Welcome to the NHL Trade Buzz. There are four days remaining until the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET, and the Buzz is picking up. Do the Boston Bruins have more trades planned? Are Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes nearing the end of their time with the New York Rangers?
Here’s a look around the League at the latest deadline doings:
Boston Bruins
General manager Don Sweeney is happy with the Bruins roster after they acquired forward Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Wild for forward Ryan Donato and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft on Wednesday. Sweeney’s also not sure if the Bruins will do anything else prior to the NHL Trade Deadline.
“Will we look at adding more depth? Possibly. We feel good about where we’re at, but you’re never comfortable,” Sweeney said on a conference call Thursday. “We are going to continue to make calls, receive calls and we will continue to look at the market place and see what may or may not fit with our club. We’ll cross our fingers that we’ll stay healthy. We’ll continue to look at areas, but we’re excited.”
[RELATED: 2018-19 NHL Trade Tracker]
Coyle is a native of Weymouth, Massachusetts, about a half hour south of Boston. The 26-year-old had 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 60 games for the Wild this season and has 242 points (91 goals, 151 assists) in 479 career games. Coyle has played wing and center, but Sweeney expects Coyle to be used mostly at center with the Bruins.
“I like his size and strength there,” said Sweeney, who’s discussed with coach Bruce Cassidy where Coyle fits best. “Where will Charlie feel most comfortable? Where does [Cassidy] feel he can make the most impact? There’s an area there. With [forward David] Pastrnak out of the lineup, there’s the ability for him to move Charlie around, but let’s get him most comfortable. He’s played a lot of wing, but he’s a natural center, so that’s probably where he’ll start.”
The Bruins (36-17-8), who have won seven straight games, are second in the Atlantic Division, 16 points behind the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning and four points ahead of the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins play the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; NHLN, FS-MW, NESN, NHL.TV).
Video: A more in-depth look at the Charlie Coyle trade
New York Rangers
Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes have long been rumored to be potential trade options for the Rangers. Now it’s looking more likely that both will soon play for other teams.
The New York Post reported on Thursday that contract talks with the two forwards have stalled. Both Zuccarello and Hayes can become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Neither player has let trade rumors affect his production. Zuccarello, a 31-year-old right wing, who has 37 points (11 goals, 26 points) in 45 games, has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in his past 15 games. Hayes, a 26-year-old who primarily has played center with the Rangers, has 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 50 games, including nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past 10 games.
The Rangers (26-25-8) are nine points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Zuccarello and Hayes are expected to be in the lineup when the Rangers play the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV).
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