|
|
The Boston Bruins have exceeded expectations in the early going here in 2023-24, posting a phenomenal 10-1-1 record through their first 12 games.
Expectations were much lower than last year entering the 2023-24 campaign, as the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners lost its top two centers in captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement.
On top of that, veteran forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno were traded to Chicago in a cap-saving move. Power forward Tyler Bertuzzi and top-four defenseman Dmitri Orlov were lost in free agency, too.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand have once again paced the Boston offense through the first month of the season, but it’s evident that this team needs a true top-line center. Former winger Pavel Zacha has been tasked with centering the top line, but he’s clearly better suited for a second or third-line role.
There’s one hot name in the trade rumor mill that makes sense for the Bruins to address the need for a No. 1 center: Calgary Flames star Elias Lindholm.
The 28-year-old Lindholm is in the final year of his contract, and with the Flames off to an ugly start (4-7-1), GM Craig Conroy may soon have to prepare for a full-scale fire sale leading up to the trade deadline.
Boston is loaded with quality defensemen, so Sweeney should offer veteran Brandon Carlo and a 2025 first-round pick to Calgary for Lindholm, who should easily be a 70-80 point center working in the Bruins’ top-six.
The Bruins can extend Lindholm and ensure that Pastrnak has a reliable No. 1 center on his side for years to come. For Calgary, it’s a quality return for a player who’s likely to leave in 2024 free agency anyway.