Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! The playoff races are heating up and contenders are planning their next moves. With seeding being important, it is going to be a grueling fight to the finish. One key division to keep an eye on is the Atlantic Division, as the teams are close in points. Today’s rumours surround the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins.
NHL Rumours
Toronto Maple Leafs
Rumour: Elliote Friedman on 32 Thoughts discusses the carousel on the Leafs blueline
The Maple Leafs can’t catch a break when it comes to losing defenceman. After losing John Klingberg for the season, changes had to be made. Conor Timmins is sick and the team is also without Timothy Liljegren and shutdown defenceman Mark Giordano. Thats a tough pill to swallow and losing bodies like that hurts. Adding more to that, the team’s newest member in Ilya Lyubushkin got hurt in the first game as a Maple Leaf. Chalk it up to bad luck or the hockey God’s being against them but now what do they do?
Friedman outlines a list of names that the team has checked in on, so they attempt to land one is evident. However, the team is aiming for a more long term approach and not just a player on an expiring deal. It remains to be seen who they can acquire, but props for Sheldon Keefe getting this team playing the way they are while being banged up.
Depending how long Lyubushkin is out for and who they can bring up, Toronto making another minor move for a defenceman is not something that should shock anybody. Although, they could do what other teams have done and tread water until the bodies return.
Boston Bruins
Rumour: Elliote Friedman on 32 Thoughts says the Bruins have discussed an extension for Jeremy Swayman
The next set of NHL Rumours keeps us in the Atlantic Division. One of the teams to watch for is the Boston Bruins. They have glaring holes on the roster despite being one of the best teams in the league. However, they do not have the most assets and lack financial flexibility. One thing is for certain, and that’s that they have two quality goalies. Friedman says they are in talks with one of them for an extension.
The Bruins and Jeremy Swayman have had talks regarding an extension. He has been the better goalie of the two and is showing that he is worthy of a long term deal. In addition, he has been one of the better goalies this season. Swayman has a 2.53 goals against average, .919 save percentage, and 13.1 goals saved above expected.
The Bruins have a luxury most teams do not have and eventually a key decision will have to be made. It appears that they are leaning more heavily towards Swayman, which begs the question how they handle Linus Ullmark. In Providence, the Bruins have two young goalies who could make the jump to the big roster, so more key decisions loom. Signing Swayman is a massive deal and gives the Bruins a young but great starting goalies for years.
Main Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
