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Boston Bruins

Bruins continue deadline shuffle, make deal with Avalanche

By Ty Anderson
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Shane Bowers #15, Jack Johnson #3 and #Bowen Byram 4 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate Johnson's third-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 28, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Bruins are not calling it quits at Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway.

Two days after their deal with the Capitals, Don Sweeney and the Bruins have swung another trade, this time with the Colorado Avalanche. It was a one-for-one swap between the Bruins and Avs, too, as the Avalanche sent forward Shane Bowers to the Bruins in exchange for goaltender Keith Kinkaid.

  • A 23-year-old center, Bowers has spent the majority of his season with AHL Colorado, with four goals and 14 point in 37 appearances for the Eagles.

    Bowers has spent his entire AHL career with the Eagles, with an AHL career-high 10 goals and 27 points in 48 games in 2019-20, and 27 goals and 59 points in 154 AHL games over five seasons of action.

    The 6-foot-2 Bowers made his NHL debut in a Nov. 10 meeting against the Predators, and though he nearly scored on his first NHL shift, his night came to an end on his third shift, as Nashville’s Tanner Jeannot tagged Bowers with a hit that left him holding his arm in pain.

  • LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Shane Bowers #15 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 28, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 4-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 28: Shane Bowers #15 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 28, 2021. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

  • Taken by the Senators with the No. 28 overall pick in 2017, Bowers is expected to report to Providence and simply provide the Bruins with more left-shooting center depth.

    This could be a case of the Bruins simply trying to plug any potential holes that injuries could create, or it could be the Bruins taking a chance on a former first-round talent. The Bruins also have to be familiar with Bowers from his time on Comm Ave, as the Nova Scotia native spent two seasons at Boston University from 2017 through 2019, and put up 28 goals and 53 points in 77 games with the Terriers.

    Bowers, who is making $750,000 this year, will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent this summer.

  • Nov 12, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Keith Kinkaid (30) during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports

    Nov 12, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Keith Kinkaid (30) during a stoppage in play against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Kinkaid, meanwhile, departs the B’s organization after a 2022-23 season that’s featured an 8-7-4 record and .909 save percentage in 20 games with the P-Bruins.

    The 33-year-old Kinkaid also made one appearance for Boston this season, and certainly wowed in it, with a 30-of-31 performance in a Nov. 12 win over the Sabres.

    Boston’s No. 3 netminder, Kinkaid has compiled a 70-58-21 record and .905 save percentage in 168 NHL games between the Devils, Rangers, Canadiens, and Bruins.

  • Nov 12, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Keith Kinkaid (30) looks for the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports

    Nov 12, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Keith Kinkaid (30) looks for the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Barring another trade, the departure of Kinkaid sets up either Brandon Bussi or Kyle Keyser to be the team’s new No. 3 goaltender behind Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.

    Bussi, who was selected to the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic earlier this season, has posted a 16-2-4 record and .929 save percentage in 22 games with Providence this season. The Bruins signed the 6-foot-5 netminder as a college free agent last year following a strong collegiate career at Western Michigan University.

    The 23-year-old Keyser, meanwhile, has been in the Black and Gold’s pro program since 2019, and has recorded a 22-20-11 record and .910 save percentage in 56 games with the P-Bruins. Keyser has played his best AHL hockey this season, too, with a 7-1-2 record, .925 save percentage, and a 2.08 goals against average.

    The Bruins also have Michael DiPietro, who was acquired in the Jack Studnicka trade earlier this season, in their pipeline. DiPietro has 11 wins and a .919 save percentage in 16 games with ECHL Maine since his trade from the Canucks to the Bruins.

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Bruins. 

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.

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