A Banner Night in Boston, a Busy Day Across the NHL
The Boston Bruins packed a week’s worth of storylines into 24 hours-and they weren’t done when the final horn sounded at TD Garden.
It all started with a celebration. Zdeno Chara, the towering captain who helped redefine Bruins hockey in the 21st century, had his No. 33 lifted to the rafters Thursday afternoon.
The emotional ceremony, hosted by former teammate Andrew Ference, featured a parade of Bruins legends who spoke to Chara’s unmatched work ethic, leadership, and presence on and off the ice. In a fitting touch, it was Chara’s own children who helped raise the banner-an emotional moment that reminded everyone just how much Big Z meant to this franchise and city.
But the Bruins weren’t just in town for the nostalgia. They had business to take care of, and they handled it with the same grit Chara once brought to the ice. Boston closed out a perfect homestand with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, their seventh victory in their last eight games.
This one had a little bit of everything. A shorthanded goal set the tone, Jeremy Swayman turned in his third straight win, and Charlie McAvoy delivered a statement performance on both ends of the ice.
The Bruins got goals from four different players, showing off the kind of scoring depth that’s been a key ingredient in their recent surge. Seattle made it interesting with a potent power play, but Boston’s response was sharp and focused-exactly what you want to see from a team with postseason aspirations.
And just when you thought the Bruins might ease into the weekend, Friday morning brought more movement. Boston shipped forward Jeffrey Viel to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
In a corresponding move, the Bruins called up defenseman Billy Sweezey from Providence. The Hanson native brings a physical edge to the blue line and could get a look if Boston wants to rotate fresh legs into the lineup.
Around the League: Trade Talks, White House Visits & Rookie Surprises
Elsewhere in the NHL, trade chatter is heating up, and the Bruins were briefly part of it. Boston had been engaged in talks with the Calgary Flames regarding defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but those conversations have cooled.
Andersson, reportedly unwilling to sign a contract extension with Boston, appears to be off the Bruins’ radar-for now. Calgary is still aiming to move the 29-year-old Swede before the Olympics.
In New York, the Rangers are bracing for a shakeup. General Manager Chris Drury issued a statement Friday morning signaling a “retool,” citing the team’s struggles in the standings and injuries to key players.
Artemi Panarin, now in the final year of a seven-year deal, has been at the center of trade rumors. The 34-year-old Russian winger is reportedly open to whatever direction the team decides to go.
Meanwhile, down in New Jersey, the Devils are seeing a pleasant surprise unfold. Rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk, signed to a one-year deal over the summer, has emerged as a legitimate contributor.
With eight goals and 18 points to his name, the 24-year-old Russian has bounced between the third line and top-six duties. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald confirmed the team intends to extend Gritsyuk-hard to argue with that given how quickly he’s adapted to the NHL pace.
In Vegas, Mitch Marner finally faced the Maple Leafs for the first time since leaving Toronto, and it was a night to remember. The Golden Knights edged the Leafs 6-5 in overtime, and Marner admitted afterward that the game meant a little more to him. The Vegas locker room felt that energy, and so did the fans-especially the vocal contingent of Toronto supporters who made the trip to let their former star hear it.
And in Washington, D.C., the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers made their ceremonial visit to the White House. The team presented the President with a pair of Cup rings, a gold stick, and a No. 47 jersey before jetting off to Raleigh for a Friday night clash with the Hurricanes. After that, they’ll head back to D.C. for the next leg of their road trip.
The Takeaway
From Boston’s banner-raising to the growing trade buzz across the league, it’s clear the NHL is entering a pivotal stretch. Teams are starting to draw lines between contenders and rebuilders. The Bruins, for their part, are looking like a team built for the long haul-solid goaltending, contributions up and down the lineup, and a front office that’s not afraid to make moves.
And while the trade deadline is still a ways off, the groundwork is being laid now. Whether it’s Panarin in New York, Andersson in Calgary, or a rising rookie in New Jersey, the next few weeks could shape the playoff picture-and the future-for a lot of teams.