The Boston Bruins have a few needs as the March 2 NHL trade deadline nears.
Those needs include a depth forward who could improve the struggling fourth line and a top-six forward who could play right wing on the first line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Even though the Bruins have scored at a lesser rate at even strength and on the power play compared to last season, their top priority at the trade deadline should be to acquire a top-four defenseman.
Outside of the Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton duo, the Bruins don’t have another pairing capable of shutting down top lines or dominating puck possession. As the following chart shows, Chara and Hamilton have faced far better competition (Corsi Rel QoC) than most of their peers. In fact, Chara has faced the toughest competition of any defenseman in the league, per BehindtheNet.ca.
Chara-Hamilton also is the only pairing that’s controlled more than 50 percent of even-strength shot attempts with tough zone starts, as this usage chart from War on Ice illustrates.
Whether it’s advanced stats or the eye test, it’s not difficult to understand why the Bruins need another top-four defenseman — preferably with a right-hand shot — who could help alleviate the minutes burden on Chara in the playoffs.
The second pairing of Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid has struggled throughout the season, and McQuaid is best suited in a third-pairing role. Kevan Miller re-injured his shoulder Monday night and is on injured reserve, further creating a need on the blue line.
There have been too many breakdowns and turnovers in front of Tuukka Rask this season, and in Wednesday night’s loss to the Oilers, two of the goals against Boston were scored by Edmonton players who were wide open in front of the net. Breakouts also have been a problem that’s plagued B’s defensemen. Too many breakout passes end up being intercepted and turn into quality scoring chances.
Rask has stood on his head and stolen several games this season when the Bruins didn’t play well defensively. They cannot rely on him to do that consistently in the playoffs because the competition is too good. A successful march through the rigors of the Stanley Cup playoffs requires at least two pairings capable of playing over 20 minutes per game with tough zone starts against quality opponents.
A good example was the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals when the Bruins completely shut down the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins offense with two goals against in a four-game sweep. Andrew Ference, who played on Boston’s second pairing alongside Johnny Boychuk, spent 76 percent of his even-strength shifts against Sidney Crosby and held the league’s top scorer to zero points. Ference and Boychuk’s work against the Crosby line allowed Chara and Seidenberg to focus on the Evgeni Malkin line.
With an elite goaltender in Rask, Boston would have an advantage in net over any team in the first three playoff rounds, with the exception of the Montreal Canadiens. Therefore, an upgrade on the blue line would improve the Bruins’ chances of winning an Eastern Conference that is wide open. The Bruins have just enough offense to make a deep playoff run if Rask plays well (he owns a career .930 postseason save percentage) and the blue line has one more top-four D-man.
The only problem is many teams are hoping to acquire a defensemen and there’s only a handful of sellers. That said, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has been successful in acquiring D-men at the deadline during his tenure with the club.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
