Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has posted a new “32 Thoughts” at Sportsnet. Guess which team is at the top of the latest flood of NHL trade rumors ahead of the deadline? Your Boston Bruins.

Though there’s nothing too big in terms of new rumors, the Bruins continue to be linked to several top players available ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline, and that’s why Friedman has them in this week’s No. 1 spot. However, it’s noteworthy that they do seem to be getting closer by the day to a deal for Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

“Everything points to Massachusetts as the landing spot,” Friedman described it. But what’s the holdup?

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  COLUMBUS, OH – MAY 6: Vladislav Gavrikov #44 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins battle for control of the puck in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 6, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Boston defeated Columbus 3-0 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

• As our own Ty Anderson explained earlier this week on

  "The belief is that the Bruins have to make a trade before they can finalize this deal to bring in Vladislav Gavrikov"@_TyAnderson joins Sports Sunday to discuss the latest on the Gavrikov trade rumors pic.twitter.com/sRUc9enBAd

  — NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) February 20, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC Sports Boston, the B’s cannot finalize a trade for Gavrikov until they make another trade first, due to their tenuous salary cap situation. As of Wednesday, the Bruins have $1 million in current cap space (via CapFriendly). Gavrikov’s deal carries an annual cap hit of just $2.8 million, so it shouldn’t take too much money to be moved off the books in order to facilitate a trade with Columbus.

  Friedman also mentioned two players that have been popping up in Bruins trade rumors of late: Blues forward Ivan Barbashev, and Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn. Out of those two, if you were to ask Anderson or me, we’d take Barbashev over Schenn. The latter would provide size and depth on the back end, which is ostensibly why they’re targeting Gavrikov in the first place, but isn’t the best fit for what the Bruins generally want to do. Barbashev, meanwhile, would give the B’s a left shot capable of playing center or wing, which they’ve lacked in the absence of Tomas Nosek.

  Anderson and I talked at length about Bruins trade rumors on the latest Sports Hub Underground podcast, which you can listen to below, and we will continue to do it all the way through the March 3 deadline.

• Sports Hub Underground: Listen to the Newest Episode

  (Click here to subscribe to the Sports Hub Underground podcast.)

• Interestingly enough, Friedman also mentioned that “a few teams have wondered” if the Bruins are “in on” Sharks winger Timo Meier. That would be surprising, because Meier’s cap hit is $6 million and the B’s don’t necessarily need a top-6 forward as much as they’d need a defenseman or a smaller depth move.

  But considering that the rumored asking price for Gavrikov includes a first-round pick, then Bruins GM Don Sweeney should be gathering all possible options around the league that would cost that much. Meier is also on pace for a career-best goal total; he has 31 goals in 57 games this season. And he’s going to be a restricted free agent, meaning his new team would have the ball puck in their court rink on a contract extension.

  Ultimately, it feels more and more like the Bruins are closing in on a deal for Gavrikov, and that will be their big move at the trade deadline. A first-round pick feels like an overpay for Gavrikov, but that may be what it takes for the Bruins to add an NHL-ready piece that could make a difference on a Stanley Cup run.

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  Apr 2, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) battle for the puck during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

• We’ll continue to keep you updated on the 2023 NHL trade deadline here, especially the latest news & rumors connected to the Bruins.

  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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