Bruins fans had their imaginations running overtime Friday night after David Pastrnak and Nikita Zadorov both followed Kirill Marchenko on Instagram.
The whole thing picked up steam after Elliotte Friedman’s revelation about Marchenko and the Boston Bruins. From there, an account that tracks hockey players’ Instagram follows and unfollows started feeding the frenzy, and Pastrnak’s follow of the Columbus Blue Jackets winger set off a wave of speculation online.
Boston fans did the rest. Trade ideas started flying, with Matthew Poitras, Mason Lohrei and a couple of draft picks tossed around as the kind of package that might get a deal done. The logic, at least in the minds of the Bruins faithful, was that Pastrnak as the expected captain could help recruit Marchenko if Boston really was serious.
There is a catch, though, and it’s a big one. Marchenko is set to become a free agent after this season, so any team giving up real assets would likely need a contract extension lined up as part of the deal. That reality helps explain why a follow from Pastrnak might matter if Boston is trying to convince him to come.
Then Zadorov added more fuel to the fire. Overnight, the Bruins defenseman also followed Marchenko, which only deepened the sense that Boston’s interest might be more than just internet noise.
The tracker then showed Marchenko’s recent follows, and Pastrnak and Zadorov were both on that list. One other notable name appeared too: Toronto Maple Leafs signing Nick Blankenburg. As of the tracker’s update, no Leafs had followed Marchenko back.
It may all amount to nothing. But in the age of social media, even a couple of Instagram follows can send a fan base into full-blown trade mode. And if Marchenko ever does end up in black and gold, Bruins fans will remember that the whole thing may have started with Pastrnak scrolling on his couch.
In Other News...
Bruins Already Face A Tough Camp Problem At Center
The Bruins are trying to sort out their center picture under a preseason setup that leaves less room for trial and error than usual. With the NHL cutting camp to four exhibition games and limiting how often veterans with more than 100 career games can appear, Marco Sturm has had to make every look count, and that has created extra chances for younger players trying to climb into the conversation.
Matthew Poitras was limited by an injury this week and finished camp with just one preseason game, which narrows the margin for him at a position where Boston already needed clarity. Sean Kuraly has already skated in two preseason games, and with those appearances eating into the available runway, Dans Locmelis has been positioned for a longer look on the fourth line as the Bruins keep searching for the right fit down the middle. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Face A Roster Decision With One Forward Suddenly In Limbo
The weekend waiver wire brought an early test for Bostons roster management, with 18 NHL players exposed to the rest of the league on Saturday and a handful of names carrying real meaning beyond simple procedural moves. Among them is Lukas Reichel, who suddenly finds himself in limbo as teams sort through options before the deadline for claims passes on Sunday.
For the Bruins, the situation is straightforward on paper but potentially important in practice, because a player who goes unclaimed does not simply disappear from the conversation. If Reichel clears, he can be assigned to Bostons AHL affiliate, leaving the Bruins to decide how they want to handle a forward who is now waiting on the rest of the league to make the first move. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Face A Price Question On Potential Top Six Scoring Upgrade
The Bruins have reportedly taken a swing at one of the most intriguing names on the market, checking in on Columbus forward Kirill Marchenko as they weigh ways to add more scoring to the top six. Marchenko has already shown he can finish at the NHL level and in the AHL, and his situation has naturally drawn attention because of where things stand with his contract after this season.
For Boston, the bigger issue now is not whether the fit makes sense, but what kind of price it would take to get there. The talks around a deal have only sharpened the focus on how much the Bruins would be willing to part with for a player who could immediately help the offense, and that uncertainty is exactly why this one is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]