three seasons.<\/p>\n

A crafty and creative player who is adept at getting to the dirty areas and under opponents\u2019 skin. Once on a first name basis with all of the league\u2019s disciplinarians, he has cut down on his reckless ways in recent years. Kadri fits in with Boston\u2019s \u201ctough out\u201d style.<\/p>\n

Kadri\u2019s age, salary ($7 million per through 2028-29), and partial no-trade clause could make it tough to move him, but calls will be made.<\/p>\n

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, center, Hurricanes: How can this dude still only be 25? It seems like a decade ago when Carolina snatched him from Montreal via offer sheet. Kotkaniemi has grown a bit stale in Raleigh, and a change of scenery might do him well. Would the Hurricanes flip him to an Eastern rival? If the price (center prospect and late-round pick) is right. <\/p>\n

Kotkaniemi is inked through 2029-30 at $4.82 million per, which is affordable in this day and age.<\/p>\n

Dougie Hamilton, defense, Devils: Would Boston dare do the Dougie again?<\/a> Under the right circumstances it would. A right-shot defender, Hamilton (Boston\u2019s first rounder in 2011) has good size (6 feet 6 inches, 230 pounds), a high hockey IQ, and he loves to shoot the puck.<\/p>\n

Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with a $9 million cap hit. New Jersey may have to absorb a piece of that to move Hamilton, who has a limited no-trade clause.<\/p>\n

\"FrankFrank Vatrano has three goals, three assists, and is a minus-10 in 38 games for the Ducks this season.Barry Chin\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n

Frank Vatrano, wing, Ducks: Sticking with the reunion tour theme, how about a homecoming for Massachusetts homeboy Vatrano? With Anaheim\u2019s infusion of young scorers, Vatrano isn\u2019t getting the quantity of chances he\u2019s had in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

His speed, savvy, and shot would be welcomed in Boston<\/a> and his contract is affordable (through 2027-28 at $4.57 per).<\/p>\n

Justin Faulk, defense, Blues: Not quite a rental (signed through next season for $6.5 million), Faulk, 33 could provide an added shot of snarl and leadership on Boston\u2019s back end. Faulk, another right-hand shot, is durable and his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 features heavy hits and a heavy shot.<\/p>\n

St. Louis likely would ask for the moon, but that\u2019s just a starting point. The Bruins have assets and the Blues probably want to keep Faulk out of the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

Olli Maatta, defense, Mammoth: Maatta has fallen out of the blue line rotation in Utah, but the 13-year veteran is still a steady player. To wit: He was named to Finland\u2019s roster for the Olympics.<\/p>\n

Maatta has size (6-2, 207 pounds), though he\u2019s known more for his skill than his physicality. He could provide valuable depth down the stretch. Maatta (that\u2019s two Ls, two As, and two Ts) is signed through 2027-28 at $3.5 million and it\u2019s likely Utah wouldn\u2019t demand a ton in return. <\/p>\n

Bobby McMann, wing, Maple Leafs: It\u2019s possible Toronto would be gun shy about dealing with the Bruins for a second straight year after getting fleeced last March<\/a> (see Minten, Fraser), but McMann is worth investigating because he can score, he\u2019s cheap ($1.35 million), and he\u2019s free after this season.<\/p>\n

Nils Hoglander, wing, Canucks: Could the 5-9, 185-pounder morph into the Swedish Marchand in Boston? Hoglander is a high-energy player with flashes of fearlessness and a nifty scoring touch. Consistency has been his bugaboo. <\/p>\n

He is affordable (two more seasons at $3 million per), and he\u2019ll get to the greasy areas. It would be interesting to see if Bruins coach Marco Sturm could tap a consistent, two-way game out of Hoglander. He certainly has the octane.<\/p>\n

\"AndreiAndrei Vasilevskiy of the Lightning had the size advantage over the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman when the goalies squared off.Chris O’Meara\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

GOALIE FIGHT!<\/p>\n

Swayman makes dad proud with effort<\/p>\n

When Jerry Swayman cruised toward center ice at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, he wasn\u2019t all that worried about throwing down with Andrei Vasilevskiy, though the Boston netminder acknowledged the 6-4, 223-pound Tampa Bay goalie may not have been his \u201cfirst choice\u201d for his first fight.<\/p>\n

Swayman was giving a few inches and pounds, but came through the bout fine, absorbing a few punches and landing one memorable shot.<\/p>\n

But like any son, Swayman was a little concerned about what his father, Ken, was going to say about the fight \u2014 one of the highlights of the Stadium Series game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was worried. I was worried a little bit about taking on the biggest goalie in the league for [my dad\u2019s] reaction as well, but he said he was pretty fired up,\u201d Swayman told the Globe with a chuckle a few days after the dust-up had settled. \u201cHe had a much different reaction than I thought it was going to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018You stepped up and you really shocked a lot of us, so I was really proud of you, and you landed one, too!\u2019 So, he was pretty excited about that. But yeah, that was a good reaction to get to share with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

