Bruins Trade Frank Vatrano To Panthers For 2018 Third-Round Pick
The Bruins continue to be active ahead of the NHL trade deadline, trading winger Frank Vatrano to the Florida Panthers for a 2018 third-round pick. The B’s announced the trade via Twitter on Thursday.
Vatrano, 23, scored just two goals and no assists in 23 games at the NHL level in 2017-18. He compiled 20 goals and 31 points in 108 career games in Boston.
The East Longmeadow, Mass. native originally signed with the Bruins as a free agent out of UMass Amherst on March 13, 2015.
Florida (26-25-6) own the eighth-worst record in the NHL as of Thursday. So in acquiring the Panthers’ third-round pick, the Bruins not only recoup a third-rounder after sending theirs to the Rangers for defenseman Nick Holden, they actually move up in that round in next summer’s draft.
Trade-For-Trade
If you were waiting on a corresponding move from Don Sweeney from the Holden trade, this is ostensibly it. So the full deal would be this:
Bruins get: Nick Holden, higher pick in third round
Rangers/Panthers get: Frank Vatrano, Rob O’Gara
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It remains to be seen how far up the Bruins move in the third round with this trade, but it could be over 20 spots if the B’s end up making a deep playoff run. The Panthers, meanwhile, are going in the opposite direction.
Count this trade as a slam-dunk win for Sweeney. The trade deadline isn’t until Monday, Feb. 26, so more moves are certainly possible.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
