Bruins Rumors & News: Merkulov, Pastrnak, Swayman, & More
A top Bruins center on the trade market was moved to a Western Conference team, and Jim Montgomery, Jeremy Swayman, and David Pastrnak return from All-Star Weekend in this edition of Boston Bruins News & Rumors. The Black and Gold’s 10-day vacation is coming to a close. Georgii Merkulov, who spent some time in Boston earlier this season, receives an accolade, the Bruins start a seven-game homestand after the break, and more.
Pastrnak David and Swayman JeremyAfter the All-Star Game, return
Pastrnak (Team McDavid) and Swayman (Team MacKinnon), the two Bruins players who were selected for the All-Star Game, participated in the game on Saturday, with Montgomery serving as Team Matthews’ coach. In a 4-3 shootout victory over Swayman, Pastrnak not only scored a goal but also provided an assist. In the shootout, Boston’s top scorer scored the game-winning goal. Pastrnak scored another goal and provided an assist in the 7-4 victory over Montgomery and Team Matthews.
Pastrnak took part in the stick-handling and one-timer challenges one evening earlier at the Skills Competition. The Toronto crowd booed him when he was announced, but he smiled and kissed the Spoked-B on the front of his jersey. “It was inevitable that I would be jeered, but I’m not Marchy.I then heard a few jeers. After the event, Pastrnak remarked, “I just kissed the logo to let them know I’m a proud Bruin.”
Bruins Center Trade Target Traded
The Bruins general manager (GM), Don Sweeney, may have options if he decides to add another pivot to his squad. The trade deadline is March 8th, but a few teams wasted no time in seizing a couple of the best centers available. The Boston Bruins lost their first-round draft pick for this season when they sent it to the Detroit Red Wings during the previous trade deadline in exchange for Tyler Bertuzzi. Elias Lindholm, who was linked to Boston, was traded by the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks, and the Montreal Canadiens sent Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets.
On his 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman stated that the Bruins will be among the teams hoping to pursue Lindholm, who hasn’t signed an agreement with the Canucks yet, should he become a free agent. Friedman stated, “I think the Bruins are going to be in there (to sign him) if Lindholm hits the market this summer.”
It would have been tough to see the Canadiens and Bruins work out a trade for Monahan, but if Sweeney wants to bolster his current team with a center, he will now need to look elsewhere. It will be intriguing to see how Boston reacts to the trade deadline throughout the course of the upcoming month.
Georgii Merkulov AHL All-Star designation
Merkulov made his NHL debut for the Bruins earlier this season, averaging little over 10 minutes per night while playing in four games without scoring a point. While he did play well at times, the Providence Bruins sent him back to the AHL. He’s still making an impression down there, just as he did the season before, and his reward for his hard work will be a spot in the AHL All-Star Game on February 5 in San Jose. This season, the former Ohio State center has 16 goals and 25 assists in 40 games for Providence. He was the sole player from the P-Bruins to play in the game last season, when he finished with 24 goals and 31 assists in his first complete professional season.
Former Boston Bruins goalie Lacher dies
On February 2, the Bruins revealed that former goalie Blaine Lacher had passed away unexpectedly. Over two seasons (1994–1995), he played in 47 career games and finished with a 22–16–4 record, 2.80 goals against average (GAA), and a.887 save percentage (SV%) with four shutouts. Lacher, who attended Lake Superior State for his collegiate hockey career, was only 53 years old.
Bruins Get Back on Track Against Flames
The 10-day All-Star Break is almost over for the Bruins, who will begin their post-break with a crucial seven-game homestand against the Flames on Tuesday, February 6. The Black and Gold need to make the most of their homestand since they have a five-point advantage over the Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division and another journey out west via Western Canada is coming up.
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