Trade Deadline 2014

[PedroSpecialK]

Great, great trade for St. Louis. They upgrade in net in a huge way and add another great bottom 6 guy. They give up their 2nd from this past year and a 2015 1st/2016 3rd by way of futures, but they immediately become a top-3 contender for the Cup.
 
Stewart is signed through next year at $4.15m AAV. I would have to think he's going to Ottawa and Buffalo gets more futures. If they manage another 1st out of the Sens and can potentially move Halak for a 4th, they will have done very well for dealing a couple of impending UFAs.

 

[BoSoxFink]

@TSNBobMcKenzie: At this point in time, there is no deal pending between BUF and OTT.

sens are not involved apparently

 

[ForceAtHome]

Great, great trade for St. Louis. They upgrade in net in a huge way and add another great bottom 6 guy. They give up their 2nd from this past year and a 2015 1st/2016 3rd by way of futures, but they immediately become a top-3 contender for the Cup.
 
Stewart is signed through next year at $4.15m AAV. I would have to think he's going to Ottawa and Buffalo gets more futures. If they manage another 1st out of the Sens and can potentially move Halak for a 4th, they will have done very well for dealing a couple of impending UFAs.

 
They should be able to get something decent for Moulson as well.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

 
They should be able to get something decent for Moulson as well.

 
That's a big one as well, good point. Between Moulson, Stewart, Halak, Tallinder, and Konopka they should find themselves with a bevy of picks/prospects. 
 
Of course, this doesn't bode well for the Bruins 5 years down the line, but it's good to see a rebuilt done the right way instead of what Regier was trying to do.

 

[Toe Nash]

Halak's career SV% is .001 behind Miller's and he is 5 years younger. He has been less consistent and played behind better teams, but the actual difference is not as big as their reputations say and he will probably be way cheaper if BUF wants to re-sign him.
 
Miller is a 34-YO goalie who has been good, but not elite, for the past 3 years. The Sabres need to rebuild, and they're not going to re-sign him, so they probably get some pieces for the future and a month-long trial for Halak to see if you want to go with him for the next few years as you rebuild.
 
edit: or you can trade Halak too

 

[TheRealness]

Great, great trade for St. Louis. They upgrade in net in a huge way and add another great bottom 6 guy. They give up their 2nd from this past year and a 2015 1st/2016 3rd by way of futures, but they immediately become a top-3 contender for the Cup.
 
Stewart is signed through next year at $4.15m AAV. I would have to think he's going to Ottawa and Buffalo gets more futures. If they manage another 1st out of the Sens and can potentially move Halak for a 4th, they will have done very well for dealing a couple of impending UFAs.

I love this trade for them. Miller is going to thrive in front of that defense, and Ott will definitely help them come playoff time. My immediate reaction on seeing it was they would win the cup. Hopefully not of course, but this makes St. Louis extremely dangerous to win it all.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Halak's career SV% is .001 behind Miller's and he is 5 years younger. He has been less consistent and played behind better teams, but the actual difference is not as big as their reputations say and he will probably be way cheaper if BUF wants to re-sign him.
 
Miller is a 34-YO goalie who has been good, but not elite, for the past 3 years. The Sabres need to rebuild, and they're not going to re-sign him, so they probably get some pieces for the future and a month-long trial for Halak to see if you want to go with him for the next few years as you rebuild.

 
I think Miller has been excellent, if not elite this year. His .924 save percentage looks really nice compared to Enroth's .903 behind the same defense. Buffalo has played as a 68 point team with Miller starting this year. That's not good by any means, but when you consider they're playing at a laughable 39 point pace without Miller in net, it's saying something. This is admittedly cherry picking, but since October, Miller is 14-12-3 for the NHL-worst Sabres.
 
