Bruins reportedly searching for ‘scoring winger’ before deadline

The NHL commerce deadline isn’t till March 6. 

However a Bruins workforce that has largely punched above its weight this season may already be on the prowl for reinforcements. 

Based on Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Bruins have already saved tabs on scoring forwards who may be dangled out on the open market — together with Maple Leafs winger Matias Maccelli.

“I heard Boston had poked round him final yr when he was accessible. I don’t know if that’s nonetheless the case now, Friedman said on Friday’s episode of his “32 Thoughts” podcast. “However you at all times have a look at who had been the opposite groups that had been perhaps excited by buying him.

“I do know the Bruins had been there. I do know they’re nonetheless in search of a scoring winger. I’m undecided if Matias Maccelli’s going to be their man nonetheless, or they search for another person.”

Maccelli has appeared in 22 video games with Toronto to date this season, scoring 9 factors (4 objectives, 5 assists) whereas slotting out and in of the lineup. 

The 25-year-old ahead might probably be moved by Toronto as they appear to enhance their roster, with Boston probably intrigued by a winger like Maccelli who did publish 49 and 57 factors, respectively, from 2022-24 with the Arizona Coyotes. 

Friedman’s report is a bit fascinating, provided that the Bruins’ most urgent want may revolve extra round protection if Don Sweeney is adamant about including to this roster.

For the entire issues about Boston’s offensive depth getting into the 2025-26 marketing campaign, the Bruins actually rank ninth in the NHL with 3.24 goals per game. 

“One of many issues that’s form of shocked us a bit of bit is the purpose scoring,” Bruins president Cam Neely told The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride this weekend. “We weren’t positive if we had been going to have the ability to, early on, rating sufficient objectives, however we’ve actually proven that we will.”

Even when Maccelli does have some upside that the Bruins might faucet into, Boston has been in a position to establish dependable middle-six scorers to date this season, together with former AHL common Alex Steeves (seven objectives in 17 video games).

In the meantime, the Bruins have had some pink flags in their very own zone. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Bruins presently rank twenty eighth in 5-on-5 high-danger possibilities allowed (12.44 per 60 minutes) and are thirty second out of 32 NHL squads in anticipated objectives towards (3.02 per 60).

With out Jeremy Swayman — who ranks fourth in the NHL with 16.5 goals saved above expected — the Bruins may be far worse than their present 19-14-0 document would point out.

Boston might try to goal an asset to assist them each now and within the coming years like 29-year-old Rasmus Andersson (who can be due a hefty new contract extension on the finish of this season). 

However the Bruins — who’re beginning to see a few of their prospect pipeline flourish with the continued improvement of children like James Hagens, Dean Letourneau, and Will Zellers — might also be hesitant to half with prospects or beneficial draft capital, even when this workforce continues to hover across the playoff image.

Boston has each its personal first-round decide and Toronto’s conditional first-round choice (top-five protected) this season. 

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.