NHL Source: If Bruins Want Chychrun, They're Moving A Roster D

NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman said in his most recent 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet that he wouldn't be shocked if the Boston Bruins have at least looked at trading for Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Boston is reportedly involved in the left-defence market as well. Friedman stated, "I wouldn't be shocked if they've looked in on Jakob Chychrun and Vladislav Gavrikov, among others. Just last week, Vladislav Gavrikov was a name cited here in relation to NHL trade rumours, and it seems inevitable that he will be dealt before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3. However, as Friedman noted and I said on Wednesday's "Jeff Marek Show,"Don Sweeney, the general manager of the Boston Bruins, is in the difficult position on Wednesday of juggling the future with going all out to achieve another Stanley Cup for Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.They have unique chemistry, and interfering with it might be harmful. But given that you are unsure of how long the group will remain as a unit, this year is definitely one to take risks. You also don't know how long your top two centres, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, will be giving you a combined $3.5 million against the cap. (Yes, bonuses will be an issue for them the next season, but it's still a gift.) This is precisely the same circumstance Sweeney encountered when he attempted to trade for centre Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks during the last month. The Canucks are interested in Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo and are much more interested in winger Jake DeBrusk as part of any NHL trade deal from the Bruins, several sources have confirmed to Boston Hockey Now. Sweeney wasn't interested in trading either of them and perhaps changing the roster unless he could quickly sign Horvat to a contract extension, like he did with defender Hampus Lindholm after he was acquired at the trade deadline. Horvat ended up with the New York Islanders.By the way, it appears that DeBrusk was totally off-limits and will continue to be so until the end of current season. How about Carlo? If Sweeney really wants to acquire Chychrun on the NHL trade market, it could also be necessary to acquire a roster defenseman like him or Matt Grzelcyk, but I'd think that's quite unlikely. To accommodate Chychrun's roster and cap space, it would presumably go to another team rather than the Coyotes. Two seasons remain on Jakob Chychrun's deal, which carries a $4.6 million AAV. An NHL source informed BHN on Thursday that "the Bruins are shifting a roster D" if they want Chychrun. "I'd be astonished if they pursue him now, even though he makes them better today and going forward "When you examine what occurred with Horvat, I believe Sweeney's aim is to add without significant subtraction," said Sweeney. "To make that happen, they'd need to transfer a current member on their defence, whether it's to the Coyotes or another club." With regard to Bo Horvat, my BHN coworker Joe Haggerty expressed the same viewpoint here on Wednesday, and it totally makes sense considering how dominating the Bruins have been this season.