Dustin Byfuglien to Boston Bruins? Not right now
A brief history of the Dustin Byfuglien to the Boston Bruins rumors …
On July 27, Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com was asked about Byfuglien in his Hagg Bag, saying:
Given that the Bruins got a first-rounder, an NHL goaltender in Martin Jones, and a top AHL prospect in exchange for a rental in Milan Lucic, I think the Jets will be looking to get more for the final year of Dustin Byfuglien’s services. So I think the price would be a bit higher than this to get it done. But Byfuglien would also be an intriguing, versatile, talented fit for the Bruins if they have the right package of assets to interest Winnipeg. I just don’t see this kind of move happening right away.
The rumor continues its natural progression, wherein Eklund reports on Aug. 1 that Byfuglien is “Plan A” in the Bruins’ offseason scheme for their blueline.
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Haggerty was asked about Byfuglien again in an Aug. 28 mailbag, again saying that the cost would be too high to rent him. Then, on the Sept. 18 Great American Hockey Show, Haggerty put over Byfuglien’s offensive prowess, said the Bruins can get him in shape and “that can be a guy, in the last year of his contract, that makes a lot of sense.”
The Boston Globe piled on the Byfuglien to the Bruins beat on Sept. 27, writing about how Malcolm Subban wouldn’t likely be part of a trade but that Buff “would be a good addition” but “one that would come at a cost.”
The cap hit would be $5.2 million for Byfuglien, and the players going back the other way would be palpable. It starts with one of the Bruins’ two first-round picks next summer, potentially continues with one of the kids they drafted in the first round this season, and then likely includes a slightly used Kevan Miller, whose cap savings plus the Bruins’ available space could be enough to fit in Big Buff.
Will this happen? Maybe.
Will this happen soon? Not really, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (via Chris Nichols), even as talks aren’t happening between Byfuglien and the Winnipeg Jets:
“I’m hearing that there haven’t been many talks, if any at all. As a matter of fact, the contract I think that will occupy most of Jets’ time is probably Jacob Trouba’s.
“There have been a lot of rumors about Byfuglien to Boston. Boston is looking for a defenseman, but I’m under the impression that while anything is possible, right now they’re kind of looking for more cost-effective solutions, so I don’t know if that’s going to be reasonable.”
This isn’t to say that Boston couldn’t eventually be a landing spot for Byfuglien, this season and beyond, given the state of the Bruins’ defense. (Although we’re not sure how that plays with Keith Yandle heading to Boston, as it seems it’s his Vanekian destiny.)
The signing of Brent Seabrook to that $6.85 AAV deal probably means Byfuglien gets moved at some point this season. But perhaps now isn’t the right time for the Bruins or the Jets.
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