Prior to the NHL trade deadline on Friday at 3 p.m. ET, the Boston Bruins have made another move.
The forward Tyler Bertuzzi was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings, the organisation announced on Thursday morning, in exchange for a 2024 first-round (top-10 protected) draught pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick. In addition, Bertuzzi’s salary cap impact will be retained by the Red Wings to the tune of 50%, or $ 2.375 million.
This could be a rental since he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Bertuzzi is a talented playmaker who frequently draws fouls. In 29 games this season, the 28-year-old attacker has recorded 14 points (four goals, 10 assists). What justifies the Bruins using a first-round pick to acquire Bertuzzi? Injury reports for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno might put Boston’s depth to the test.
Bertuzzi
Thursday night’s game is set to be Hall’s third straight absence. Following a collision in the second period of Tuesday’s victory over the Flames, Foligno left the game and never came back.
There might be a concern if these two players, who have played significant roles for the Bruins, are absent for an extended period of time.
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Left winger Bertuzzi is capable of playing in the third or fourth lines. Meanwhile, the Bruins last week acquired from the Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov and bottom-six forward Garnet Hathaway.
The Bruins have traded two first-round picks in 2023, a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025, a third-round pick in 2024, and a fifth-round pick in 2023. Boston currently lacks It doesn’t have a first-round pick until 2025 and a second-round pick until 2026.
It’s difficult to fault the Bruins for adopting this strategy because they are obviously focused on winning right away. The Boston Bruins had the greatest roster in the league with a league-leading record of 47-8-5 as of Thursday.