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Bruins or Lightning- Who Owns the Atlantic?

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The Tampa Bay Lightning took the league by storm in the first half of the season, but the Bruins have clawed their way to just four points back of the Atlantic Division lead. Just as it’s been all season, it looks like the Bruins and Lightning will finish with the top two seeds. Who comes in first is still up for grabs. They’re both powerhouse teams and the numbers leave plenty of room for debate over who’s more dominant.

Bruins’ Stats

Both teams share a similar goal differential, with the Lightning at +58 and the Bruins at +56. But the numbers adding up to these are drastically different. As usual, the Bruins have been a solid defensive team, allowing just 177 goals. This is the second lowest in the league behind only Nashville, who has given up 172. Defense has been a consistent strength for the B’s over the last several years and this time the scoring is right on par. They’re currently sitting at sixth in the league in goals for.

It looks like the Bruins are about to finish in the top 10 of the two most important categories. Their special teams have been solid as well, also cracking the top ten in both power play and penalty kill. They’ve converted on 22.3% of power play opportunities, while posting the third best penalty kill in the league at 82%. This is huge considering how chippy playoff games can be, and surely adds to the team’s confidence.

Tampa Bay by the Numbers

Although that all sounds promising, the Lightning are still the top offensive team in the league. They’ve been responsible for 254 circulating red lights this season, mainly thanks to Kucherov, Stamkos, Gourde and Point. These four players alone account for 44% of the teams scoring. Their power play ranks second in the league at 24%, but their penalty kill is among the worst in the league. They’ve only managed to kill off 76.8% of penalties this season, the second lowest out of any playoff-bound team.

Tampa is less of a force on the defensive side but still can’t be overlooked. Victor Hedman is having another unbelievable year with 52 points and a +26 rating, while Mikhail Sergachev has enjoyed a stellar rookie season. The recent acquisition of Ryan McDonagh is huge, too. He’s a great two-way defenseman and eats up 23 minutes a night. Vasilevski got off to a hot start but he’s had his recent struggles. He currently has .922 save percentage to go with a GAA of 2.53. These are solid numbers, but neither stat cracks the league’s top 10. He’s good, but beatable. The real challenge is dealing with Tampa’s star players up front.

Bruins vs. Lightning

These two teams lead the Atlantic, but you can make a case that either one of them is the best team in the entire league.  The main take away from their stats is that Tampa relies more on the offense while the bruins are more balanced. This makes the Lightning extremely susceptible to hitting a wall in the playoffs and puts a lot of pressure on Stamkos and Kucherov.  They’ve been great all year, but slumps are inevitable.  With a mediocre defense, these guys need to stay on top of their game. The Bruins’ versatility allows for a bit more breathing room.  Whether it’s Marchand putting up four points, Tuukka pitching a shutout, or the penalty kill going 7/7, the B’s always seem to find a way to win.  They can beat any team, on any night, in any way.

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand, top, celebrates after his goal off Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Who the better team is remains up for debate. They’re currently at second and third in the league-wide standings, with Tampa at 102 points and the Bruins with 99. Time will tell if the Bruins can catch them in the standings, but they won the season series.  They’ll play them once more in Tampa on April 3rd, but the B’s won the first two meetings by scores of 3-2 and 3-0.  With all things considered, I might have to give the edge to the Bruins.  It’s almost too close to call, but Tampa’s 76.8% penalty kill draws a huge red flag.  They might have the edge in scoring, but that’s atrocious.

The Bruins have also remained steady since December while the Lightning got off to a hot start and cooled down from there.  They won 16 of their first 20 games, but the Bruins have been more consistent down the stretch.  I didn’t think I’d say this in October, but the Bruins very well may be the best team in the Atlantic.

 

Cover image courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times.

The Bruins Answer the Bell Once Again

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The 2018 Boston Bruins answer the bell when it matters, no matter what. Want to play run and gun hockey? They have the skill to beat you 6-5. If the game is a grind it out defensive battle, then fine by this team. They will still beat you 2-1. What about handling injuries to key players in the middle of a playoff push? Nope, that cannot slow this team down either. They just beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 on the road.

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Looking Back

The Bruins had a few noticiable concerns ahead of their anticipated matchup with the division-leading Lightning. Coach Cassidy was publicly critical of the Bruins’ defensive performance in the past week. He was especially critical following Thursday’s loss to the Panthers. Add the fact that the Bruins’ top two defensemen, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy, were out of the lineup. Along with one, if not the best, defensive forward in hockey, Patrice Bergeron. Just as Bruce Cassidy has done all season long, he pushed the right buttons ahead of the daunting matchup. Cassidy made sure to address the Bruins defensemen who have been battling for playing time. Making it clear that this was their shot to earn playing time and trust.