Disclaimer: my views may be skewed due to how awesome Miller has been against the Caps this year. In his two starts, he's stopped 49-of-50 and 28-of-29 in a pair of 2-1 victories over the Caps. He absolutely stole the show in each game and can be a total game changer still. I think Miller's difference in GAA between Buffalo and St. Louis will be interesting to look at come year end. Miller was facing 35.5 shots/60 in Buffalo while Elliott (25.3 shots/60) and Halak (26.9 shots/60) were facing around 10 fewer shots per game with the Blues.
 
Edit: If you keep Miller's SV% (.923) the same but reduce his shots faced from 35.5/60 min (Buffalo) to 26/60 min, his GAA drops from 2.72 to to 2.00 on the season based purely on the reduction in shots against.

 

[Toe Nash]

Well, a few things going on here.
 
I was skipping Miller's numbers this year for no good reason. So yes he's better this year, though league SV% has continued to go up.
 

 
The new wisdom is that quality of team defense doesn't affect goalie's SV% as much as you would assume. Obviously it affects GAA as they face more shots, but goalies largely save the same percentage of them at the NHL level. So, Miller seems to be getting a bump because his team isn't good but research shows that doesn't really matter -- over the large sample size of a season or career, all shots are more or less created equal.
 
To further suss this out you can remove power plays from the equation, when teams are definitely more likely to get quality shots off. Extra Skater has these stats back to '11-12. SV% rankings for starters at even strength:
2013-14: Miller 20th, Halak 17th
'12-13: Miller 17th, Halak DNQ*
'11-12: Miller 17th, Halak 2nd
 
*Halak only played in 16 games in the shortened season and his ESSV% was a very poor .909. If you lower the GP threshold to 12 GP get Halak in, he is 46th in the NHL and Miller drops to 25th.
 
So at even strength Miller has consistently been an average NHL starting goalie, while Halak has been anywhere from awful to second-best in the league.
 
In all situations, Halak is about .001 better, leaving out their first couple partial seasons. This year, Miller is 10th in the NHL in SV%, and Halak is 14th. Personally I think you can give Miller a plus for consistency and for having held up under bigger workloads in his career, but as I said I don't see the evidence that Miller is any more than an above-average starter at age 34, which Halak basically is too at age 28. Miller had a great season in 09-10 (2nd in NHL in SV%), but Halak had great seasons in 11-12 (7th in the NHL in SV%) and 09-10 (5th) and we remember what he did in the 09-10 playoffs.
 
Edit: Your point about the Sabres being better with Miller is kind of a tautology...we know that Miller is better than Enroth. Enroth has a career .912 SV% so his .906 this year isn't really noteworthy, and of course the Sabres are going to win more games with a better goalie playing.
 
Edit #2: Some more stats from earlier this year. http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/1/3/5271938/is-miller-better-than-halak

 

[RedOctober3829]

As if Pittsburgh couldn't be hated more, they are reportedly going after Ryan Kesler. Offering Brandon Sutter, picks, and a D-man.

http://triblive.com/mobile/5686336-96/penguins-kesler-sources

 

[Greg29fan]

Rob Rossi is less reliable than Eklund

 

[ForceAtHome]

In all situations, Halak is about .001 better, leaving out their first couple partial seasons.

 
Using your chart, which shows Halak back to 2008-09 when he first played more than 16 games in a season, Miller has been better at saving pucks every year except for one. Miller's save percentage is .920 since 2008-09 whereas Halak is at .917. This isn't necessarily a huge difference, but it's silly to leave out Halak's first few partial seasons and count Miller's first few seasons -- especially when you note how drastically the league average SV% has changed. Miller's .914 SV% in 2005-06, for example, was very good in that environment.
 
 

and we remember what he did in the 09-10 playoffs.

 
I remember all too well. When Halak was on in the 2010 playoffs, he was simply unreal. He put on one of the best goaltending clinics I've ever seen over games 5-7 against Washington. The result this has on his playoff numbers is absurd though. Given the small sample size of Halak's playoff career, that six day stretch in which Halak stood on his head for three games boosts his career playoff save percentage from .909 to .923. Other than his 2010 playoff run, Halak has played just two full playoff games in his career (and lost both). He's hardly a proven commodity when it comes to the post-season (if you think that matters, which you may not).
 
