Top Trade Targets for Jeff Petry Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg1Njc4OTExMzI4MjMzMDg4/usatsi_15989006.jpg] Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney has a history of making moves leading up to the NHL's annual trade deadline. With his club holding the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, he could once again swing a deal near the deadline to improve his roster. Since 2018, Sweeney's deadline moves brought in Rick Nash, Charlie Coyle, Marcus Johansson, Ondrej Kase, Nick Ritchie, Taylor Hall, Mike Reilly and Curtis Lazar. Only Coyle, Hall and Reilly had any substantial positive effect upon the Bruns' roster. This season could be the last opportunity for the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup with aging core players such as Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask. That could tempt Sweeney to try his luck again at the deadline. The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa believes [https://theathletic.com/3108221/2022/02/03/what-im-hearing-about-jack-studnicka-urho-vaakanainen-and-the-bruins-top-trade-need-its-so-obvious/] the Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller or the Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux could address the Bruins' need for a second-line center. Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy wondered [https://bostonhockeynow.com/2022/02/02/nhl-trade-talk-bruins-back-in-on-garland-canucks-love-lysell/] if Sweeney might revisit his earlier interest in Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland. NBC Sports' Nick Goss suggests [https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/2022-nhl-trade-targets-four-defensemen-bruins-should-pursue-deadline] they should bolster their blueline. His proposed trade targets include the Chicago Blackhawks' Calvin de Haan, the Seattle Kraken's Mark Giordano, the Detroit Red Wings' Nick Leddy or the Arizona Coyotes' Jakob Chychrun. Cap Friendly indicates [https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/bruins] the Bruins with $4.7 million available by the trade deadline. That's enough to squeeze in the remaining salary of a rental such as Giroux or Giordano, though Sweeney could prefer the trade partner retain some salary. Sweeney, however, has little to draw upon for tradable assets. He's found no takers for winger Jake DeBrusk and will be resistant to parting with top prospect Fabian Lysell. Rather than pursuing a big-ticket rental, the Bruins GM could be stuck in the bargain bin on deadline day.
