Bruins acquire Nick Holden from Rangers in exchange for Rob O'Gara, pick

The Bruins have acquired defenseman Nick Holden from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Rob O'Gara and a third-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Holden, 30, is the left-handed shot Bruins GM Don Sweeney has been looking to add to the mix on Boston's blue line. Holden has three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 55 games for the Rangers this season.

"We've been pretty obvious in the fact that we'd like to improve our left-side depth overall," Sweeney told reporters in Edmonton. "We're very happy with the players and the way they've played, in particular Matt Grzelcyk and how he's come up and integrated into our group."

Sweeney pointed out that the Bruins were using their 10th defenseman last season when they earned a playoff spot, so the GM wanted to address that need again this season and he did that with this deal for Holden.

"We’re going to incorporate him into our lineup and see where we go," Sweeney said. "I think you have to acknowledge the need for the depth."

BSJ analysis of this move and what it means for the trade deadline

UPDATE: Added quotes from Holden to BSJ with his reaction to the deal



Even though the Bruins will be the fourth organization Holden's played for, I like this move by Sweeney. When he's at his best, Holden is a consistent, reliable defenseman at both ends of the ice.

This move gives the Bruins added depth on the left side with a player who can play extended minutes when the team needs it. Holden has the ability to play on special teams. Basically, this acquisition is a solid insurance policy for the Bruins. At 6-foot-4, 214-pound, Holden also adds a physical presence. Plus, he has plenty of experience, including the postseason. His acquisition won't change the lineup at this point. Having Holden, Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller as the defensemen in the bottom pairs, then the Bruins will be in good shape. Any of those players can play extended minutes in any situation.

If the Bruins' blue line suffered any injuries down the stretch, or doing the Stanley Cup playoffs, Holden is a player who can step right in. He won't be thrust into the lineup right now. Since Miller will not return tonight against the Oilers in Edmonton, the pairings will remain the same.

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-McQuaid

Now the extras are Miller, Holden, Paul Postma.

This is a deal that works for both the Rangers and the Bruins.

"When I found out this morning, for me, it's just excitement," Holden told BostonSportsJournal.com. "It's such a good team that they have right now, so to be able to come in and join them and hopefully add to that and help the team win is where I'm at in my career. I want to obviously win, so right now it's just excitement. I'm happy to help in any way that I can. I keep using the word 'excitement' but I'm excited to meet the guys and get going."

Given the current state of the Rangers, Holden said he's not surprised by the trade.

"Anytime you get traded it's a shock, but with what happened last week when the Rangers came out and said that they're going to do a rebuild, I had somewhat of an idea, and my agent had heard some stuff. It wasn't a complete shock. . . at this point of my career, I want to win and I want to help the team win, so for Boston to want me to come there and help in any way that I can, I'm just grateful for the opportunity."

Since the Bruins are in Edmonton, Holden will join the team when it arrives in Toronto on Wednesday.

Moving forward, don't expect Sweeney to make a drastic move before the deadline. He's added the necessary depth on the blue line, and if he does do anything offensively, it will likely be a similar depth-move up front. The asking price from other teams is ridiculously high and there's no reason for the Bruins to go that route with a big-name acquisition.

The Bruins are still paying close attention to veteran forward Brian Gionta, who is the captain of Team USA at the Winter Olympics. And, with the way prospect Ryan Donato is playing in the Olympics, he's a possibility to sign after his collegiate season is over at Harvard.

The Bruins are built for the long term and the team's current chemistry is off the charts. Sweeney plans on being smart with his blueprint.

Holden was a 20-year-old unrestricted free agent coming out of juniors when he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He honed his skills in the AHL. He was stuck in the organization and only played seven NHL games in five seasons. He signed with the Avalanche as a free agent in 2013 and developed into an NHL defenseman during his three seasons in Colorado. He was traded to the Rangers on June 25, 2016.