Bruins offseason: B's may find a way to boost the defense via free agency

As the Bruins sink into the offseason, attention will start to shift toward their needs and how they can make the various moves to help their team.

One of the biggest takeaways from the postseason was the Bruins need help on defense. For the most part, they shut down the Lightning’s top Steven Stamkos line, but the rest of their offense ran roughshod over the Bruins. The odds are both Rick Nash and Riley Nash are leaving as free agents, too, which leaves some potential voids to fill on offense.

The Bruins have a lot of depth at center and wing they feel good about. Ryan Donato is a natural center but the Bruins favored him at left wing when he joined the team this season from Harvard. He proved he can play there, but he could get a crack at center in training camp. Sean Kuraly was solid on the fourth line and showed his abilities in the playoffs. He was moved to the third line in Game 5 with Jake DeBrusk and David Backes and I liked the energy they brought before Backes was injured.

Jakob Forsbacka Carlsson, Austin Czarnik, Jack Studnicka, and Trent Frederick are all in the system. There will be help on offense, and I don’t expect the Bruins to look for outside reinforcements.

There might not be as much immediate help available on defense. Here’s a look at possible free-agent and trade targets the Bruins should keep an eye on this summer. They don’t have a ton of cap space, projected to be just under $10 million according to capfriendly.com.

STATE OF THE BRUINS DEFENSE

The Bruins top-pairing of Chara and Charlie McAvoy isn’t expected to break up anytime soon. Chara showed he can still play at an elite level. Chara still continues to find a way not to fall behind in an evolving league despite his ascending age. The 41-year-old still logs monster minutes for the Bruins and it’d be ideal to get him some help to ease the burden.

McAvoy had a strong rookie season. I liked the way he responded against the Lighting. After having a bad first series against the Maple Leafs (likely due to a lingering injury from the regular season), he got more involved offensively and continued to make adjustments.

Carlo may be the answer for the Bruins eventually on the second pairing, but he’s not quite there yet. Krug has a terrific offensive presence, but the Bruins need a shutdown, physical defender next to him. Matt Grzelcyk also came along nicely in his first season. He had 12 assists and was poised with the puck for the most part, aside from his muffed popup against the Lightning. The game has evolved to favor faster, quicker players, but having two 5-foot-9 defenders in Krug and Grzelcyk doesn’t seem ideal for the Bruins. Kevan Miller brings a lot of toughness to the Bruins blue line, but he’s likely better suited on the bottom pairing. And lastly, the Bruins still have Adam McQuaid, who seemingly will be blocking shots and eating short-handed minutes forever.

FREE-AGENT OPTIONS

John Carlson, 28, 6-3, 218 pounds, shoots right


Let’s get this one out of the way early: The 28-year-old Capitals defenseman has three goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games, producing at a pace that’s hasn’t dropped off from his tremendous regular season where he led all blue-liners in points. He’s an aggressive defender who takes smart chances as the Capitals top defender. Talk about earning your value. Carlson is expected to be one of the prized free agents and will come at a handsome price to match. He’ll probably draw at least $6 million annually. The Bruins don’t have that kind of cash and landing Carlson is nothing more than a pipe dream.

Calvin De Haan, 26, 6-1, 198 pounds, shoots left


I like De Haan’s game a lot and I think it can fit well with what the Bruins should be looking for. The Islanders defenseman had shoulder surgery and was ruled out for the remainder of the season in December, but is expected to be healthy. Before he went down, he blocked 65 shots in 33 games and had 12 points. He logged just under 19 minutes and was valuable on the penalty kill. He made $3.3 million last season, but could come at a discount following the injury. Prior to the injury, De Haan played 82 and 72 games in the last two seasons, respectively.

Lucas Sbisa, 28, 6-2, 209 pounds, shoots left

Like De Hann, Sbisa missed time this season. He had surgery for a ruptured ligament in his hand and returned in time for the playoffs for the Golden Knights. The Canucks left him exposed last year, which landed him in Vegas. Sbisa’s 43.17 Corsi For Percentage is low – it indicates he’s losing the shot battle which is not ideal for a defenseman. But he also faced opposing team’s top lines when he was on the team’s second-pairing, which is worth keeping in mind.

Ian Cole, 29, 6-1, 219 pounds, shoots left

Pretty wild year for Cole, who was traded from the Penguins to the Senators on Feb. 23. Before he even played for the Senators, he was flipped again three days later to the Blue Jackets. He finished with 20 points after a career-high 26 the season prior. He made $2.1 million this season, a figure more suitable for the Bruins. He was part of the Penguins team that won consecutive Stanley Cups the last two seasons, good experience that could serve the Bruins youth, and plays a more traditional, heavy game.

Jack Johnson, 31, 6-1, 230 pounds, shoots left

Johnson was a popular name at the trade deadline, specifically after the report he requested a trade from the Blue Jackets. He seems unlikely to return to Columbus, especially after he was a healthy scratch in his team's first-round playoff series to the Capitals. He doesn't bring the offensive pop he used to. Johnson combined for 58 points in the last three seasons after he had 40 in 2014-15. He's still a good defender and his 135 blocked shots were second on the team. He logged just under 20 minutes per game on the ice and could be a good fit on the Bruins second pairing.

Jacob Trouba, 24, 6-2, 201 pounds, shoots right

Trouba has never had a season in the NHL with less than 21 points. The ninth overall draft pick from the 2012 class signed a bridge deal with the Jets in 2016 and is now a restricted free agent. His restricted status will make him a tough get in free agency for the Bruins. He made a $3.5 million base salary in 2017 and that's what the minimum qualifying offer would be from the Jets. The Bruins would need to spend a bit of cash to pry him away, plus the compensatory draft picks associated with it.

TRADE TARGETS

Noah Hanifin, 21, 6-3, 206 pounds, shoots left

He’s been in the league for three years and it feels like he’s been on the trade block for 10. Hanifin’s name was a popular one around the league’s trade deadline. He’s a big draw for the Hurricanes and would command a heavy package of talent. He had a career-high 32 points this season but was on the ice for 58 goals, fourth-most on the Hurricanes. It’d be a nice homecoming for the former Boston College standout and Norwood native, but I don’t think the Bruins would be inclined to match the type of package that’d be required to get him.

TRADE CHIP

Torey Krug, 27, 5-9, 186, shoots left

There's a lot to like about Krug's game. He's a force on offense and his 59 regular-season points were the fourth-most on the Bruins. He's a smooth puck handler who can get plays going into the offensive zone. As I mentioned above, the Bruins now have two 5-foot-9 defensemen with Krug and Grzelcyk. Krug is scheduled to make $5.25 million next season. Grzelcyk is a restricted free agent who will cost just under $900,000. There's no doubt that Krug is a far superior offensive talent, and he's a proven player with experience. I still think there is room for Krug to grow his game defensively, but if the Bruins feel less inclined to pay his salary with Grzelcyk coming through the system, he could be on the move. If the Bruins do in fact move on from Krug, the emphasis will be on a left-shot defenseman to take his spot on the left side. It's optimal to have left-shot defenseman on the left side, but not a requirement and the Bruins could make it work another way if they choose to.