The Bruins are rolling right now, sitting 28-19-2 and riding a six-game winning streak that has them looking like a team nobody wants to play.

That's why it was jarring to see a current Bruin pop up as a trade candidate anyway. Andrew Peeke landed No. 23 on NHL insider Chris Johnston's latest trade board.

Johnston's read was blunt, Boston taking a real run at Rasmus Andersson likely would have pushed Peeke out as a pending UFA. Even without that deal, Peeke still sits in that “movable” lane.

Andrew Peeke may be moved by the Bruins

As a Bruins fan, I get the logic, but moving a defender during a heater feels like poking a sleeping bear.

Peeke is 27, shoots right, and stands 6-foot-3, which is basically the NHL's favorite prototype for a third pair stopper. He's also in the final year of his deal, carrying a $2.75 million cap hit.

In 48 games this season, Peeke has four goals and nine points, but he's also sitting at minus 11. Those numbers tell the story of a useful role player who has had some rough minutes.

The tricky part is roster shape. If Boston trades Peeke, the right side gets thinner fast, and you are suddenly shopping for another right shot defender in the exact same market.

At the same time, this is what “retooling on the fly” actually looks like. If the Bruins do not believe they can extend him, dealing Peeke before he walks is the cold, practical move.

Boston's next step is simple, decide whether this streak is a signal to add, or a reminder to protect the future. Either way, Peeke's name being out there makes every next win feel a little louder.