The Boston Bruins are trying to stay focused on Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of Friday's trade deadline.
The Boston Bruins are trying to stay focused on Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of Friday's trade deadline.
With just under 24 hours until the NHL trade deadline, the Boston Bruins have yet to make a move.
Friday at 3 p.m. will mark the end of the window for any deals to be made ahead of the playoff push. Despite general manager Don Sweeney’s apparent quieter approach this year, the prospect of a roster change is in the back of many players’ minds.
“I think it’s on everyone’s minds a little bit,” Pavel Zacha said Thursday. “Day before, it’s a little bit more intense. But, we have a game and that’s all you can really control – is playing.”
The Bruins are preparing to face the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night at TD Garden – a potential first-round playoff matchup. Derek Forbort was absent from morning skate, but Boston coach Jim Montgomery said it was due to injury, not trade reasons.
“We’re just really focussed on tonight’s game. We’re trying to build our game so it’s more playoff ready, and that’s been our focus,” Montgomery said of the buzz around the deadline.
Boston, which sits at second place in the Atlantic Division with 87 points, faces an interesting crossroads this March. The team is securely in the playoff picture and – based on points alone – should be a contender.
However, the Bruins have also gone 5-4-6 over their last 15 games (losing 10), and have often failed to hold leads, close out games and play a cohesive 60 minutes. Not to mention, the consistent scoring contributions from their top six has fallen off.
Linus Ullmark’s name has garnered much attention in terms of who Boston could deal for a big return, and Jake DeBrusk and Jakub Lauko’s futures have also been discussed. Top AHL Providence prospects – like Mason Lohrei who’s been up in the NHL and Fabian Lysell – are unlikely to be dealt.
But, the players just don’t know for sure.
“It definitely is nerve racking, coming close to the deadline and the uncertainty of it,” Brad Marchand said Thursday. “The easiest way to go about that is just to come in and focus on doing your job every day and performing at your best.”
Montgomery has left the deadline worry to the Bruins’ front office. The coach is, well, worried simply about coaching. The Bruins have won two consecutive games just once since returning from All-Star break – there’s enough work to be done within the room for Montogmery and his guys.
“Here in Boston, we have a great GM that has a great team around him,” Montgomery said. “When you have a lot of confidence in the people you work with, it makes your job easier to stay focused on what my job is.”
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