It’s time to start off the work week with another edition of our NHL rumours . We’re speeding towards the April trade deadline and teams are thinking about the future. However, it’s not just players who face an uncertain future. One struggling team may look to make a change behind the bench. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Boston Bruins
Rumour: The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa looked at the different trade tiers for Boston players from untouchable to let’s talk.
Normally, trading a 1st-rounder for the third time in four years would be inadvisable.
But with viewings limited on 2021 prospects, the Bruins may put their pick in play. https://t.co/uza7zODhae
— Fluto Shinzawa (@FlutoShinzawa) March 12, 2021
Analysis: DeBrusk has been long-featured in previous editions of our NHL rumours. Anders Bjork is the first name mentioned on the list and Bruins’ general manager Don Sweeney could deal him. Names like Danton Heinen, Ryan Donato and Frank Vatrano have been traded after not being able to find a place in the lineup. Bjork does have top-six skills, but struggles with his hockey sense.
Players like Jakub Lauko and Jeremy Lauzon also made the board because of their upside. Lauko is a high-energy forward that teams covet while Lauzon did well with Charlie McAvoy before his hand injury. Oskar Steen, Mason Lohrei, Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril are on the list.
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However, the biggest item on the list is the Bruins giving up another first-round pick. It would be the third time the B’s give up their first-rounder in the last four seasons. However, the Bruins want to maximize their Stanley Cup window. The team also hasn’t gotten a chance to do its normal diligent scouting due to COVID-19 and the league being mostly shut down or limited.
Buffalo Sabres
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada’s Headlines segment said that Bruce Boudreau and Nate Leaman would be in the mix if the Sabres fire Ralph Krueger.
Analysis: Boudreau only loves across the border in the Toronto area and has thrown his name in for the Seattle Kraken and other jobs. The veteran coach would be someone that has plenty of experience and could whip the roster into shape. He may also be a person that would do things his own way without interference from Terry and Kim Pegula.
Leaman is a well-respected college coach in the NCAA ranks with Providence after a successful stint at Union College. However, taking the Sabres’ job is a tough ask of anyone let alone a coach taking his first NHL job. He’d be better suited waiting for a better opportunity to come along instead of the uncertainty that is in Buffalo.
This is all contingent on Krueger being fired by Sabres management, but that seems more realistic as the team is stuck in the East Division cellar.
Anaheim Ducks
Rumour: Friedman in the same segment said that youngster Troy Terry is available at the deadline.
One name to keep an eye on leading up to the NHL deadline is 23-year-old Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry.https://t.co/QbmTqzCb8J
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 14, 2021
Analysis: The Ducks and Terry are both struggling so far this season. Anaheim is stuck in last in the West Division and the 23-year-old has four goals and three assists in 21 games. Friedman added the move could give the gold medalist from the World Juniors a fresh start.
“One young player who might be up for a change of scenery is Troy Terry in Anaheim,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “I’m starting to hear some conversation about him and whether or not he might go somewhere else to get a change from the Ducks.”
There’s uncertainty on the future in Orange County as both general manager Bob Murray and head coach Dallas Eakins may not have a long shelf-life after this season. Anaheim has young talent like Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, but there are older players like Ryan Getzlaf and others occupying roster spots.
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The Ducks will likely sell at the deadline in order to kickstart the rebuild and amass picks and prospects. They were one of the better teams of the last decade, but now are a shell of a former contender
