NHL Notebook: Do we have a new top trade target for Bruins in 2021-22?

Yes, Jack Eichel — the Boston native and apple of the eye of many Bruins fans — is still mired in the doldrums that is Buffalo. 

And as such, the slim hope for many in the Commonwealth when it comes to Eichel donning a black-and-gold sweater continues to flicker — the wisping flame kept alight only by the simple fact that the disgruntled center has still yet to find a new home even with training camp right around the corner.  

But as we noted way back in June, a reality in which Boston pries the North Chelmsford and BU product from Buffalo and slots him in as the Original Six franchise's next cornerstone cog just isn't tangible — be it the lack of assets in Boston's prospect pipeline, Eichel's cloudy track record in terms of his health, the star center's $10 million cap hit and the future complications that would arise if Boston somehow managed to accommodate it and, well, the simple fact that the Sabres likely want nothing to do with Boston on the trade front after the B's committed highway robbery on Kevyn Adams during the Taylor Hall trade. 

But in a hockey market like Boston — especially one swept up in the club's win-now window with players like Patrice Bergeron not getting any younger — it's only natural for fans to set their sights on a white whale each year, hoping that their favorite club has a chance to acquire a star player in an attempt to load up for one more promising Cup run. 

We've seen it for a few years now with Eichel. Patriots fans were well-accustomed to the regular rumors surrounding star wideouts like Larry Fitzgerald during the Brady era. Bradley Beal, anyone? 

But despite how discouraging it might be for B's fans that Eichel arriving in Boston any time soon might be a long-shot, the encouraging news is that the Bruins' hopes of bolstering talent down the middle doesn't begin and end with whether or not they can snag a superstar like Eichel. Because if Boston is still desperately seeking a replacement for David Krejci in a top-six spot come January or February, there is another appealing (and potentially more realistic) option available on the West Coast.

There’s a whole lot that can change over the course of an NHL season, but when it comes to gauging the potential kingmakers at the trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks make plenty of sense — especially if the rebuilding club is serious about moving their top-six pivot in Tomas Hertl.

For as much as clubs like the Sabres are a laughing stock across the league, you could make the argument that the Sharks are stuck staring at an even bleaker future. Because unlike the Sabres — who at least have promising youngsters in the pipeline like Owen Power — the Sharks are saddled with a middling prospect pool and not a lot of wiggle room when it comes to rebuilding and tossing out sunk costs due to a bevy of arduous contracts that no other team in the league would want to take off their hands. 

I mean, just how can you accelerate a rebuild when you've contracts like ...

• A rapidly declining Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million annual cap hit through 2027).
• A 36-year-old Brent Burns ($8 million annual cap hit through 2025).
• A 34-year-old Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($7 million annual cap hit through 2026).
• Evander Kane ($7 million annual cap hit through 2025).

... on the books? 

As such, the only way for Sharks GM Doug Wilson to try to restock for the future might be to deal the few appealing assets that other teams would actually covet — such as a Hertl or Kevin Lebanc.

As much as Hertl is a fan favorite in the Bay Area and a legit star center, his age (27) and contract ($5.625 million AAV in 2021-22 before free agency) make him a pretty obvious trade chip, and given the long road ahead for Wilson and the Sharks, it should seem rather obvious that Hertl isn't exactly on the same timeline as his team in terms of his own prime and when the Sharks could be in line to contend once again. 

So rather than let him walk in free agency, it makes all the sense in the world for Wilson to deal Hertl at some point this season — especially considering that the Czech center would draw interest from all over the league, especially from teams like the Bruins that are still stuck staring at an major hole in their lineup at 2C. 

Even though Hertl had a tough go of it for a few years in regards to knee injuries (torn MCL/PCL in December 2013, torn ACL in January 2020), the skilled forward still doesn't appear to be slowing down — posting 43 points over 50 games during last year's shortened schedule, including 32 points over his last 33 games. 

During his last "full season" (77 games) in 2018-19, Hertl buried 35 goals and posted 74 total points. But he's more than just an offensive sparkplug at 5v5 action and on the man advantage, as Hertl would fit right into the defensive-minded structure that the Bruins tend to thrive on thanks to his two-way acumen. Even though he likely won't be a Selke frontrunner, the Sharks weren't usually put on the ropes during Hertl's ice time, with the forward ranking in the 92nd percentile of NHL forwards in even-strength defense — no small feat, considering that he was also in the 75th percentile of NHL forwards in quality of competition. 

(David Krejci — an underrated two-way force — actually ranked 1st among NHL regulars last season with a 0.96 goals against per 60 minutes rate, but he was also aided by the fact that 65.90% of his faceoffs during 5v5 play were in the offensive zone. Hertl, meanwhile, had an offensive zone faceoff percentage of 45.25% — with more reps spent against tougher matchups in San Jose's own zone.)

