Boston Bruins
Any conversation about defensive depth has to include the Boston Bruins this season. They are still holding on to the last playoff spot in the East. It’s actually under the radar that all it takes for one of the favorites in the East to miss the playoffs is a hot streak by the Philadelphia Flyers (which seems almost impossible right now).
The Bruins will do everything in their power to keep their playoff streak alive. This is still a team with a great top six and a top-three goalie in the league. That is the type of team that can get hot in the playoffs and win the entire thing. Those teams know what their window looks like. They also know exactly what they need at the trade deadline to make it work with the current roster. While the Bruins might be in on other Devils like Kyle Palmieri, Vatanen would really work out well.
The Bruins are currently putting out a bottom line of Jack Ahcan and Steve Kampfer. That’s not ideal in the least bit. Multiple injuries have led them here, but some of those injuries could linger. Vatanen, once again, won’t cost a ton and can provide an immediate boost to the Bruins roster.
The Devils seem to love Vatanen, which they showed when they surprisingly re-signed him in the offseason. They will want to do right by him, and trading him to a Bruins team that still has a legitimate chance to not only make the postseason but win a championship would be that. The Bruins need a versatile defenseman. Vatanen just makes sense.