The Boston Bruins missed out on what seemed to be a slam-dunk deal. The Bruins were the presumptive frontrunners for defenseman Rasmus Andersson. However, when the dust settled, Andersson was on his way to Sin City.
That situation has left Bruins fans scratching their heads at what could have gone wrong. It wasn’t like the Bruins didn’t try their best to make a deal happen. The Flames even granted Boston permission to speak to Andersson about a contract extension.
And that’s likely where things fell apart. The two sides couldn’t agree on an extension before the deadline. Vegas, meanwhile, agreed to take Andersson on without an extension in place.
So, from Calgary’s perspective, the path forward was clear. Take what could become two first-round draft picks from the Golden Knights now and let Andersson and Vegas figure out the rest on their own.
That’s the sort of risk the Bruins did well to avoid. Taking on Andersson as-is was a needless risk the team could not afford. The Bruins are a retooling team. It’s unfair to use the word “rebuilding,” since Boston didn’t actually go through the rigors of tearing everything down and then starting from scratch.
A retooling team cannot afford to trade valuable futures, particularly when it isn’t even secure in a playoff spot. Such is the reality of the Bruins this season. If Boston were having a season like it did some two or three years ago, the conversation would have been much different. Andersson could have been the piece to put them over the top.
That’s not the case now. That’s why it’s a good thing that the Bruins didn’t land Andersson. It was senseless for the Bruins to go all-in on what could have been an expensive rental.
Bruins Not in Position to Go All-In
The Bruins aren’t really in a position to go all-in this season. As mentioned earlier, Boston can’t afford to make a massive trade without assurances of a long-term fit.
That’s the reality of a retooling-rebuilding team.
The situation would have been much different had Andersson come with a contract extension in tow. The deal would have made sense from a long-term perspective. The Bruins would have had their man locked up for the foreseeable future.
Perhaps at some point down the line, the Bruins could be in a position to take a huge swing at a veteran option. But that won’t be this season.
Boston Remains on the Prowl
The Bruins remain on the prowl as the trade market begins to heat up. The club is right in trying to make a splash, given its plans to stay competitive.
That situation could also mean that the Bruins might pivot towards younger players. With teams like the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers officially punting on the season, interesting pieces could become available.
The key for the Bruins would be to find players who fit their long-term future, not just a short-term playoff push. The Rasmus Andersson trade looks to have unlocked the NHL trade market. Thus, Boston could be looking to capitalize on the frenzy to come.
So, there will be plenty more to come in the following weeks.
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