Trade rumors, which have been simmering through the Original 32 markets for weeks, will start to bubble over with the deadline set for Friday.
Only half the teams will be extended invitations to the postseason, but every franchise will be a player during trade season. Be it buyer or seller, general managers will need their cells to be fully charged 24/7.
Fans from every hockey-loving neighborhood from Southie to Strathcona will be hitting the refresh button, again, 24/7.
It’s a safe bet the Bruins, who entered the weekend tied atop the league standings with the Panthers with 84 points, will be buyers once again. En route to a historic regular season in 2022-23, GM Don Sweeney added three pieces, so complacency is not in his DNA.
This season the needs are greater. Boston needs another smashmouth defender and some secondary (perhaps primary?) scoring off the wing.
The Bruins need to strengthen their roster for the stretch and playoff runs, but they won’t be dealing from a position of strength.