Of course, Miller isn't exactly the model example of a proven playoff goalie either due to recent times in Buffalo. His .917 playoff SV% isn't bad, and it's .922 since his first playoff run in '05-'06 (when, as noted multiple times now, the league average was much lower). One of Miller's real selling points is his play in the Olympics though. Yeah, that was four years ago -- but he showed up and his "big game experience" is certainly worth something to some GMs. As compared to Halak's .857 SV% in Sochi and .902 SV% in Vancouver, Miller is certainly gaining favor there. Halak's lackluster play in World Championships (.898 SV%) doesn't help either.
 
There's also some pretty decent evidence that goalies playing back-to-back games suffer a pretty decent drop in performance. I'd imagine Miller's numbers, as a workhorse, are deflated a bit as compared to Halak's more spread out load.
 
If Blues management thinks that Miller's .927 SV% since his first 10 games of the season (in which Buffalo was a laughing stock) is real, then they have to be excited. From what I've seen, Miller looks excellent of late and I love his game right now. That save percentage, of course, would translate to a sub-2.00 GAA in their system with the approximated shot reduction. St. Louis has a really talented team and I like seeing them really go all-in for it. At the end of the day, it boils down to how well you think Miller is playing now and for the rest of the season. I can totally understand why some people would be less bullish about this, but I love the move. While playoff randomness may limit the potentially incremental upgrade in goal, there's lots to be gained in the regular season still. The Blues are in a tough battle for the division and seeding right now, in which even just one extra win could swing the playoff picture significantly for them. I think Ryan Miller flat out gives the Blues a better chance to win games, and considering they're tied in points with Chicago at the moment, even a minor upgrade could have huge implications.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 54s
#NYR Can confirm that Callahan's camp has moved off of initial request of 7 years in terms of contract length. Two sides still apart on $

 

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 17s
#NYR That development, by the way, is not a new one. Sounds as if it happened prior to the Olympic break, so temper any optimism accordingly
 

 

[RedOctober3829]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 7m
And now it looks like Matt Moulson may be on the move... Buffalo going to be very busy.
 

 

[kenneycb]

Was that supposed to be a surprise or anything?  It's not like Buffalo has any use for him the next few years.

 

[TSC]

 

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 7m
And now it looks like Matt Moulson may be on the move... Buffalo going to be very busy.
 

 

I'd love his speed/touch on this team. Put him with Loui and Carl and that 3rd line is ridiculous.
 
Looch/Krejci/Iginla
Hate/Bergy/Smith
Moulson/Carl/Loui
Paille/Kelly/Campbell
 
And if the Bruins could work out an extension - he'd be great Iginla insurance if he decides to move on after this season.

 

[cshea]

The UFA rental market for defenseman is so thin that I think the Bruins need to explore guys with some years left. MacDonald is going to cost far too much than he's worth, and then I don't think Chris Phillips/Henrik Tallinder/Mark Stuart type's are really that much better than Bartkowski.

I've talked myself into wanting Christian Ehrhoff. More of an offensive guy, but he's a legitimate top-4 defender that could eat some minutes. He's playing 24 minutes a night for the Sabres, and leads them in SH TOI/game. He isn't as steady defensively as Seids, but I think he's the best of what's rumored to be available.

 

[TSC]

I wonder if the Bruins could pry Giordano away from Calgary. He'd fill in nicely for Seidenberg, is still young, on a fairly good deal...

 

[TFP]

The UFA rental market for defenseman is so thin that I think the Bruins need to explore guys with some years left. MacDonald is going to cost far too much than he's worth, and then I don't think Chris Phillips/Henrik Tallinder/Mark Stuart type's are really that much better than Bartkowski.

I've talked myself into wanting Christian Ehrhoff. More of an offensive guy, but he's a legitimate top-4 defender that could eat some minutes. He's playing 24 minutes a night for the Sabres, and leads them in SH TOI/game. He isn't as steady defensively as Seids, but I think he's the best of what's rumored to be available.

