Don Sweeney and the Bruins didn’t have to sit at the table with the rest of the NHL’s high rollers leading up to the league’s trade deadline.
When Sweeney pulled off a blockbuster swap with the Capitals for Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway on Feb. 23, Boston only had eight regulation losses on their ledger.
Sweeney’s subsequent deal with the Red Wings for Tyler Bertuzzi a week later stood as insurance following injury uncertainty with both Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. Even with both wingers sidelined with lower-body ailments, Boston’s secondary-scoring output was still humming along in the dog days of the regular season.