Stanley Cup Champion Offers Take On Bruins Approach To Trade Deadline

The Boston Bruins made a trade Tuesday that doesn’t help the team in the present but rather focuses on the franchise’s future.

It’s unknown if the Bruins will make any additional moves before Friday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline, but three-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Recchi echoed Boston general manager Don Sweeney’s sentiment about being “more cautious” when making deals with this roster.

“They’ve had some injuries this year. I think it’s been really hard,” Recchi told NESN.com. “Where they’re sitting right now (in the standings), you got to be careful. I actually read Sweeney’s quotes and I kind of agree with him. They got to kind of be careful.

“They haven’t had a lot of first-rounders (in the last few years). Even their first-rounders haven’t really panned out like they would like. They’re going to have to be careful. See if you can add a piece without depleting your young guys and the guys that can maybe help you in another year or two. I think they’ll try and do something.”

Recchi put on his general manager’s cap to give his take on the ideal position for the Bruins if they were to add to the NHL roster — especially given that Boston is only two points out of a playoff berth.

“I mean, obviously a top-six forward would be nice to just piece in,” Recchi said. “And then, it drops guys down, and now maybe they’re playing on the third line, and they’re just that much more valuable on the third line.

“Michael Ryder’s a perfect example. He was so effective, and he was a good player in the top six, but then, he became a great player when he was here on the third.

Recchi continued: “So, if they could get a top-six guy that would be great. But, what you worry about is what’s the price tag? Are you willing to do that? … I think if they could drop somebody down one spot, I think that just makes your team so much better.”

A top-six forward to help David Pastrnak with the team’s offense? Yeah, that would certainly be ideal.

“He’s been terrific,” Recchi added. “If the Bruins can get into the playoffs, he’s definitely got to be in the (Hart) conversation. If he can pull that team into the playoffs, and they get in there, then he definitely is in the conversation for sure. That’s a huge part of it — him being that good.”