Bruins Trade Frank Vatrano To Panthers For 2018 Third-Round Pick
The Bruins continue to be active ahead of the NHL trade deadline, moving winger Frank Vatrano to the Florida Panthers for a 2018 third-round pick.
Frank Vatrano (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)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
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.
