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The Boston Bruins could stand to add a defenseman ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline. The question is how good of a defenseman do they need?

We at 985TheSportsHub.com believe that, internally, the Bruins like their defensive combinations and don’t necessarily want to make a Good Old-Fashioned Hockey Trade™ in order to improve on the back end. In other words, don’t expect them to move any regulars off the main roster. But could they possibly improve their depth? Or at least find another viable option to complement Charlie McAvoy or Hampus Lindholm?

As they stand now, the Bruins are on track to enter the 2023 playoffs with the same top-6 defensemen as last season. That would be a risk, but at the same time, Lindholm is playing the best hockey of his career and would represent a big improvement over himself a year ago, when he played more tentatively under Bruce Cassidy.

• 

  Dec 19, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) looks to pass during the first period against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

• The B’s have found combos that generally work well with Matt Grzelcyk next to McAvoy and Brandon Carlo paired with Lindholm. But there’s always going to be injury concerns with Carlo, and it’s fair to wonder if Grzelcyk’s game will make the same impact in the playoffs that it does in the regular season.

  It may be tough to find a real upgrade over Grzelcyk or Carlo without swinging a big trade for a top-pairing-caliber defenseman, like the Coyotes’ Jakob Chychrun. So if they do make a move for a blue liner, it’s likely to be a depth guy. But could they still find someone better than the current “next men up” in the event that Carlo or Grzelcyk goes down? Because you’re talking Jakub Zboril or 36-year-old Anton Strålman.

  With that in mind, Ty Anderson and I went over some possible ideas for the Bruins to get a defenseman at the trade deadline as part of the newest Sports Hub Underground podcast. Listen to the full episode above, with the defense talk starting around the 20-minute mark. Here’s a rundown of who we discussed…

• Vladislav Gavrikov, Blue Jackets

  

  COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 04: Vladislav Gavrikov #44 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up prior to the start of the game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 4, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

  Bruins assistant GM Jamie Langenbrunner was reportedly in attendance at Monday’s game between the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. Ty is hoping he was there to get a look at Gavrikov as a possible Bruins addition.

  A 6-foot-3 left-shot defenseman whose calling card is a sturdy game in his own end, Gavrikov would be a good fit next to any of the Bruins’ righties. And if they lose Carlo, Gavrikov would be a fine fill-in. He’s on one of the league’s worst teams in Columbus, who might officially be in tank mode and ready to sell off pieces.

  Ty says: “I would like him. … Decent, passable [in the defensive end]. That’s a guy who would make sense to me. … He would be a good fit in my opinion. It gives you some more size, some more range, skating game is good.”

• Mathew Dumba, Wild

  

  Oct 22, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (24) defends Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

• A dynamic, two-way presence who plays bigger than his size (6 feet, 180 pounds), Dumba would represent a legitimate higher-end addition to the Bruins’ defense. He’s on track to become a free agent and the Wild have a cap crunch, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they look to move him. The problem is that the Wild are a playoff team who may not want to trade Dumba away at the moment.

  Ty says: “It makes sense, but [the Wild are] gonna be a buyer. I don’t think they’d be a seller. … It’s going to be hard for them to bring in high-end talent because of their cap issues, so they’re not going to strip away until they absolutely have to.”

• Chris Tanev, Flames

  

  CALGARY, AB – FEBRUARY 26: Christopher Tanev #8 (L) and Jacob Markstrom #25 (R) of the Calgary Flames defend the net against Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on February 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

  Tanev is the kind of defender any team can use in the playoffs. He gets back and angles rushing forwards to the outside, and typically displays good stick work on the backcheck. But he may be a little too much of a redundancy with Carlo, and is still good enough to play regular top-4 minutes. Ideally, the B’s could actually find a left-shot version of Tanev.

  Ty says: “It would be nice. Does he fit in terms of what you want to do, role, time on ice?”

• Nikita Zadorov, Flames

  

  ST LOUIS, MO – JANUARY 12: Nikita Zadorov #16 of the Calgary Flames shoots the puck against the St. Louis Blues in the second period at Enterprise Center on January 12, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images )

• Zadorov is a mountain (6-foot-6, 235 pounds) and can certainly clear the front of the net and play a physical game. His problem is he might not “play fast” enough to fit well with the Bruins, who still like to get quick breakouts and decisions with the puck. At best, he may be a replacement for Connor Clifton if they wanted more size at that spot. But with him, Derek Forbort, and Carlo all in the lineup? That may skew too far toward size and away from skating and puck-moving ability.

  Ty says: “How are you using [Zadorov]? Because I think if you’re using him in your top-4, I think that’s a recipe for disaster. … With what’s being asked of this team, I don’t know if stylistically he’s a fit.”

• It’s A Hard NO

  

  Nov 19, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing A.J. Greer (10) battles Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Jack Johnson (8) for position during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

  Ty was decidedly against a few of the names I threw at him, and I can’t say I blame him. Here are his most amusing responses to potential Bruins trade deadline additions…

  Jack Johnson, Blackhawks: “No. Stinks. Not good. I’m not a Jack Johnson guy, Banana Pancakes OR hockey player.”

  Dmitry Kulikov, Ducks: “Eh. Pass. Nah. I don’t see it. I’ve never been overly impressed with his game. I don’t know if he makes quick-enough decisions. Not a guy I would make a move for.”

  Tyler Myers, Jets: “Another no from me. That Vancouver team, that defense is pretty stinky. I don’t want anything to do with that.”

• We’ll continue to keep you updated on the Bruins ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline, as well as everything else coming out of Causeway Street. And be sure to check out the Sports Hub Underground podcast for weekly Bruins talk every Thursday.

  Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster 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? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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