ETC.<\/p>\n

Class act by Capitals coach Carbery<\/p>\n

Kudos to Capitals coach Spencer Carbery for opening a recent media gathering by acknowledging the absence of beat reporter Bailey Johnson, who was let go in the Washington Post\u2019s gutless purge of one of the country\u2019s top sports sections<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would be remiss not to say something about Bailey not being here today,\u201d Carbery said. \u201cGetting to know her over the last two and a half years, yeah, I\u2019m just thinking about her. And also know wherever her next stop is, whether it\u2019s in the D.C. area or somewhere else, know she\u2019ll do a fantastic job. She\u2019s an incredible person and really, really good at what she does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s hoping Johnson and all the other Posters find new beats ASAP.<\/p>\n

The Oshawa Generals caused a real stink last week.<\/p>\n

The Ontario Hockey League team (whose most famous alum is Bobby Orr<\/a> and that\u2019s not up for debate) sent an e-mail to season ticket-holders reminding them to literally clean up their act before coming to home games at the Tribute Communities Centre. <\/p>\n

The franchise \u201creminded\u201d fans to hop in the shower before showing up.<\/p>\n

The email: \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to have you with us each and every game and appreciate the energy you bring to the arena. To help ensure a clean, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask for your cooperation with a few simple hygiene practices. Please make use of the hand-sanitizing stations located throughout the arena, cover coughs and sneezes, and be mindful of personal cleanliness while sharing our space with fellow fans … If you went to the gym or did something that produced body odor, please shower before attending the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

That may have been funny on April 1, but nobody was laughing on Feb. 10. The backlash was quick and the Generals, who sit in last place in the 20-team OHL, went into scrub-a-dub mode, posting a mea culpa on social media:<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Gensnation. We took a penalty on that last one. It\u2019s not our place to overstep like we did and hopefully we can wash this one off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quiz time: Which American has played in the most men\u2019s Olympic hockey games? … Loved Brad Marchand\u2019s answer when asked to describe his game during the run-up to the Olympics: \u201chardworking, gritty, handsome,\u201d he said … Tuesday was the 84th anniversary of one of the most remarkable events in Bruins and NHL history. It was in 1942 when Boston\u2019s famed \u201cKraut Line\u201d of Milt Schmidt<\/a>, Bobby Bauer, and Woody Dumart played their final game together before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force for World War II duty. The Bruins won that game, 8-1, at the old Boston Garden. The losing Canadiens carried the Bruins\u2019 Canadians off the ice after the game. Amazing … Former Bruins farmhand Jayson Megna, who played the 2023-24 season finale with the varsity, scored four goals and was named MVP of the 2026 four-team AHL All-Star Challenge in Rockford, Ill., Wednesday. Forward Patrick Brown, defenseman Frederic Brunet, and goalie Michael DiPietro represented the Providence Bruins. Additionally, Providence\u2019s Ryan Mougenel coached the Atlantic team<\/a> … The Bruins (well, those not still participating in the Olympics) will return to practice Wednesday at Warrior Arena. The Bruins return to game action Feb. 26 when they host the Blue Jackets in Charlie Coyle\u2019s homecoming … Dans Locmelis acquitted himself quite well in Latvia\u2019s Olympic opener against the stacked United States squad. A Bruins fourth-round pick in 2022<\/a>, Locmelis showed good vision, was strong on the puck, and was not shy about engaging physically. Sure, his hit on US captain Auston Matthews was high, but Locmelis, the former UMass standout now with Providence, does not have a reputation as a dirty player. He could get a look with the varsity this season … FYI: The always affable Jakub Lauko is playing in Czechia for HC Dynamo Pardubice for whom he has 10 goals and 22 points in 34 games … Hockey pet peeve: Referees and linesmen who act as if broken sticks are radioactive and just skate on by. Yes, your first job is to watch the game, but you can multitask! You can keep your head up when bending over and retrieving those abandoned twigs that almost always affect the flow of play … Looking for some hockey activities with the kiddoes on school vacation? The Bruins Heritage Hall at TD Garden has you covered. For a run-down of the activities (including an ice cream social Tuesday) and more info check out www.sportsmuseum.org<\/a> … Quiz answer: Former Malden Catholic star Keith Tkachuk suited up for Uncle Sam 23 times at Olympus. While we\u2019re on the subject, why isn\u2019t Matthew and Brady\u2019s dad (with 538 goals and 1,065 points on his NHL r\u00e9sum\u00e9) in the Hockey Hall of Fame yet?<\/p>\n

The Patriots lose Super Bowl LX to the Seahawks in a beatdown by the Bay. Boston Globe Sports Report is live from San Francisco to break everything down.<\/p>\n

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n