 
I just can't get past the 7 years remaining on the deal, not to mention what will happen in the next 2-3 years with Seidenberg here as well. That will turn into an old, expensive D core of Chara - Seids - Boychuk - Erhoff. Not really what they're looking for long term.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I have yet to see a single option that really gives the Bruins what they are looking for (physical, smart, veteran defenseman) without a laughable price tag. 
 
It blows, but I still think the best option is to roll the dice on Bartkowski and Boychuk as a second pairing and see what you can do. It's a seller's market this year, and an ugly one at that.
 
Kesler is awesome, but he's a better version of Sutter, and not 2 firsts and a young defenseman better.

 

[MoGator71]

You guys should trade us something for Nik Grossmann, he fits your need a lot better than Mez does.
 

 
I just can't get past the 7 years remaining on the deal, not to mention what will happen in the next 2-3 years with Seidenberg here as well. That will turn into an old, expensive D core of Chara - Seids - Boychuk - Erhoff. Not really what they're looking for long term.

 
It's only a $4M cap hit though. I wouldn't mind the Flyers getting him this summer if Kimmo retires (or even if he comes back, actually), but if I remember right that was one of those crazy front-loaded deals so I have a feeling he'll end up going to a budget/cap floor team that will benefit from a player whose cap hit > salary.

 

[kenneycb]

I have yet to see a single option that really gives the Bruins what they are looking for (physical, smart, veteran defenseman) without a laughable price tag. 
 
It blows, but I still think the best option is to roll the dice on Bartkowski and Boychuk as a second pairing and see what you can do. It's a seller's market this year, and an ugly one at that.
 
Kesler is awesome, but he's a better version of Sutter, and not 2 firsts and a young defenseman better.

They still need a number 7 dman unless they plan on rolling with Trotman/Warsofsky in that role.  Which would likely cause me to shit myself.  Someone is going to get hurt in the playoffs.

 

[cshea]

Well, if you're grabbing a Dman in the next 48 hours, Bart gets bumped out of the lineup. He becomes the #7. If they don't make a move, McQuaid and Miller would be the #7 assuming McQuaid gets healthy.

Speaking of McQuaid, I wonder if they consider LTIRing him today or tomorrow to give themselves some more cap wiggle room. The problem is you have to have cap space in order to activate him though if/when he is ready to return, but they could circumvent the cap a bit and hold him out until the playoffs when the cap disappears. Not sure if there is any rule preventing them from doing that, but considering they might shut McQuaid down for a bit it might be an option.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Well, if you're grabbing a Dman in the next 48 hours, Bart gets bumped out of the lineup. He becomes the #7. If they don't make a move, McQuaid and Miller would be the #7 assuming McQuaid gets healthy.

Speaking of McQuaid, I wonder if they consider LTIRing him today or tomorrow to give themselves some more cap wiggle room. The problem is you have to have cap space in order to activate him though if/when he is ready to return, but they could circumvent the cap a bit and gold him out until the playoffs when the cap disappears. Not sure if there is any rule preventing them from doing that, but considering they might shit McQuaid down for a bit it might be an option.

Do you think they're going to shit him down?

 

[kenneycb]

Well, if you're grabbing a Dman in the next 48 hours, Bart gets bumped out of the lineup. He becomes the #7. If they don't make a move, McQuaid and Miller would be the #7 assuming McQuaid gets healthy.

Speaking of McQuaid, I wonder if they consider LTIRing him today or tomorrow to give themselves some more cap wiggle room. The problem is you have to have cap space in order to activate him though if/when he is ready to return, but they could circumvent the cap a bit and hold him out until the playoffs when the cap disappears. Not sure if there is any rule preventing them from doing that, but considering they might shut McQuaid down for a bit it might be an option.

