The Boston Bruins were aggressive at the NHL trade deadline, trading a slew of team and NHL veterans in an effort to build for the future. Players the team moved on from included Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Justin Brazeau, and, of course, their captain, Brad Marchand. There are over 40 years of experience wearing the spoked B between these five players. For many, this series of moves felt like the end of an elite 15-year run where the Bruins were almost always in contention.
Coming to Boston as a result of these moves was a group of draft picks, prospects, and a handful of NHLers: Marat Khusnutdinov, Henri Jokiharju, Casey Mittlestadt, and Jakub Lauko were included in the latter group. The lineup that the Bruins rolled out for their first game after the deadline included some names the casual fan may not have recognized.
Along with these new additions, players who have spent most of their tenure in the Bruins’ organization down in Providence are now suiting it up for the NHL team. To the surprise of many, the Bruins have looked like a better team for the majority of the three games they have played since making these moves. Save for an embarrassing first period against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, they have looked faster and more competitive. Let’s take a look at a few of the players driving this shift in energy.
Casey Mittelstadt
The Bruins acquired Mittelstadt, prospect Will Zellers, and a second-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Charlie Coyle in a move that may have been a bit of a head-scratcher for the Avs. While a fan favorite and a solid NHL center, Coyle is 33 years old, and exchanging him for the younger and faster Mittelstadt seems like a win for a team that is retooling. To add a prospect and a second-round pick in addition to that swap is icing on the cake.
Mittelstadt has made an immediate impact in Boston, tallying three points in as many games and getting his first goal as a member of the Bruins in the first period of Thursday night’s game. His hot start has him at 37 points in 66 games, and he figures to be a mainstay in the Bruins’ lineup for the next two seasons, as he is in the first of a three-year deal. Mittelstadt is just 26 years old; by moving Coyle, general manager Don Sweeney was able to exchange a player exiting his prime for a player who is likely entering his prime.
Jakub Lauko, Marat Khusnutdinov
The Bruins sent Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Lauko, Khusnutdinov, and a sixth-round pick. Lauko is no stranger in Boston, as he appeared in 60 games for the record-setting 2022-23 Bruins. Khusnutdinov is a 22-year-old forward from Russia who has appeared in 73 games for the Wild over the last two seasons. The move makes the Bruins quicker. Brazeau was an effective bottom-six forward, providing Boston with a presence on the forecheck and a net-front body to be reckoned with. However, he lacked the speed that this duo provides.
These two newcomers made an impact right off the bat. The Bruins have appeared much faster in their first games since the deadline, and the team has been able to generate scoring chances from top to bottom, something they struggled with previously. Lauko has picked up an assist, and Khusnutdinov scored a goal against the Senators after using his quickness to get open in transition. Both of these forwards are on expiring contracts, so the next 15 or so games will be key in gauging if they will be a part of the Bruins’ plans going forward, but so far, so good.
Immediate Impact
While it may have been tough watching the Bruins deal members of their team who had been in Boston for so long, it has been encouraging to see the performance of the newcomers. Mittelstadt has already appeared to be a great addition to the lineup, and the young talent that has come in has already shown promise, making the team quicker and enhancing their motor. While the Bruins are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, the team is giving fans reason to be excited about the future.
