Bruins reportedly believe they have a deal for Tyler Toffoli ‘in their hip pocket’
Apr 2, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli (73) reacts in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche during an NHL hockey game at Staples Center. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
There may finally be some (eventual) movement on the trade front for the Boston Bruins, as one of hockey’s most tapped-in reporters believes Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is sitting on a potential deal for Los Angeles Kings winger’Tyler Toffoli.
In fact, speaking on the 31 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman almost made it sound a mere formality, and that the B’s are simply waiting to see what else pops up on the trade market before making a deal.
“I do think if [the Bruins] wanted to, could do a deal for Toffoli almost at any time,” said Friedman. “I think they know they’ve got that in their hip pocket. The question is, do you do that, or do you wait for [Chris] Kreider?”
While this is not the first time the Bruins have been connected to the 27-year-old Toffoli, it seems that this may finally be the year that the Kings move on from the right wing, as he is in the final year of his current contract and with the Kings in obvious rebuild mode. Toffoli has seen his game return to form this year, too, with 12 goals (one away from matching last year’s output) and 27 points through 45 games for a largely nightmarish Kings team.
What could make Toffoli especially interesting for the Bruins, however, is the fact that he is a natural right-shot, right wing. This is something the Bruins have obviously lacked when it comes to building their ideal middle six behind David Pastrnak, often forcing lefties Anders Bjork and Danton Heinen to play their off wing.
With Toffoli on the books at $4.6 million (he’s due just above $2 million for the remainder of this season), waiting may be in the Bruins’ best interest if they don’t want to shed a contract of their own to sign him, but that also opens the door for some potential other suitors to emerge and outbid Sweeney.
Toffoli, who set career-highs in goals (31), assists (27), and points (58) back in 2015-16, does have a Stanley Cup to his name (2014), and has nine goals and 21 points in 47 career playoff contests.