I just don't have much faith in McQuaid being able to return any time soon and, even so, he'll be pretty far from game shape when he does.  Below is from Claude and it doesn't exactly sound encouraging.
 

“It’s in the groin area,” Julien said. “I don’t have specifics of it, but it’s a very unique injury. I think the doctor at one point may be able to explain it more if we get to that stage, but it’s in the groin/hip area where it’s not something you see very often. But it heals, gets hurt again, heals. That’s why we’ve given him a little more time to heal . . . but we’re not sure if he needs more time or whether he’s good to go.”

 
Edit: Note that the above does not take into consideration the possibility of shitting McQuaid down.  Which would be a little harsh for a solid contributor.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

I'm fine with the asking price for a bottom pair defenseman, and I agree they should get one as Quaider insurance.

 

[TFP]

https://twitter.com/HackswithHaggs/status/440641859841318914

 

[TheRealness]

 
https://twitter.com/HackswithHaggs/status/440641859841318914
 

 
I like it. Curious on the demand/return though. He led them on shorthanded TOI last year (iirc), and is generally their go-to defensive guy, or at least has been. His value seems depressed coming off his injury, but yeah, he does seem like a fit. They need someone to fill that gaping hole Seids left on the Bruins PK. 

 

[veritas]

I don't want Robidas unless Dallas is paying most of his salary. He's old and undersized, and while I've not seen him play much, his offensive stats are mediocre and the advanced stats don't like him very much either. He'd be a waste of cap space, I wouldn't take him at that salary if Dallas was giving him away.
 
It's not a rule you need to improve your weaknesses at the trade deadline. And this year for the Bruins it looks like it means drastically overpaying. I agree with some others, I like the idea of adding a top 6 forward and attempting to overwhelm teams with their depth up front. Assuming of course a forward can be had for much more reasonable prices than a defenseman.
 
edit: didn't even realize he was coming off a broken leg. No way

 

[ForceAtHome]

I don't want Robidas unless Dallas is paying most of his salary. He's old and undersized, and while I've not seen him play much, his offensive stats are mediocre and the advanced stats don't like him very much either. He'd be a waste of cap space, I wouldn't take him at that salary if Dallas was giving him away.

 
Robidas is an UFA at the end of the season and only making $2.85m this season. Robidas will only cost the Bruins something like $630,000 for the rest of the season. Unless Boston is planning on adding another piece, I don't think money is really the issue, but return.

 

[veritas]

 
Robidas is an UFA at the end of the season and only making $2.85m this season. Robidas will only cost the Bruins something like $630,000 for the rest of the season. Unless Boston is planning on adding another piece, I don't think money is really the issue, but return.

 
His cap hit is a bit more at 3,300,000.  Sure, if he doesn't cost much and there's a choice between him and doing nothing obviously he'd fit in fine as a 4th/5th D-man. My aversion to him is with the assumption that they could do something more productive with that cap space this season.

 

[ForceAtHome]

 
His cap hit is a bit more at 3,300,000.  Sure, if he doesn't cost much and there's a choice between him and doing nothing obviously he'd fit in fine as a 4th/5th D-man. My aversion to him is with the assumption that they could do something more productive with that cap space this season.

 
Again, prorated, that cap hit is around $700,000-$730,000 depending on which day they were to acquire him. If they were to acquire Robidas, I would assume that would take them out of the market for another defensemen. They presumably are also not looking for a goalie. So, after theoretically acquiring Robidas, that would leave Boston with a bit north of $2m for another forward if they wanted. Are the Bruins likely to acquire another forward making over $2m? And if so, are they likely to do it without sending a contract the other way?
 
Curious -- what are you suggesting they do instead that Robidas would preclude them from doing financially?

 

[veritas]

 
Again, prorated, that cap hit is around $700,000-$730,000 depending on which day they were to acquire him. If they were to acquire Robidas, I would assume that would take them out of the market for another defensemen. They presumably are also not looking for a goalie. So, after theoretically acquiring Robidas, that would leave Boston with a bit north of $2m for another forward if they wanted. Are the Bruins likely to acquire another forward making over $2m? And if so, are they likely to do it without sending a contract the other way?
 
