Everyone makes lists of things they would like for the holidays this time of year, and when it comes to the Boston Bruins and general manager (GM) Don Sweeney, those lists can get pretty long. This year, even though the Black and Gold are leading the Atlantic Division, the team is far from perfect and could use some gifts. As Christmas approaches, what should be on the Bruins’ wish list for Santa? Let’s look at what the team would like this holiday season.
The Bruins Sign a Six-Star Center
The holidays are drawing fast, and the Bruins still need a top-six center to replace Patrice Bergeron. Although Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, and Pavel Zacha have performed admirably up there this season, a top-six center is unquestionably needed.
It remains to be seen, if it occurs at all, who that ends up being. The Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele was a name that was mentioned, but he committed to the team by signing an extension. The Calgary Flames’ Elias Lindholm is a player that could be sold, but the asking price will be hefty. Should Sweeney successfully negotiate a trade for him, he would have to part ways with either Jake DeBrusk, a high prospect, Fabian Lysell, or another player or combination. Since Boston lacks the draft money necessary to close a deal, trading players will probably be their only option.
Although the Bruins’ center depth is adequate to see them through the regular season, will it be sufficient to contend for a Stanley Cup in the postseason? It would be extremely risky for Sweeney to wait until the end of the season to try to sign a player in free agency, such as Lindholm. That is a challenging request.
Stay Well
The Bruins have suffered injuries recently. It’s actually the NHL, and things will happen there. After suffering injuries in games, Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha were placed on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) alongside Derek Forbort. This season, Boston’s concern is a lack of depth.
The Bruins can mix and match with some veterans and their top prospect, Mason Lohrei, when someone goes down defensively, but they just do not have as much depth at forward as they would want. Although Poitras and Beecher are already having an influence in the NHL, they still don’t have as much as the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. On the fourth line, Jakub Lauko and Oskar Steen have performed admirably. Jim Montgomery can also use Trent Fredric and Morgan Geekie to fill in the middle when necessary, but this presents a need on the wing.
All teams need to prioritize their health, but the Bruins especially need to avoid delving too far into it.
An Extension of Contract for Jeremy Swayman
The Bruins and goalie Jeremy Swayman were unable to agree on a contract over the summer, and an arbitration hearing was required to resolve the matter. Under Sweeney, those had not often occurred, but it reached that stage and resulted in a $3.475 million, one-year settlement.
Future prospects: Swayman can sign a long-term agreement after January 1st, and Elliotte Friedman of Sportnet stated in a November interview with Jeff Marke Show that he wouldn’t be shocked if something were to happen. Ultimately, the first thing Swayman should focus on is locking him down for more than just this season. He is without a doubt Boston’s future No. 1 player.
Although Swayman is the future in Boston, Linus Ullmark is in the third year of a four-year, $20 million contract and is coming off a Vezina Trophy-winning season in 2022–2023. The Bruins would be extremely grateful if he were to be permanently imprisoned.
* A Stanley Cup Playoff berth
The Bruins are currently leading the Atlantic Division and expected to make it to the postseason. It’s unclear where they end up, but it would be good to place them in the top eight in the Eastern Conference. Why? to make an effort to forget about last spring.
Following a record-breaking 2022–23 season for victories (65) and points (135), they sprinted out to a 3–1 series lead over the Florida Panthers in the first round following their Presidents’ Trophy victory. They had a remarkable regular season, but they were eliminated in the postseason after dropping the last three games to Florida—two of which happened at home in overtime—for an incredible result.
They would have a chance to confront their postseason demons if they could return to the postseason, albeit with a very different team. It should be full steam ahead of the playoff berth in the spring with their 2024 first-round draft pick being Top-10 protected if it doesn’t go to the Detroit Red Wings for the trade at the deadline that netted them Tyler Bertuzzi.
The Bruins may have more wishes, but these four are quite significant ones. For Sweeney, Montgomery, and Boston, a top-six center, excellent health, Jeremy Swayman’s contract extension, and a postseason appearance are a nice place to start.
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