Bruins Load Up With Moves For Hall, Lazar, And Reilly + NHL Notes

The Boston Bruins made a pair of signifcant deadline moves that solidified their top-six, fourth line, and defense, making them a deeper team than they were the day before. First, they sent a 3rd round pick in 2022 to Ottawa for D Mike Reilly. Not long after that, Bucci dropped this...

The news was further confirmed by Canada's wired-in hockey writers that the Bruins had indeed landed Taylor Hall as well as Curtis Lazar for Anders Bjork and a 2nd round pick this summer. Many folks were surprised that Hall netted only a 2nd but his play this year dulled the market for his services and teams weren't willing to part with a 1st. Getting Lazar for Bjork and for half the price was a nice move by GM Don Sweeney.

The Bruins added three guys who jumped immediately into the line-up and improved the overall depth of the squad. Reilly might not have been the sexiest name on the market but Bs fans will really like what the solid vet brings to the team. He makes the top four that much better and has some nice offensive touch in his game. They'll love Lazar on the fourth line and got a good look at what he can do their in his first game, hemming teams in the O zone. He'll also pop in a few goals. Plus, he's forever a legend for this...

But Hall was the main piece for the Bs. He had just two goals for the Sabres and he looked less than engaged at times. Even if he ends up 0-0--0 and the Bruins lose in the first round, it was still a risk worth taking by Sweeney. 

The Bruins are betting that a change of scenery to a functional franchise and a good team will do wonders for Hall. And it should. He's entering a room with well-respected veteran leadership and a 15-year-culture of winning firmly ensconced. Whatever talk you've heard about Hall, it's hard to imagine he won't fall into line when arguably the most-respected player in the league is wearing the C (I was half expecting the Bs to have a Geiger counter outside of the locker room based on all the sportz taeks on social media). It's also the type of group to pick a guy up when he needs it, which Hall may well need right now. 

Before last night's game, Hall hadn't played in 10 days. He had one practice. He told us that his confidence was shot and that he'll do whatever is asked of him. Against his old team last night, he did look like like a guy adapting to a new team, system, and coach and that's accepted. He got better as the game went on and helped the rush that led to this Craig Smith goal...

The guess here is that Hall will get better as he adapts and gets more comfortable with his surroundings. He's 29 with plenty left in the tank and still talented as hell. He told us on Spittin' Chiclets years ago that he wanted to come to Boston before his draft.

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This situation is an ideal one for Hall to recapture the form that led to him winning a Hart Trophy three years ago. He's playing alongside one of the best playmakers in the game on a team poised to make a Cup surrounded by quality leadership. Not to mention, he's also playing for a deal next year whether it's here in Boston or somewhere else. Taylor Hall went from a shitty spot in Buffalo to a chance at the Stanley Cup. Let's see what he makes of it.

Here's a few more buds for your bowl...

*Despite the moves by Sweeney, the key to a Cup run is still Tuukka Rask. He should be back in line-up this week. But having him as close to 100% as he can be should be the priority for the Bs. The Rangers have made things interesting in the East after Philly shit the bed so they may need to use him to help solidify their playoff spot. But the Bruins will go as far as a healthy Rask will take them.

*Smith has really come around lately after a slow start. He's a pretty damn good player and Bs fans are getting to see what he can add to a team. He's gonna be big for them in the playoffs.

*Congrats to former Bruin Milan Lucic who played in his 1000th game last night in Toronto. How did he celebrate it?

*Scott Sabourin is a tough kid and got a nice couple of lefts in before eating a few from Looch.

*Speaking of eating a few...

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*Gotta give full credit to Tage Thompson for taking on one of the toughest guys in the league last night. He didn't like the way Kevan Miller hit his teammate so he did something about it. But I'm not sure he knew just how much of a savage Miller is. 

*Calgary traded goalie David Rittich to Toronto at the deadline. Their next opponent after the deadline? The Leafs. So Rittich traveled with his former team to meet with his new team. I'm not sure I've heard that before but it probably made the most sense for all involved. 

*Keith Jones does not hold back in his accurate assessment of the Flyers laying an egg this season. 

*Anthony Mantha to the Caps was, by far, the biggest shocker of the deadline. The Wings just signed him to a 4-year/$22.8M deal in November so nobody expected Stevie Y to send him packing to D.C. In return, the Wings got pending RFA Jakub Vrana, Richard Panik, a 1st this year, and a 2nd next year. A curious move but I'm not questioning Stevie Y. Dude knows what he doing and had his reason(s). Regardless, the Caps got a damn good player that gives them a dynamic they didn't have before. 

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*Per Dreger, the Rangers were willing to terminate Tony DeAngelo's deal to allow him to pass through waivers and sign somewhere else as a free agent (Montreal was said to be interested). However, Tony D declined and will be bought out this summer. He'll continue to be paid for the remainder of the season by the Rangers for not playing for the Rangers. But he will get signed for the '21-'22 season by someone.