When compared with the complications with an Eichel trade, Hertl sure seems like a much more attainable target for Boston when it comes to a potentially lower cost and an easier contract to absorb this season. Granted, it''d still be no easy task to acquire Hertl — especially when it comes to outbidding the multiple other teams vying to acquire the Sharks forward. The writing would be on the wall for Boston to potentially sacrifice valuable draft capital and prospects to seal the deal. 

Jeremy Swayman might have to be off limits in any move, but what about Mason Lohrei? Jack Studnicka? John Beecher? Even as a rental, the cost to acquire Hertl would be high — but if such a move gives Boston another legit 2C to pair with guys like Taylor Hall and Craig Smith (and subsequently pushes a Charlie Coyle back down to the third line), perhaps such is a move that Don Sweeney and Co. opt to make if it gives Boston at least one more legit shot at a Cup. And perhaps Boston is able to retain Hertl's services beyond this year, giving them a legit star center for the foreseeable future to pair with other foundational pieces like Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak. 

Of course, the Bruins won’t have to worry about allocating assets if Coyle runs with the opportunity presented to him as the team's new de-facto 2C — or if perhaps a guy like Studnicka finally puts it all together in 2021-22. 

But, despite the myriad of options available down the middle this season, there’s no guarantee that those options stand as effective solutions when it comes to accounting for the loss of production as a result of Krejci's sojourn back to the Czech Republic. 

As such, don't be surprised if you hear Hertl's name plenty of times throughout this season if Boston's carousel of pivots are struggling to get the job done in that top-six spot. There's no guarantee that Boston eventually lands the Sharks center — but half of the fun when it comes to setting one's sights on a new white whale is the pursuit, rather than the end result. Right, Ahab? 

NHL ready to drop hammer on unvaccinated players

After trudging through a 2020-21 season in which 12 teams experienced shutdowns, 132 total games were rescheduled, 55 games were postponed and 217 total players were placed on the COVID list, it sure seems like the NHL isn’t going to be very forgiving to players that don’t receive a COVID vaccine ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. 

According to the Associated Press, teams will be able to suspend unvaccinated players without pay if they can’t take part in hockey activities as part of protocols. Meanwhile, fully vaccinated players that DO test positive for COVID-19 will have it be treated as hockey injuries and will still be paid. Coaches and other team staff will be required to be fully vaccinated.

Even though there will still be regular testing for vaccinated players, unvaccinated players will be severely limited in terms of what they can do off the ice during the 2021-22 season. 

In a memo released to players by the NHL, other roadblocks for unvaccinated players include, per ESPN:

• During road trips, unvaccinated players will not be able to go anywhere besides the team hotel, practice facility and arena – and cannot go to the bar, restaurant, gym or pool at the team hotel. Unvaccinated players also can’t have teammates or visitors in their rooms on the road.
• Unvaccinated players can’t use saunas or carpool to arenas and are encouraged to not eat indoors or attend bars/clubs. 
•  Unvaccinated players will need to quarantine for seven days before training camp begins. While vaccinated players will be tested at least every three days during the season —  unvaccinated players will be tested each and every day. 
•  Unvaccinated players will be asked to not participate in community events — including speaking engagements, charity events, autograph sessions and even high-fiving or first-bumping fans. 
•  Unvaccinated players will not be able to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

So, yeah, it sure seems like the proper move for all players involved is to just get the jab and save yourself a ton of trouble during what is already the grind of an 82-game season. 

(One positive development in the NHL’s memo: NHL media — vaccinated and masked — will once again be allowed to enter locker rooms once more and interact with players. It’ll be good to be back in the room and bringing you more personnel and in-depth pieces once more in 2021-22 and beyond). 

B’s to take part in Prospects Challenge 

Boston’s training camp won’t officially get underway for at least a few more weeks, but some of the B’s most promising youngsters are set to take to the ice a bit earlier and battle against other clubs as part of the 2021 Prospects Challenge. 

The Prospects Challenge — hosted by the Buffalo Sabres — will take place from September 17-19 at LECOM HarborCenter and will feature three teams in the Bruins, Sabres and Devils. This marks the sixth time that the B’s have taken part in Buffalo’s Prospects Challenge — with Boston’s rookies taking on New Jersey and Buffalo in a round-robin challenge. 

Here is the 2021 Prospects Challenge game schedule: 

Friday, September 17 – Buffalo vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, September 18 – Boston vs. Buffalo, 3 p.m. ET  
Sunday, September 19 – Boston vs. New Jersey, 1 p.m. ET

A full roster for the Bruins will be released at a later date.