Who Is Expendable On The Bruins Current Roster?

The NHL trade deadline is March 8, and the Boston Bruins will be trying to upgrade their team to make a push through the postseason. Will the Bruins be buyers? Should the Bruins be sellers? Those questions are up for debate. However, Boston is tied for first in the Eastern Conference heading into Saturday’s schedule and has an opportunity to advance further than the first-round exit the team suffered last spring. General Manager Don Sweeney and Team President Cam Neely will look to add some “snarl” to the lineup, maybe even a top-six forward, but at what cost? And will that cost include players from the current core?

If the Bruins decide to make some of their current roster expendable, then there are a few candidates who could make sense. Here is a look at current Bruins players who could be on the move next week:

Jake DeBrusk

The 27-year-old winger is in the final year of his contract and recently has been “far apart” in contract negotiations with the team. DeBrusk scored 52 goals combined in the last two seasons, but that offensive production has slowed down with just 13 goals in 2023-24. The Edmonton native has shown an improved 200-foot game with strong penalty-killing attributes, but is that worthy of $6 million per year in a multiyear deal? The team must not think so, which raises the likelihood that DeBrusk will be traded at the deadline. His hometown Oilers or another Western Conference team might be interested. DeBrusk could be the best trade chip the Bruins have.

Linus Ullmark

Ullmark has one year left on his $5 million contract, and with the emergence of Jeremy Swayman, the 29-year-old netminder could be expendable. Last year’s Vezina winner’s value will never be higher, and with goalie prospect Brandon Bussi in the mix, Ullmark could be another trade option. Any team looking for a veteran goalie to make a Stanley Cup run could be interested, especially with the term still left on the contract. Will the Bruins pull the trigger and leave the job to Swayman? At this point, probably not unless the offer is just too sweet.

Derek Forbort and Matt Grzelcyk

With the emergence of Parker Wotherspoon and the development of rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei, either or both of these blue-liners could be moved. Each of them is an impending unrestricted free agent and unlikely to return to Boston. Forbort has returned from injury recently, and his value has dropped even on the penalty kill, which was a strength. Grzelcyk has struggled in postseasons and could be a liability if given extended minutes. This is where the snarl comes in. Neither plays with much of it, and the Bruins could choose to sell the two off in a bigger trade or for a late-round pick. One of them is likely to go. Probably Grzelcyk.

Jakub Lauko

Lauko is a fourth-liner who plays with some energy and has his moments, but he is generally a typical undersized grinder. The Bruins can upgrade here with a bigger, nastier forward, which could make Lauko expendable. Look for the 2018 draft pick to be included in a deal at the deadline.

Boston needs to add to be a serious Stanley Cup contender. Can they do it with limited assets, and will they take risks? It hasn’t been in their DNA previously. Will they be desperate enough to do it now?