Results

The Boston Bruins did not let a chance to prove doubters wrong once again go by. As shorthanded as they were, the were facing a Lighting team averaging an NHL best 3.54 goals per game. Many expected the Bruins to take a loss. Yet they went into Tampa and completely stifled the best offensive team in hockey, and earned an extremely impressive 3-0 victory. Tuukka Rask, who has been under a microscope as of late, played a solid game all around, making key saves when the Bruins needed them most. Rask looked relaxed and energized in net. He was on top of his angles and had great anticipation all game long. Going forward the Bruins should try to alternate starting goalies every game, but it is definitely a good sign to see Rask step up.

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Tampa Bay has been the class of the East all season long. If the Bruins plan on going deep in the playoffs, then it is very probable that a matchup with Tampa will occur. To see this team answer the bell like that on the road against better team is really eye-opening. Right now I’m taking the Bruins in a seven game series over any team. This team has that it factor and it’s going to show in April when they answer the bell once again.

Is Brad Marchand a Hart Trophy Contender?

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Hart Trophy Contenders

As of now it appears that Nikita Kucherov, Taylor Hall, and Nathan Mackinnon are the frontrunners for this year’s Hart Trophy. Kucherov leads the league with 88 points and has dominated all season. Hall and Mackinnon have also had career years, yet both teams remain on the playoff bubble. Many fans and analysts have actually used this to strengthen the argument for both of them. They say that their individual production is essentially the only reason New Jersey and Colorado are in contention. Heading into the season neither team had high expectations, so this is a valid point. But can’t the same logic be applied to Brad Marchand and the Bruins? If we’re talking about one player stepping up his game and allowing his team to defy expectations, Marchand absolutely needs to be in the conversation.

By the Numbers

They made the playoffs last year, but the Bruins have been on the outside-looking-in for a while now in terms of being a cup contender. Prior to the season, the consensus was that the Bruins would be a bubble team come the latter part of the season. One set of preseason rankings from www.sportingnews.ca even had the B’s listed as the 20th best team in the league, falling behind Montreal, Ottawa, and Carolina.

But with Marchand continuing his dominance that we saw last season this prediction has become far from accurate. He leads the team with 67 points despite having played in 13 less games than the second leading scorer, David Pastrnak. This averages out to 1.29 points per game, good for fourth in the league and only 0.05 points per game behind Nathan Mackinnon, the current leader. This is something that the Bruins haven’t seen in a while. If Marchand can keep this pace up, he’ll have the most points per game by a Bruin in a single season since Joe Thornton back in 2002-03. Thornton managed to put up 101 points through 77 games that year, and even those numbers narrowly beat Marchand’s current points per game at 1.31.

We all know what Marchand’s reputation is outside of Boston- he’s pretty much hated unanimously. Fans, players, coaches, analysts- you name it, they all can’t stand him. He’s been suspended six times throughout his career and hasn’t made too many friends around the league. He’s always straddled the line between “chippy” and down-right unacceptable. But the effect that it has on the team is overblown.

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Marchand for MVP

So far this season Marchand has 53 PIMs in 53 games. This doesn’t even crack the NHL’s top 50 and averages out to just one minor penalty every other game. For some teams this would cause problems, but the Bruins penalty kill is more than capable of weathering the storm. They’ve managed to kill off 82.4% of penalties this season, good for 10th in the league. We also can’t look past how this time in the box relates to his style of play. Unlike most scorers he plays his best hockey while trying to get under the opposing teams skin. Scoring and being a pest are a package deal, and he’s equally talented in both categories.  With the amount that he throws the other team off their game, I’ll take a minor penalty every other night.

Even despite all this, it remains unlikely that Marchand will take home the Hart Trophy.  He’s missed too much time with suspensions and his reputation has taken a bigger hit than ever.  Keep in mind that the Hart trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Most of them probably hate him too.  But his production when in the lineup has been just as good as anyone in the NHL, and it shows with his 1.29 points per game.  He’s part of the best line in hockey and has given Bruins fans scoring that we haven’t seen in 15 years.  It’ll be interesting to see if Marchand can pad his stats down the stretch and become more of a solidified Hart Trophy candidate.

