David Krejci's retirement sparked renewed speculation linking the Boston Bruins to the Flames' Elias Lindholm and the Jets' Mark Scheifele.
The Boston Bruins' depth at center suffered a significant blow with the retirement last month of Patrice Bergeron. With David Krejci following suit on Monday, the Bruins face the coming season without established talent centering their top two lines.
Following Bergeron's retirement, some in the Boston media took to speculating over where the Bruins might find a decent replacement. That conjecture resurfaced following Krejci's retirement.
NBC Sports Boston's Nick Goss looked at the Bruins' options within their organization and in the trade market. He noted the obvious trade targets are Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm or Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele.
Both are slated to become UFAs next summer. It's believed the Flames are in contract extension talks with the 28-year-old Lindholm. Scheifele, 30, was a hot topic of trade conjecture earlier this summer, but it's now speculated he could start this season with the Jets.
Goss acknowledged the Bruins might not have sufficient trade assets to land Lindholm or Scheifele. He suggested Jake DeBrusk as an option if the 26-year-old winger hasn't re-signed by the trade deadline. Perhaps Linus Ullmark becomes expendable if Jeremy Swayman takes over this season as the Bruins' starting goaltender.
Sportnet's Ken Wiebe and The Athletic's Murat Ates share Goss' opinion about the Bruins' lack of quality trade bait. Wiebe noted that they don't have a first-line center or a top-center prospect to offer the Jets for Scheifele. Ates, meanwhile, observed the Flames have no obvious need for a goalie, while few of the Bruins' available skaters would fit on their roster.
In other words, the Bruins must look elsewhere to address their needs at center this season.