The Bruins' defense would greatly improve with this Hurricanes defenseman.
One of the Boston Bruins’ goals this offseason is to improve their defense. This is especially the case when it comes to their left side, as Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort both might not be back next season.
If Grzelcyk and Forbort don’t return, which seems likely, the Bruins’ left side will consist of Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, and Parker Wotherspoon. With Lohrei and Wotherspoon just getting their NHL careers started, it wouldn’t hurt for the Bruins to add an experienced top-four defenseman to their roster as well.
When looking at the defensemen who can hit the free-agent market on July 1, Brady Skjei is somebody who should immediately grab the Bruins’ attention. He has been a significant part of the Carolina Hurricanes’ blueline for multiple seasons, and there’s no question that he would be a big addition to Boston’s if signed. This is because he does a little bit of everything.
Skjei is a top-four defenseman who provides steady defense to go along with offensive production from the point. There is no question that the Bruins could use an impactful defenseman like him on their roster because of this. In addition, he would work on both their power play and penalty kill if signed.
When observing the Bruins’ current defensive group, Skjei would be a clear option for the top pairing with Charlie McAvoy. However, he also would be a good partner for Brandon Carlo to have as well. In either scenario, Boston’s top four would be a lot better with a veteran like Skjei. Let’s see if they target him from here.