Don Sweeney has practically remade the “Big, Bad Bruins.”
The deepest, most complete team in the National Hockey League was already residing in Boston, but now the Bruins GM has added yet another couple of weapons to the arsenal, and these weapons go hard. Of course, I’m talking about defenseman Dmitry Orlov and winger Garnet Hathaway, who on Thursday night instantly went from Bruins villains to hometown heroes after coming over in a trade with the Capitals.
Memories may not need refreshing for Bruins fans, who tend to remember the worst offenders when it comes to on-ice villainy. Hathaway became something of an infamous figure in Boston during the Capitals’ 2021 playoff series against the Bruins. He was active, scoring two goals and three points, dishing out 18 hits, and serving four penalty minutes in a series that the Caps ultimately lost to the B’s in five games.
Hathaway most notably was something of a nemesis for Charlie McAvoy during the series. He leveled the Bruins defenseman with multiple big hits, and even hit him with the ol’ reverse-check on a hit attempt. It happens.
Orlov hit Miller shoulder-to-shoulder with little-to-no head contact, but he obviously launched, so he earned a double-minor on that play. Orlov stands at just 5-foot-11, but he’s heavy at 214 pounds. He isn’t afraid to throw his weight around, and capable of out-muscling bigger opponents. Another guy that the Bruins are happy to have on their team, as opposed to prowling the blue line in another sweater.
The Bruins already had excellent scoring talent, a dynamic defense, and the best goaltending in the league. They already had some of that red-ass, between Brad Marchand, McAvoy, Trent Frederic, Nick Foligno, Connor Clifton, A.J. Greer. But in Hathaway, they added that dimension of elevated power and agitation that they’ve lacked in recent years, and Orlov can help in that department, too. They are the Bruins’ equivalent of the moves Tampa Bay made to bring in Pat Maroon and Barclay Goodrow, which helped stamp them as Stanley Cup champions in 2020 and 2021.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 17: Garnet Hathaway #21 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his goal with teammate Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals in the third period against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