Curious -- what are you suggesting they do instead that Robidas would preclude them from doing financially?

 
It's not the real money that's the problem, cap space is always prorated, and acquiring him would eat up $3.3 of the $5.4 million in cap space they have this season. If a Kesler (pipe dream), Hemsky or Moulson could be had, I'd much rather do something like that.
 
edit: didn't read your reply carefully enough

 

[TheRealness]

It's not the real money that's the problem, cap space is always prorated, and acquiring him would eat up $3.3 of the $5.4 million in cap space they have this season. If a Kesler (pipe dream), Hemsky or Moulson could be had, I'd much rather do something like that.
 
edit: didn't read your reply carefully enough

I don't think Moulson or Hemsky will be worth the prices, but to a larger degree the Bruins don't need to add any forwards. They could definitely use left handed defensive help though, especially guys who can play in their own end and kill penalties. Robidas fits that bill, and should come at a reasonable price compared to what else is out there.

 

[ForceAtHome]

I think the Bruins could definitely manage Robidas and Moulson if they wanted. They'd just need to shed about $1m in contracts. If they're adding Moulson, that should make one forward expendable anyway. I'm obviously not the Bruins expert here, and as I understand the following are glue guys, but moving one of Thornton/Paille/Campbell (with Soderberg dropping to the 4th, I'd guess?) clears the theoretical space for both additions without any other shuffling. If the Bruins don't want to get rid of one of the 4th liners, adding a forward doesn't make sense either.
 
Hemsky and Kesler are more cost prohibitive and would obviously be more difficult to fit with someone like Robidas also entering the mix. Frankly, I don't see Boston as having a package (that they'd do) that can compete for Kesler. Hemsky would definitely be cheaper to acquire and likely tougher to fit. If they really wanted him, they could package Campbell and a pick to Edmonton and LTIR McQuaid while still adding Robidas and the more expensive Hemsky. I think Edmonton is also more likely to subsidize a guy like Hemsky, which would also help.
 
To be honest, I'm not sure I understand the Hemsky attraction for Boston anyway. He makes more sense for someone like the Kings or Sens looking for more scoring. Hemsky's not a great two way player and he'd be slotted into a bottom 6 role with the Bruins. His scoring is and has been trending the wrong way for years.

 

[kenneycb]

I don't think Moulson or Hemsky will be worth the prices, but to a larger degree the Bruins don't need to add any forwards. They could definitely use left handed defensive help though, especially guys who can play in their own end and kill penalties. Robidas fits that bill, and should come at a reasonable price compared to what else is out there.

They need a fourth line forward as right now Spooner or Caron would be the first guy to step up if someone gets injured.  Paille is an adequate enough 3rd liner but I'm not sure Spooner's ready for primetime and Caron is a rich man's Zach Hamill in that there's actually a chance he'd get claimed if they tried to send him to the AHL.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Columbus beat writer Aaron Portzline reports that the Bruins have interest in Marian Gaborik.

@Aportzline: Boston's interest in #CBJ RW Marian Gaborik may simply be insurance in case other teams in Eastern Conference land big fish.

 

[BoSoxFink]

Well that is a bit surprising on Gaborik.

Also if the Bruins get Robidas it would seem the Bruins love using the Stars as their trade partners. The Jagr and Seguin trades also happening within the last year.

 

[Greg29fan]

Columbus beat writer Aaron Portzline reports that the Bruins have interest in Marian Gaborik.

@Aportzline: Boston's interest in #CBJ RW Marian Gaborik may simply be insurance in case other teams in Eastern Conference land big fish.

 
He'll probably get hurt getting on the plane

 

[cshea]

Gaborik's salary probably prohibits acquiring him. $7.5 million cap hit, and the Bruins have ~$5 million in cap space. He'd probably come fairly cheap in terms of what Columbus would want, but he doesn't really fill a need and would restrict any other moves. 

