Boston Bruins reportedly the favorites to trade for highly coveted defender

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Matt Garland
February 16, 2023 (8:22 PM)

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The Boston Bruins are having one of the best seasons in NHL history. They are in prime position to capture the President's Trophy with a record of 40-8-5. If reports are correct Boston could be getting even better. They appear to be closing in on one of the top trade deadline targets.

Boston is very interested in Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov. According to reports the Bruins are at the front of the line to acquire him currently.

I think the Boston Bruins are the team that are in the drivers seat.

Before their game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, the Blue Jackets announced that Gavrikov would be a healthy scratch due to �trade-related reasons' increasing the NHL betting odds that he will be dealt before the March 3 NHL Trade Deadline.

Elliotte Friedman appeared on the on the NHL Network and gave his take on the Gavrikov situation.

"With Gavrikov, I think the thing with him is: it's not exactly a secret that he's going to be traded,» Friedman said, «I believe he turned down a contract extension from Columbus, and the other thing with him too now is that teams have had permission for a few weeks now that they can speak to his representatives about an extension. So it's not like this comes as a huge surprise to people. I think what the difference is now, as you guys said, is he's been told he's not going to play; he's been put in the bubble wrap."

"So, I think the teams that we're talking about here are Boston; I think potentially Toronto, though I think the Maple Leafs are looking at a forward. I think L.A. has some interest particularly if they don't get Chychrun done, but I think the hangup with L.A. is that I think L.A. wants him done before they trade for him. L.A. wants guys with term, and I think there's probably a couple of other teams out there too. Edmonton, I think was in on Gavrikov, I'm not convinced they're still there. Those were the big three or four big teams I was looking at; I always assume there's two or three teams there I'm not thinking about.»

Gavrikov is in the final season of a three-year contract that carries a $2.8M AAV. In 52 games played this season he has scored 3 goals and 10 points. He is second on the team in ice time with an average of 22:20.