Brad Marchand Is the Key to the Bruins’ Success

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When we talk about the Boston Bruins’ success, the names that usually come to mind are Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask. But the real key to this team is none other than Brad Marchand

Production

The NHL just named Brad Marchand the second star of the week, and for good reason. Since Patrice Bergeron went out with a fractured foot, Marchand has stepped up in a big way. In the 10 games Bergeron has been out, Marchand has eight goals, seven assists, and 15 points for a 1.30 point per game pace. Including three straight game winning goals to lead the Bruins to a historic 6-0-0 home stand. If you pace Marchand’s production over a 82 game pace he would finish with over 100 points. That has not been done by a Bruins player since Joe Thornton in 2002-2003. In the past three seasons, Marchand is in the top five in goals scored in the entire NHL. As we have seen lately it’s not because of Bergeron. On top of the fact that number 63 is a ridiculous +32 this season to go along with his 69 points. Marchand is showing why he is the most talented player on the Bruins.

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Defensive Reliability

Not only is Marchand a heck of an offensive talent he is also one of the most dependable defensive players Bruce Cassidy has. Playing on a line with Bergeron most of his career certainly has helped Marchand with his defensive ability. But the hustle and relentless drive of the left winger is the reason he has become such a successful player. His offensive burst allows him to be an offensive factor on the penalty kill remaining responsible in his positioning. Most players that small in the NHL are usually a liability not a weapon in the defensive end. But just like everything else Marchand continues to defy logic and exceed expectations.

Although he has quite a past of misconduct in the NHL, Marchand is the most important player on the Bruins. Now he has to start acting like it because the Bruins need him come playoff time.

Brian Gionta Could Have What It Takes

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Up to this point in the season the Bruins have been just as good as any team in the league. They might not have the star power that we see on teams like Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. However, as a unit the B’s have been dominant. Since December 1st, they’ve put up a record of 28-8-4, which has propelled them into a comfortable second place spot in the Atlantic. But the NHL trade deadline is all about GM’s evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of their team and making moves accordingly. As strong as the team looked heading down the stretch, Sweeney still saw one flaw that the Bruins have. That’s where Brian Gionta comes in.

In Comes Gionta

A good portion of the Bruins success has been thanks to their youth. Prior to the deadline, they were the 12th youngest team in the NHL with an average age of under 27. This is great for the future of the whole organization, but raised some questions about how they’d handle playoff hockey. With Gionta being unsigned and expressing interest in making a return to the NHL, the opportunity was too good to pass up. He’s played in over 1,000 regular season games to go with another 112 in the playoffs. That’s about a season and a half worth of playoff hockey.

Having hoisted the Stanley Cup with New Jersey back in 2003, Gionta is no stranger to big games. Even before turning pro, he played in three national championships while playing at Boston College. The first two ended in heart-wrenching losses, but he finally took home the ‘ship while serving as team captain during his senior year. He’s also represented the United States twice in the Olympics, twice in the IIHF world championships, and three times at the World Junior tournament.   All of this in addition to his playoff experience tells us that Gionta knows a thing or two about do-or-die situations.

Gionta Has What It Takes

Gionta has also proven to be a natural leader.   He’s worn the “C” for Boston College, Montreal, Buffalo, and recently for Team U.S.A at the Olympic Games.   Standing at just 5’7 he’s always relied on his strong work ethic to compensate for his lack of size.   Even going back to his days in youth hockey, he could never just be good.  Being his height, he needed to be phenomenal in order to be taken seriously- so that’s what he worked toward.  Through his dedication Gionta developed into a shifty NHL forward and saw plenty of success during his prime.  His best season came back in 2005-06, where he led the Devils with 89 points.

But even with his skill-set Gionta’s work ethic has always been a huge part of his game. He grinds it out in the corners and has a willingness to take a beating out in front of the net. At his height he can take crosschecks from a defenseman, but Gionta manages to stand his ground. This tenacity should fit in well with the Bruins style of play, and it’s been great to see the success that he’s had so far.  Through his first two games, Gionta has put up three assists while playing along-side Danton Heinen and David Backes.

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He really has everything that a team needs heading into the playoffs.   Gionta comes with experience, determination, leadership, and still has some skill left after all these years.  The B’s only have six remaining players from the 2011 cup winning team, so it’s nice to add another guy who’s been there, done that.  Despite being one of the less talked about moves at the deadline, Sweeney might’ve found a hidden gem.

