The Boston Bruins are reportedly in the market for a veteran reinforcement on right wing and Buffalo Sabres forward Chris Stewart could be the answer, according to the Boston Globe.
The Bruins tried to acquire Stewart on two previous occasions, including last spring after they were knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Second Round, according to the report. Stewart, who has nine goals and 22 points in 53 games this season, carries a $4.15 million NHL salary-cap charge and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Sabres reportedly turned down a package for Stewart that included a second-round draft pick and a prospect from the Bruins. Fluto Shinzawa of the Globe writes the Bruins are in a stronger position to make a trade now than a few months ago because they hold the second Eastern Conference wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, four points ahead of the Florida Panthers.
The concern for the Bruins reportedly is how rookie right wing David Pastrnak will hold up down the stretch when the games become even more physically and mentally challenging as teams jockey for playoff position. Pastrnak, who has skated alongside Milan Lucic and David Krejci this season and has produced in a top-six role, has five goals and eight points in 18 games.
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