 

[BoSoxFink]

Gaborik's salary probably prohibits acquiring him. $7.5 million cap hit, and the Bruins have ~$5 million in cap space. He'd probably come fairly cheap in terms of what Columbus would want, but he doesn't really fill a need and would restrict any other moves. 

could they be sending Kelly back to clear salary cap space? I'm not sure what else makes sense, but they would need to clear space sonewhere

 

[cshea]

could they be sending Kelly back to clear salary cap space? I'm not sure what else makes sense, but they would need to clear space sonewhere

Theoretically yes they could, but Chris Kelly has an NTC so he calls the shots.

 

[BoSoxFink]

Theoretically yes they could, but Chris Kelly has an NTC so he calls the shots.

i 100% forgot about that NTC. Why would they give one to a guy like Kelly? Just doesn't make sense to me

 

[RedOctober3829]

@TheFourthPeriod: As much as the Bruins are going after a defenseman, they are also pursuing a top-6 forward. Gaborik among those they've discussed.
@TheFourthPeriod: Bruins have had scouts at last 3 CBJ games, including tonight... I don't believe Gaborik is their No1 target, but he's been discussed.
@TheFourthPeriod: Should note, CBJ are in buyers' mode as deadline comes. Gaborik doesn't fit in system, likely dealt. But team wants top6 guy & Dman.

 

[cshea]

I'm not sure I buy that they're looking for top 6 forward, but if they indeed are shooting for the moon, Vanek + MacDonald is probably the most feasible. Vanek is subsidized by Buffalo and MacDonald only makes $550K, so fitting them under the cap isn't as much of a challenge.

 

[TheRealness]

@TheFourthPeriod: As much as the Bruins are going after a defenseman, they are also pursuing a top-6 forward. Gaborik among those they've discussed.
@TheFourthPeriod: Bruins have had scouts at last 3 CBJ games, including tonight... I don't believe Gaborik is their No1 target, but he's been discussed.
@TheFourthPeriod: Should note, CBJ are in buyers' mode as deadline comes. Gaborik doesn't fit in system, likely dealt. But team wants top6 guy & Dman.

 
Gaborik isn't really a fit for their system, but his contract is up next year and if they move on from Iginla they could possibly fit him in next year. There's also the fact his value is fairly depressed, so they may not have to pay the king's ransom for him that others have gotten in years past. 
 
I'll be curious to see what the Bruins do at the deadline, but I'd still be surprised if they did anything more than added a LH defensive defenseman. 

 

[BoSoxFink]

Jagr wasn't really a fit last year either but he still went that route after failing to get Iginla, so I think it's safe to say he will go out on a limb for guys on expiring contracts.

 

[TFP]

With the focus on Columbus, do we think Jack Johnson might be a target? He has a reasonable AAV and in this system would be a very good 3-4 defenseman and could be paired with either Dougie or Boychuk. I have no idea if Columbus would move him or what it would take, but that's a move I could support.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

FWIW, recent practice footage of Robidas was shown in between periods of the DAL-BUF last night, and if there was any limitation in his movement, it wasn't apparent to me.  Not saying he's the ideal candidate...

 

[cshea]

The problem with Robidas is handedness. I'm not sure the Bruins have much interest in another righty, unless they're shutting McQuaid down for good. He seems like an awkward fit coming off injury and playing the right side. Trevor Daley would be a better fit, but I'd imagine Dallas plans to hang on to him.

JJ is intriguing. I haven't watched too much of him this year, but he would make some sense on the 2nd pair. Similar to Ehrhoff without the 7-year contract obligation left.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

My guess is that they will try to pick up two Dmen: a lefty and a righty (to replace McQuaid).  Hopefully, one is a top 4 guy, but that wouldn't be Robidas.
 
EDIT: I think they're shutting down McQuaid.  Why take the risk that a bottom two guy will stay healthy after suffering at least a somewhat serious lower body injury?