What You Need to Know About Rick Nash

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Early Sunday morning the Bruins took part in the trade deadline festivities by acquiring forward Rick Nash. In return, the B’s sent Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey to New York along with prospect Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first round pick, and a 2019 seventh. It’s a gamble by Sweeney seeing that he’s giving away some future assets. However, Nash is a big-name player who should help down the stretch.

Early Career

The veteran winger was taken first overall back in 2002 by Columbus and remained there for nine years. Unfortunately for Nash, he was dragged into a lengthy rebuilding process and didn’t see the playoffs until his sixth season. But even despite being on a team consistently in the NHL’s basement, Nash managed to put up big numbers. He became the face of the franchise and was eventually named team captain. In 2008, Nash scored what many called the “goal of the year”, and was nominated for “Play of the Year” at the ESPY’s.

In the 2012 offseason Nash was part of a blockbuster deal that sent him and Steven Delisle to New York in exchange for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Tim Erixon. Nash began his career as a Ranger with one of his best seasons to date, tallying 42 points through 44 games in the year of the lockout. Things were looking good for both Nash and the Rangers, but the 2013-14 season saw a sharp decline. He put up 39 points through 65 games and was only good for ten points during their Stanley Cup run. Nash rebounded the following year by notching 42 goals and 69 points, but once again struggled for the next two seasons. As for this season, Nash currently has a stat-line of 18-10-28 through 61 games.

Impact for the Bruins

There’s no doubt that Nash is an elite goal scorer with incredible hands, but there are some concerns. Over the last few years he’s been a streaky scorer in both the regular season and playoffs. He was pretty steady in Columbus but his point totals varied quite a bit throughout his time in New York. The fact that he may be a rental leaves room for concern. It’s unclear how long he’ll be a Bruin, so one bad stretch of games could define his legacy in Boston.

This would essentially leave the Bruins with nothing out of the trade, seeing that Nash is all they acquired. This would be a tough pill to swallow considering the B’s gave up some promising young talent. Even with the Rangers retaining half of his salary, this was the only way the trade was going to work under the salary cap. Giving up key future assets is a risky move for the entire franchise. However, we’ve all seen what Rick Nash is capable of when he’s hot. His quick hands and lethal shot have been on display his entire career, but he’s also a big body who can skate. He stands at 6’4-219lbs and will add to the Bruins physical presence.

The Bruins front office are risking a lot for this move, but Rick Nash could be what it takes to get to the next level. They clearly are determined to win a cup right now, and Bruins fans should be excited.

 

Cover image courtesy of lastwordonhockey.com

March and April Are Going to Test the Bruins

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Up to this point in the regular season the Boston Bruins have had a relatively strange schedule. Currently they are in a stretch were they play four games in 16 days. That’s not something most NHL teams enjoy. But just as the old saying states: what goes around comes around. Unfortunately for the B’s March is coming around.

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Up to This Point

The Boston Bruins have played 55 games thus far, the second least amount in the NHL. Every time we check the standings it seems the B’s always has two or more games in hand on the opposition. This is mainly due to their relatively light schedule they have had the luxury of enjoying. They played 13 games in November, 14 in December and a measly 11 games in January. Although the Bruins have been the beneficiary of a lax schedule they still have had their share of back to backs. The Bruins have played seven sets of back to backs up to this point in the season. It’s actually rather odd how many significant gaps between games the Bruins have had. All in all the light workload has been huge for this B’s team as both the old and young players have been able to stay relatively healthy.

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What’s to Come

Do not get used to multiple days without hockey. Things are about to make a dramatic turn in the Bruins schedule. Throughout the entirety of March and April the Bruins have two days off in a row only once. Starting off with a grueling March schedule consisting of 16 games in the thick of the playoff race. The rest of the way the Bruins practically play a game every other night. Just as stated earlier, what goes around comes around. Every team plays 82 games, and the Bruins are about to feel the wrath of the NHL schedule.

Many people have been debating whether or not this Bruins team could win the Stanley Cup. The next two months will tell show us everything we need to see. The NHL playoffs are relentless and March is going to be the Bruins first taste of that. Let’s see how Chara and the young kids hold up when the miles start to add up. The Bruins are about to find out what it takes to win.

 

Cover image courtesy of causewaycrowd.com.

