Boston Bruins Trade Andre Gasseau, Eye Big Offseason Moves

The Boston Bruins made their first trade of the NHL offseason, sending BC captain Andre Gasseau to the San Jose Sharks. Gasseau, a pending free agent, was traded for a fifth-round pick and a move up 16 spots in the fourth round. Don Sweeney found a trade partner in his home state, and the Bruins will look to use their newfound draft capital to make a splash in the upcoming draft. And with eight picks at their disposal, the Bruins are well-positioned to make some big moves. Patrice Bergeron's number is also getting retired, a well-deserved honor for the 20-year Bruin. Bergeron is one of the best defensive centers to play the game, and he ranks third in franchise history with 1,040 points. Frank Seravalli mentioned Mason Lohrei and Sean Kuraly as players he heard in trade conversations, and both will appear on his next trade board. The Bruins are trying to get a difference-maker, but it's tough to figure out how they'll do it from an asset perspective. So the Bruins will have to get creative if they want to land one of the big dogs on the market. But with the draft just a week away, the Bruins have plenty of opportunities to make some noise. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade, signing the 30-year-old defenseman to an eight-year deal with an $8.5 million cap hit. Mike Babcock's investigation wrapped up, and the NHL will not prevent him from becoming a head coach again. The Bruins will look to use their draft picks to address their need for a right-shot defenseman, and they may also look to trade some of their current players to make a big splash. The draft order was released, and the Bruins will have plenty of chances to make their mark. The Bruins have a busy week ahead of them, with the draft just a week away and plenty of trade talk swirling around the team. And with Patrice Bergeron's number retirement ceremony coming up, it's shaping up to be a big week for the Boston Bruins.