The Bruins are 13-4-1 and first in the Atlantic, yet Boston's name keeps surfacing in trade talk around Dylan Larkin.
That's the story of the week on Causeway Street. A team on a four-game winning streak spent Monday and Tuesday being asked what it still needs.
It started Monday, when David Pagnotta said the Bruins have poked around on Larkin and Simon Edvinsson and want to add one or two long-term pieces. The same day, Elliotte Friedman heard that the Bruins wonder why Larkin's list skips them.
Frank Seravalli then put Boston among the teams not on that list. This morning he said the Bruins could still sneak into the conversation.
The record explains the interest. Boston sits fourth in the NHL with a +27 goal differential, and the front office doesn't need a rescue. It's shopping from strength, which is the best place to shop.
Pagnotta says the Bruins would like another winger. He also put a Pavel Zacha question to Boston on Daily Faceoff Live this afternoon.
Who else is in on Simon Edvinsson?
Plenty of teams. A new report puts the Bruins among six clubs talking with Detroit about Simon Edvinsson's trade market. Boston wouldn't be alone in line.
Kyle Dubas has also set a price on Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, and Friedman says the Penguins GM will deal if a team meets it. That gives Don Sweeney another option without a bidding war.
My view: a team that's 8-1-0 at home and leads its division should add one piece that fits the long-term plan, not chase every name on the board. Pay for a player who helps now and in two years. Don't overpay to win a rumor cycle.
The week had a lot more going on than trades.
Mikey Eyssimont scored the winner in his season debut Sunday, and Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves in the 4-1 win over the Panthers. Nikita Zadorov and Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves at the start, and Marco Sturm said he has no problem with fighting. James Hagens is on injured reserve, and Charlie McAvoy went to the room after the Lundell scrum. Beyond that, we have no update on McAvoy.
Then came Monday night, when Patrice Bergeron went into the Hall of Fame. Ray Bourque, Cam Neely and Zdeno Chara were in the building, and Bergeron singled out Chara and Brad Marchand in his speech.
The room is carrying that into Thursday, when the Bruins host Montreal. Whether Sweeney makes his move before the next homestand is the question that stays open.
Quick hits
WINNIPEG JETSChris Johnston relayed that Connor Hellebuyck says things that happened to his family in Winnipeg "crossed the line." Pointed words in a trade request.
ANAHEIM DUCKSRotoWire reports Troy Terry is likely to play Wednesday against Nashville. It would be his season debut, and the Ducks could use him.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINSSam Girard was not on the ice at practice in Los Angeles. Dan Muse has new lines for Wednesday's game at San Jose.
LOS ANGELES KINGSRotoWire lists Anton Forsberg as the starter tonight against the Predators. Darcy Kuemper's status is still unclear.
SAN JOSE SHARKSMason Marchment was fined $5,000, the maximum under the CBA, for roughing Islanders rookie Victor Eklund. Expensive night.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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