If I Were NHL Commissioner

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If I Were NHL Commissioner

In the 2015-16 season we were blessed with the implementation of 3 on 3 over-time. This makes for a far more exciting five minutes of bonus hockey and really gives the more skilled players an opportunity to showcase their talent. It just takes one player to lose his man or turn the puck over and then it’s an odd-man rush coming the other way. And when I say “odd-man rush” this even includes the occasional 3 on 0. Changes like this really rejuvenate the game of hockey and keep things interesting, and the following are some of the changes I’d make if I were commissioner of the NHL.

Fans Design Alternate Jerseys 

If the fans are the ones putting down $200+ on an authentic jersey, don’t you think maybe they should have a say in what it looks like? Each team should hold an offseason contest where fans submit jersey designs to the team, ownership picks their top 10, and the fans vote on which one they like the most. Whichever one gets the most votes will become that teams 3rd jersey just for that year. The teams would need to do this very early in the off-season in order for Adidas to have adequate time for production, but it’s something that the fans would love.

Continuous 3 on 3, No Shootouts 

Shootouts can be fun, but it’s no way to end a hockey game. Think about it: if the teams are tied after 65 minutes, it was probably a pretty hard-fought, competitive game. Games like this shouldn’t be decided by anything other than hockey. Especially with OT now being twice as exciting since we’ve gone to 3 on 3, there’s even more of a reason to keep it going.  It was only eight years ago that the Rangers and Flyers went to a shootout in Game 82 that decided each team’s playoff fate, and that’s not how it should be.

Amateur contracts for NCAA players 

The NCAA would never give into this, but imagine how cool it’d be if drafted NCAA players could sign unpaid, amateur contracts with their NHL team for up to five games. This would allow players to play in the remaining games for their NHL teams once the NCAA season ends.   And since they’re not getting paid, they can keep their amateur status and remain eligible for next year’s collegiate season. Think of it as an unpaid internship with the team that drafted them. Like I said, the NCAA would never allow this to happen. They’ve always been very strict on things like this and are committed to keeping the NCAA entirely amateur. But it would add a ton of excitement to what would’ve been a lot of meaningless late season games.

Not Every NHL Team Should Have to Be Represented at the All-Star Game

This isn’t T-ball. If they’re not good enough, they’re not good enough. Noah Hanifin over Phil Kessel in the Metro? No way. Kessel was 11th in league scoring with 47 points at the time and still got snubbed. Roster spots shouldn’t be taken up with mid-level guys who are the “least bad player” on their team. What about Oliver Ekman- Larsson? The guys a minus-40! The Coyotes are absolute trash and they deserve to be treated as such. It’s the pros. Nobody on their team was good enough for the All-Star game, and that’s the way it is. Let’s make sure they’re all worthy from here on out.

And finally…

Let them play in the Olympics. Everybody not named Gary Bettman wants to see it happen, including all the players. Just think of all the picturesque moments that we’ve seen at the last few Olympic games. Lundqvist winning the Gold medal, Crosby’s Golden goal, the T.J. Oshie shootout- the list goes on.  The NHL tries to talk up the World Cup of Hockey in order to fill the void, but it’ll never be the same.  The tournament just has no legacy.

No kid ever went to bed at night dreaming about his World Cup of Hockey gold medal.  If you’d ask me, I think the World Cup was completely forced and done almost entirely to soften the blow of the players not being able to play in the Olympics.  But unfortunately for Gary Bettman it didn’t work and the fans are still mad- obviously.  It goes to show how much more focused the league is on making money than giving the fans and the players what they want.

 

Adam Mcquaid’s Return Could Help the Bruins More Than You’d Think

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The issue with being a shut-down defenseman is that they’re often-times underappreciated. Today’s NHL showcases more skill and speed than ever before, and the fans will always be more drawn to the big-name players. This makes the stay-at-home guys even more prone to flying under the radar, but let’s not forget about Adam McQuaid. He was sidelined for three months after breaking his fibula, but the return of the fourth longest tenured Bruin could help the team down the stretch.

McQuaid’s Intangibles

Standing at 6’4- 212lbs, the Cornwall, Prince Edward Island native has always been one to lay the body and protect the front of the net. He’s absolutely tough as nails and has racked up 51 fights at the NHL level. He can throw hands with just about anybody in the league, and it shows in his record.

