The narrative dominating the NHL in recent weeks is the purported trade of Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Just about every club in the league has had one link or another to the former Norris Trophy winner. But the Boston Bruins won’t be one of them.
In a report published by RG Media, veteran NHL insider James Murphy confirmed the Bruins will be passing on Hughes. The club will be turning its focus, instead, on building its forward group. An inside source told Murphy:
“They’re (Bruins) not going to go after Hughes.”
The rationale behind the Bruins’ passing on Hughes is simple. Murphy’s source expounded on the matter by declaring:
“They’ve got a stud in McAvoy, and they’re still really focused on getting scoring help up front. They’ve been looking hard for a scoring forward, and that will keep going, but they know they don’t have the assets for Hughes, and that’s not their focus. It’s just not a match right now for Hughes.”
While the thought of teaming up Charlie McAvoy and Quinn Hughes could be something tantalizing for Bruins fans, it’s just not in the cards right now. The Bruins have had a resurgent season after a playoff miss last year.
So, the focus now will be on building a forward group that could compete this season and beyond. Boston lacks high-end scoring beyond all-world forward David Pastrnak. As such, the focus will be on bolstering the club’s offensive punch.
Bruins Lack Pieces Canucks Covet in Hughes Trade
It’s worth pointing out that the Canucks are in no rush to trade Hughes. But if they did, the purported price for the seventh overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft will be astronomical. The prevailing theory suggests that Vancouver is looking for a top-six center, a defenseman who could replace Hughes, and potentially multiple first-round picks.
Those are pieces the Bruins simply do not have. If anything, Boston is among the teams looking for a top-six center of its own. Additionally, the club doesn’t have anyone who could really replace Hughes.
Mason Lohrei was one piece believed to be available. But it hardly seems that the Canucks will take Lohrei as a replacement for Hughes.
Furthermore, the Bruins have futures like James Hagens. However, the belief is that the Canucks don’t want any futures. They want pieces that can help them contend now.
Boston May Pursue Hughes in Free Agency
The Bruins, like other teams out there, may kick the tires on Hughes if he ever hits free agency. That could be a more viable alternative for Boston. Signing Hughes would not require a massive depletion of team resources.
Moreover, the salary cap will be much higher in the 2027 offseason. Thus, the Bruins could be in a better position to sign Hughes rather than pursue him now.
It’s also worth underscoring that the Bruins may not be a contending club in a couple of seasons. As a result, the team’s priorities may change. The trend doesn’t seem to indicate the Bruins are heading towards a rebuild. Nevertheless, the tenuous grasp the club has on a winning season this year could change down the line.
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