Felger: The Boston Bruins need a roster shakeup
The Boston Bruins have been struggling since their return from the All Star Break, posting a 4-4-5 in the 13 games since. With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, Mike Felger thinks the Boston Bruins roster needs a shakeup.
Do the Boston Bruins need a roster shakeup?
Felger: It feels like there’s something up with the team. It looks like they’re checked out. I don’t know if they’re checked out.
Jim Murray: Saturday was a check out game.
Felger: Certainly they quit. I mean, they didn’t show up.
Mazz: Holy smokes. Kyle Palmeri three goals in the first period.
Felger: So there’s something wrong there. Is it guys looking ahead to the deadline? Is it Montgomery losing the room? Are there players who are checked out? I don’t know. How could I know? I can only see what’s on the ice and what’s on the ice is a team that has something up with it. And it could be really bad and deep or could be nothing. I mean, it could be just whatever. Could be trade deadline jitters or who knows. The team could use a shakeup. I mean, like a real shakeup. I don’t think there’s any way,whether you think they have a chance or not, whatever chance you think they have, I think the status quo is not going to get it done because clearly something’s off. And I’m not even just talking about they need another big defenseman to clear bodies, or they need another guy to take faceoffs, which they do. I’m talking about the the makeup and vibe of the team. They need a shakeup. And the only way you do that is not by trading draft picks to bring in players, it’s by shipping guys out. And it’s been, I think, the biggest failing of Don Sweeney, or this group here, is that they just have not made enough decisions on their own players. They’re hoarders. They just hoard these guys and hoard them and hoard them and they don’t want to get rid of them. And they even bring them back like Milan Lucic. They just can’t help themselves. So peel some of these bodies out of the room. It is time for Jake Debrusk, or Brandon Carlo, or Matt Grzelcyk, or Linus Ullmark, who you’re hearing more and more about. So it’s time. And if nothing else other than those guys aren’t producing or have proven they’re not good enough to take you deep into the playoffs. To me, I want to do that to send a message to the guys that are left to say, “We’re not going to just keep coming back with the status quo. It’s not good enough. You’re next”, something like that. Put people on notice.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
Looking at Bruins general manager Don Sweeney's trade deadline history
When it comes to the Bruins and the trade deadline, it’s not about whether or not Bruins general manager Don Sweeney will do something, but rather what he will do and when he’ll do it.
Entering his ninth deadline on the job, it’s certainly worth noting that Sweeney has made at least one deadline move in every deadline with the Bruins. Even small-time moves, such as for an extra depth defenseman or depth forward. Sweeney’s mixed in some massive home run swings in there, too.
And there’s no shortage of potential moves for Sweeney to make this time around.
Now, some names are already off the board. The Canucks moved early and struck a deal for Elias Lindholm way ahead of the ‘deadline frenzy’ and the Jets followed shortly thereafter with a trade for the Canadiens’ Sean Monahan.
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And Boston’s post-break struggles have thrown a potential wrench in just how hard Sweeney goes by Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
But sometimes history is the best indicator of future plans. So here’s a look at every single move — trades and contract extensions alike — made by the club since Sweeney has been running the show for the Bruins.