According to www.hockeyfights.com, he’s a career 49-9-20 between his time in the OHL, AHL, and NHL. The fans also love that he never wastes time getting in the punches. With fighting gradually becoming less and less prevalent we often see two guys square up, latch on, and tap out after 15 seconds of nothing. McQuaid’s more into the run and gun approach, and the second he’s toe to toe the hands are flying. Some of his more notable take downs even include guys like Matt Martin, Nikita Zadorov, and John Scott. Having the willingness to scrap heavyweights like this is respectable enough, but having the ability to come out on top is beyond impressive.

Playstyle

Although McQuaid’s style of play is centered around toughness and physicality he’s also proven his defensive worth. His career plus-60 rating is highlighted by his efforts during the Bruins Stanley cup winning season. He finished his rookie season as a plus-30 and was a pleasant surprise throughout the cup run. His career rating is even more impressive considering that he isn’t out on the ice for many goals for, emphasizing how little he is on for goals against. Coach Bruce Cassidy describes him as “a hard-nosed defensive defenseman who can make a good first-pass decision”.

Cassidy continued to mention McQuaid’s presence in the locker room, adding that “he’s a great guy. His teammates all love him (and) he’s a big part of our identity”. Fellow defenseman Kevan Miller has also praised McQuaid’s company in the locker-room. “He’s just a great person, but an even better teammate” Miller says. “He’ll block a shot and do anything for the team”.

 

Oct 5, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid (54) attempts to block a shot by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the second period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Penalty Kill

He’s also been a key piece of the Bruins’ penalty kill throughout his entire career. The best penalty killers are usually those who exhibit the most tenacity and fearlessness, which is right up McQuaid’s alley. This led to his broken fibula after being on the receiving end of a Ben Hutton slap-shot. But McQuaid isn’t going to change his game. “I don’t see anything changing”, he said. “I can choose between getting hurt every once in a while and missing some time, or playing a different style and probably not playing at all”.

McQuaid’s game does have its flaws. He’s most effective when he keeps things simple, and at times he tries to do too much. This has led to some costly turnovers over the years, leaving fans frustrated. He also won’t produce much offense, with a career high of just 15 points. But I’ve said throughout the year that the Bruins are winning because of their combination of skill and toughness. McQuaid’s return will only add to that. He’s a perfect second or third pair defenseman who will do anything for the team. He’ll eat up 18 minutes a night and will continue to be reliable on the penalty-kill. Just his mentality and veteran presence alone should help the Bruins down the stretch.

 

Cover image courtesy of CBS Boston.

Should Boston Express Interest in Rick Nash?

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News has recently come out that Rick Nash being placed on the trading block. Earlier today it was reported that Nash submitted a list of twelve teams that he would approve a trade to. While Nash could still be potentially traded to any of the other eighteen teams he would have to waive his no trade clause. With the trade deadline coming up on the 26th of February you can expect quite a few teams to kick the tires on the 33 year old left wing. But should the surging Boston Bruins be one of the teams to make a call?

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Track Record

Do the Bruins have a need for Rick Nash? Not particularly considering the production that they have been receiving up and down the lineup. However, adding a veteran forward with plenty of playoff experience under his belt is never a bad move. Nash is his 15th NHL season originally drafted number one overall in the 2002 NHL draft. The veteran left winger is one of the most respected players in hockey. This should make his transition to another team even a rival pretty smooth.

In 1041 career games Rick Nash has put up 431 goals and 736 points for Columbus and New York. In eight of those seasons Nash posted 30 or more goals. It is pretty safe to say the winger is capable of putting the puck in the net. His production began to fall off after a monstrous season in 2014-2015 where he netted 42 goals. In each of the past two seasons Nash has not been able to eclipse the 40 point mark. Even with Nash beginning to decline the veteran left winger still possess a special scoring touch.

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Why the Bruins Should Look into a Trade

When you have a team that is as hot as the Bruins it can be tempting to leave things as they are. But Sweeney should still be looking into making a key trade to give the Bruins a better chance at a title this season. If the cost is right of course. Although the Bruins have a great mix of youth and experience on the roster, adding a player with Nash’s postseason experience could only benefit the team. Rick Nash has played in 77 postseason games and has posted a solid 41 points. His stats do not jump off the screen he is definitely battled tested.

Thanks to the excellence of the forward group if the Bruins were to acquire Nash he would be able to play with very little pressure. As the games get tighter and become more physical the young players may begin to struggle. Even if that does not happen the depth that Nash could provide matchup wise is very valuable. Of course this is all based on if Rick Nash would be willing to even come to Boston. If the cost is not to high this is definitely the type of player that could help the Bruins in May and June.