The first big trade of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline season has been executed. The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, the 2020 first-round draft pick, and highly rated prospect Calen Addison.
How can this affect the Boston Bruins with their trade deadline aspirations and objectives? In many ways. The Penguins have been in a market for many Bruins trade targets. Now, the Bruins have one less opponent in their trade pursuit.
The NHL Trade Deadline is only 13 days away. The Bruins presumably understand that any big fish on the trade market will cost them, either a first-round draft pick and/or a top prospect.
Zucker, who had 21 goals last season, he has 14 goals this season. Undoubtfully, Zucker is a terrific winger with a ton of skill. However, he is 28 and has three more years left on his $5.5 million-per-campaign deal.
The Bruins are reportedly on the trade fair scouting various appealing options, such as Chris Kreider, Tyler Toffoli, or Kyle Palmieri. Kreider and Toffoli are rentals, Palmieri has one more year left on his contract.
Don Sweeney, the Bruins General Manager, is reluctant to give up a first-round draft pick in any trade. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft class seems to be highly attractive, the Bruins are not willing to give up that selection for anything.
Addison is a former second-round draft choice, who collected nine points for Team Canada in the 2020 World Junior Championships. With all these implications, the Bruins should have a clearer conception of what they have to invest to receive.
Last season, Sweeney was able to acquire a rental in Marcus Johansson, and a center with term left on his contract, Charlie Coyle, for a total of a second-round draft pick, a fourth-round draft pick, and Ryan Donato.
If the Bruins could repeat such feat, it would be another trade masterpiece from Sweeney. Nevertheless, if he wants to acquire anybody like Kreider or Toffoli, simply, he will have to pay for them. Besides, the Bruins would still need to be a tad creative with their salary-cap space situation.
