Just In: Bruins land star to solve goal-scoring needs

The Stanley Cup Final is nearly finished.

The greatest prize in sports will be in the building Tuesday night, and the Florida Panthers have a chance to win their first Stanley Cup. However, work in the offseason has already begun for the other 30 teams, as they prepare their next moves this summer.

Free agency (July 1) is quickly approaching, as is the NHL Draft (June 28). Some teams are eager to trade draft picks in order to improve their rosters, and some significant players may be available for sale. The Boston Bruins’ most valuable trade chip is goalie Linus Ullmark. The return of Ullmark remains to be seen, but there is one area where the Bruins can improve.

The Area of Improvement

Goals are scored, scored, and scored again. If there is one area where the Bruins can improve, it is in goal scoring. That is not to suggest they were completely ineffective in that regard. During the 2023-24 regular season, they ranked 13th in goals scored with 263. They also saw players like Morgan Geekie, Charlie Coyle, and Pavel Zacha enjoy successful seasons. It was great to see those people take on bigger roles and become influential depth players. However, goal scoring dried up in the playoffs and shifted in the opposite direction.

After a strong start to the playoffs, Brad Marchand did not score again, and Coyle and Zacha combined for two goals the whole series. The impactful depth that was obvious during the regular season was shut down at critical occasions. to the end of the season, general manager Don Sweeney hinted to it in his leaving interview, saying,

“It reared its head at the most inopportune time,” Sweeney stated, “that we weren’t able to finish in quality chances, and in some cases, guys that generally do finish in quality situations of that nature.”

This offseason, the Bruins have several alternatives for adding more scoring. Standout players in the free agent class include Jake Guentzel, Sam Reinhart, and Steven Stamkos. While spending in free agency is critical, Sweeney may turn to the trade market. Nikolaj Ehlers is the player the Bruins should be looking at and targeting.

The Player Ehlers Is

The Bruins require an injection of goal scoring. For the second consecutive year, David Pastrnak led the club in goals and was the only player to score more than 30 during the 2023-24 season. It remains to be known whether Jake DeBrusk will return, so enquiring about Ehlers makes sense for the Bruins.

I dream that one day I'm gonna look at Ehlers' card and it's not going to say "3rd Liner" pic.twitter.com/3wOKa7Kvq4

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 2, 2024

Ehlers is an exceptional player who can play both left and right wing. Having that extra versatility is a tremendous help when building the lineup. He is a player with incredible speed and skill. His ability to generate offense is obvious, as he is an effective playmaker and a great finisher.

Ehlers ended the 2023-24 season with 61 points, tied for third among Winnipeg Jets. He was anticipated to score 18.4 goals but ended up scoring 25 and demonstrating excellent finishing skills. He had 36 assists out of his 61 points (24 of which were main), demonstrating that he is much more than just a goal scorer. He also ranked 64th among skaters who played at least 55 minutes in terms of points per 60 minutes, at 2.81. The most important aspect of Ehlers’ performance is where he is coming from.

Ehlers has moved up and down the lineup. He has played on the top line alongside Mark Scheifele, as well as on the third line. It’s incredible for him to be able to produce in so many different places, especially for the Bruins. He would be a big asset to the Bruins and would fit in perfectly.

How Ehlers Benefits the Bruins

Ehlers could play on the top two lines and immediately increase productivity. Whether with Coyle or Zacha, a dynamic forward would be in the lineup. The Bruins are seeking for certain elements, and Ehlers is an ideal target. Sweeney mentioned that the Bruins needed an extra layer of goal scoring, but Cam Neely brought up another point.

“This game is fast,” Neely explained. “We aren’t as fast as we would like to be. Some of that was due to previous offseason, when we were severely limited in our ability to achieve our goals. I think Don and our pro staff did an excellent job last season in assembling a club that competed in the manner that they did.”

The Bruins want to go faster, and Ehlers is an ideal candidate because he uses his speed to generate opportunities and skates smoothly. He also adds scoring to the squad and, with a larger role, has the potential to score even more. With 25 goals and 61 points this season, he would have tied for third on the Bruins’ scoring list. He is an ideal fit, but acquiring him would be difficult.

A Perfect Fit But At What Cost?

There is no denying that Ehlers would make an excellent addition to the Bruins. Brad Marchand is getting older, so they need to plan for the future. Marchand continues to produce at a high pace (67 points in 2023-24), but he will eventually retire.

Ehlers has one year remaining on his deal and a salary cap hit of $6 million each season. Additionally, he has a modified no-movement clause. It would be a difficult trade to execute, considering the Bruins do not have a draft pick until the fourth round. If they receive a return for Ullmark, they could use some of the proceeds to purchase Ehlers.