Boston Bruins: David Pastrnak injury increases need for Artemi Panarin
The Boston Bruins will be without David Pastrnak for the next two weeks. This increases their need for someone like Artemi Panarin.
The Boston Bruins already need to make a trade to improve their team. It’s become obvious their roster, as is, doesn’t have what it takes to match up with the likes of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. Not to mention the surging Montreal Canadiens. The latest injury to David Pastrnak further increases their need for some reinforcements.
On Tuesday, the team announced their star winger injured his left thumb while leaving from a team function. Pastrnak will miss the next two weeks at least, but at least he will be playing again this season.
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The Bruins are up the creek without a paddle with him, so to speak. Pastrnak leads the team in goals (31) and points (66). Moreover, he’s their primary power-play threat, as he leads the NHL with 15 tallies on the man advantage.
Boston still has Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, who is right behind Pastrnak with 65 points. But still, it hurts a lot to lose your best wing. Especially when the rest of your wings aren’t producing that much at five-on-five.
The Bruins have been a dreadful team at scoring at evens. At five-on-five, only the Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, and Anaheim Ducks have a lower scoring rate. That’s not good company to be around.
Even before Pastrnak’s injury, the Bruins needed a difference maker. His temporary departure puts some heat under general manager Don Sweeney‘s posterior to get something done. If he wants to hit a home run and help solve his team’s largest issue, the best candidate to trade for is Artemi Panarin.
Currently, he is fifth in the league in points per hour at five-on-five. By comparison, the Bruins only have three other players in the top 65 (Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak). David Krejci is their only other forward in the top 200.
A huge reason for Boston’s scoring woes is their lack of depth. Panarin would help cover that problem and potentially turn their otherwise pedestrian second line into a downright lethal one. It would also allow the Bruins to put players in more appropriate roles, which could help them get more out of their bottom six.
Next. 3 players the Bruins should trade for. dark
Panarin and the Bruins are a perfect marriage. They need each other to win a Stanley Cup. Let’s see if the Bruins and Blue Jackets can work something out.