Bruins Taking Interest in Sabres & Blue Jackets

The Boston Bruins are doing their due diligence on a number of teams ahead of the trade deadline this season as there are many potential players that they could bring in for a playoff run. The team doesn’t want a repeat of last season and on paper they have a much worse lineup.

This may not require bringing in the best players, but the right ones, and this could come from two teams that the Bruins were reportedly scouting last night (Feb. 23). The Bruins had two scouts at the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Columbus Blue Jackets. These two teams are both expected to be sellers and Boston could have had conversations with both already.

What the Bruins really need is some help up front, whether that be a center (likely) or even help on the wing. This team has relied on a number of depth players to help add to the production, but need stability and experience for a deep run.

Who could the Bruins be looking at from both of the teams? Well, let’s discuss right now. From Buffalo, three names that have been circulating in trade rumors are Casey Mittelstadt, Victor Olofsson, and Erik Johnson.

Charlie Coyle. Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Only two of these three fit what the Bruins are looking for. The other is Olofsson. He has too high of a cap hit and is a winger. The Bruins are more pressed for a centerman, in which Mittelstadt is and could be a great fit for a long time. This wouldn’t come cheap, but he has a cap hit of just $3 million AAV this season and is under team control.

Johnson would be a depth defensive piece and the Bruins are rumored to be taking interest in adding in that area now.

From the Blue Jackets, I could see the Bruins having interest in Jack Roslovic since he is capable of playing center and has been a productive player at times in the past. But considering the state of the defense right now with injuries, one of the many defensemen seems more likely, such as Adam Boqvist, Andrew Peeke, or Jake Bean.

We will have to see if this fairly serious scouting trip to this game turns into anything more, but the Bruins are definitely looking and are making sure they bring in the right players this time around.

Recent Bruins News

Why Mason Lohrei is Bruins’ No-Cost Deadline Upgrade

3 Potential Trade Destinations for Jake DeBrusk

Boston Bruins Fall 3-2 In Overtime To Calgary Flames

Bruins Recall Defenseman Following Matt Grzelcyk Injury

Around the NHL

The ‘Canes and Leafs Have Moved Past Their Goalie Issues, But Deadline Help is Needed Elsewhere

Every NHL Team’s Highest-Scoring Period In the Salary-Cap Era

Trevor Zegras: The Allure, the Slow Start and the Possibility of a Trade

The Morning Takes: Is John Tavares No Longer a Top-Six Forward? Penguins Might Extend Guentzel and Why Oilers’ Foegele Doesn’t Want to Be Traded