The 2022-23 football season is just over a month away. There’s still plenty of time for speculation about how it will turn out. Who will improve, who will fall, which teams will be early favorites, and what teams will struggle to make the cut. It’s also the perfect time to start to imagine what the next blockbuster trade will be. Even though August is usually the slowest month in the NHL’s calendar, there are still many big names.
The Bruins are a fascinating player on the trade scene. They’re low on cap space, but still have Patrice Bergeron to re-sign and maybe even bring back David Krejci. To clear cap space they might need to make a trade earlier than usual.
The Bruins are less certain about how this season will turn out. They’re not as sure of a contender as they have been in the past and there is a real possibility they may be sellers at the trade deadline in March for the first time in years. It is still too early to be certain, but it will be fascinating to see how the season 2022-23 plays out and what impact it has on the trade market for certain players currently on the roster. These three guys are worth keeping an eye on as the season nears and begins.
Mike ReillyMike Reilly’s name is one that has been tossed around a fair amount as a potential trade piece. He’s about to start the second year of a three-year deal that carries an average annual value of $3 million. He had a fantastic start to his time in Boston, after being acquired at 2021 Trade Deadline. However, he struggled last year and was even a healthy scratch.
The Bruins don’t have a ton of guys on their roster that they could get a good return for and after last season’s performance, they probably wouldn’t get a huge return for Reilly either. But, they only used a third-round pick to acquire him from the Ottawa Senators, so it’s not like they spent a lot to get him either. He would have a significant impact on their cap space and would make them more than twice as valuable.
Mike Reilly, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)The Bruins of course have a pretty dire injury situation on defense at the moment with both Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy set to miss the start of the season, which is most likely why a Reilly trade hasn’t happened yet. He’s currently projected to be paired with Jakub Zboril as the third pairing defenseman when opening night rolls around in October.
The Bruins also have Jack Ahcan, a young defenseman, waiting for them. He’s coming off a 23-point performance in 46 games with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) last season and should be given a real shot at making the opening night roster.
If Ahcan has a good preseason and training camp, it may be in everyone’s best interest to give him the third pairing spot and make the trade. Reilly could be benefited from a change of scenery. Also, the Bruins can save cap space and offer legitimate opportunities for their prospects to become full time NHLers.
Trent FredericIn my last article, I said that this is a make-or-break year for Trent Frederic, particularly with how it relates to his future with the Bruins, as he obviously struggled to find a consistent spot in the lineup under Bruce Cassidy’s system. While the 2016 first round pick has had many great moments in his young career, he plays a fearless, reckless style of hockey.
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A change of scenery might be better for Frederic if he continues to struggle this year under Jim Montgomery. Since he’s still young, the Bruins could get a decent return for him. He’s also only 24 and there is still plenty of hockey left for him to play. While many would love to see it in Boston, he could be one of few players who draws some moderate interest.
The Bruins need consistent scorers, and Frederic is a great asset to the roster. If he can’t find more of an offensive game, they can find toughness from other guys on the roster who wouldn’t have as much of a trade market as Frederic could garner. His future in Boston will be decided by time.
Craig SmithCraig Smith is the name that might really start circulating if things aren’t looking great as the trade deadline approaches. He’s been a good performer in Boston, with some great stretches. He is currently in the last year of a three year contract and would be a great rental candidate for any contender.
Craig Smith, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)It’s obviously too early to tell if the Bruins will be buyers or sellers at this year’s trade deadline, but if they are sellers, Smith would probably garner the most interest. The Atlantic Division is becoming less competitive than ever, so it’s not as certain that the Bruins will make this year’s postseason.
The Bruins could still be interested in Smith’s transfer, even if they aren’t sellers by the deadline. Smith is a valuable asset to the team and they would be foolish to allow him to leave free agency without receiving anything.
The Bruins are Quiet. As we have already said, August is quiet in the NHL. This is not in the Bruins’ favor, who still have a lot to get done, namely clearing some cap space to potentially sign Bergeron and Krejci. They could not afford either one of them or both at this time.
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It is possible that they might trade someone for a low return to increase their cap space. Either way, it doesn’t look like anything will be happening right now. Fans may have to wait until September to find out what the Bruins do.
I’m Hannah Garfield, a graduate of Elon University with degrees in Film and Media Analytics. Currently, I’m pursuing my MFA in Screenwriting at Boston University. I’m a lifelong, passionate Boston sports fan and love all things Bruins.
The post 3 Bruins’ Early Trade Candidates in 2022-23 first appeared on Raw News.
