A Bruins trade for Artemi Panarin? Even Bruce Cassidy has pondered it

The NHL Trade Deadline is now less than three weeks away, and a Bruins team with a few holes up front seems poised to strike at some point over the next 17 days.

Don Sweeney and his staff have been linked to a number of targets dangling out on the market, but the one name that continues to spark the most interest is Blue Jackets winger Artemi Panarin — and for good reason.

The Russian winger — poised for a big payday this summer and likely on his way out of Columbus — is the top trade-deadline prize that’s reportedly available, and Boston certainly has the assets to acquire him (although there are plenty of risks involved with going all in on a rental).

Still, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Bruins fan that wouldn’t be tantalized by Panarin’s offensive contributions to B's club that ranks 21st in goals per game (2.85) and 27th in 5v5 goals (54).

Only six players have scored more than Panarin since the 27-year-old sniper jumped over from the KHL to North America — Patrick Kane, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Blake Wheeler, and Johnny Gaudreau.

If you trim it down to just even-strength points, only McDavid and Kane have scored more than Panarin since the 2015 season.

Panarin would provide a major boost to this Bruins club, but the trade-deadline fervor surrounding the Blue Jackets forward is not just reserved for fans on the interweb. 

Speaking after Friday’s morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena, Cassidy gave his thoughts on how he approaches the upcoming trade deadline — noting that he, just like the rest of us, has kept a close watch on the rumor mill.



“I don’t talk to players about the trade deadline,” Cassidy said. “I think they’re all aware of what’s going on. We just try to deal every day with the lineup that we have and how we can get better. Do we move pieces around? That’s it. I try to stay in the moment. No different than any other day.

“Of course, when I go home tonight, I’m thinking, ‘I wonder if we trade for Panarin tonight?’ You know I’m human. But that’s it, then it’s gone. Then I’m cooking burgers or something at home. I don’t concern myself with it a whole lot.”

Cassidy did note later: “I was using Panarin as an example, again. I don’t want to get fined or anything. I don’t know if I’m allowed to comment on other team’s players.”

As expected, Cassidy noted Sweeney has been active in the weeks leading up to the deadline in an effort to put Boston in position to contend once again in what has been a loaded Atlantic Division.

“There is a discussion on some players that could be available,” Cassidy said of the collaboration between Boston’s coaching staff and upper management. “We talk about our lineup, where is the biggest pressing need.

“Last year, for example, we all talked about how we could use a winger for (David Krejci), went out and got it (Rick Nash). That becomes (Sweeney’s) call. … We’ll talk. I think Donny is making calls, but if anything happens or not, I don’t know. That’s where it’s at right now, that’s where it goes.”

Even if Boston doesn’t swing for the fences with a player like Panarin, there are plenty of other options for the Bruins to target ahead of the deadline.

For now, though, Cassidy will continue to try to shore up Boston’s flaws from within the organization.

“There’s areas of course we can improve on, but I don’t want to disrespect the players in the room,” Cassidy said. “We’re trying to make it work with a young third-line center, then if not, we move (Sean) Kuraly up — maybe that’s as early as tomorrow. See how that goes there. We’re always going to have options, but again, if a better player came along that fits there from another organization, hey, I’ll be happy if that makes our team better.”