The Boston Bruins are skating a tight line as the NHL trade deadline approaches, and defenseman Andrew Peeke is right in the middle of it.
On the surface, moving Peeke might seem like a step back for a team eyeing a deep playoff run. He’s a right-shot defenseman - a valuable commodity in today’s NHL - and while he’s not logging top-pair minutes, he brings reliability to the third pair.
He’s the kind of player you trust in defensive-zone starts, late-game leads, and penalty-kill situations. That kind of depth matters in the postseason, especially when matchups tighten and every shift is magnified.
But here’s the dilemma: Peeke is on an expiring contract. And if Boston’s front office doesn’t think they can lock him up long-term, then the smart play might be to move him before the deadline - even if it stings in the short term.
The recent deal between the Rangers and Islanders - with Carson Soucy heading to Manhattan for a third-round pick - might be a key data point here. Soucy, like Peeke, is a physical, defensive-minded blueliner.
But unlike Peeke, he’s not as young or as valuable in the long run. So if Soucy fetched a third-rounder from a team that’s not even a playoff lock, what could Peeke bring in from a team with firmer postseason footing?
That’s where Bruins GM Don Sweeney has to get creative. If the market heats up and contenders start feeling the pressure to bolster their blue lines, the price for a player like Peeke could climb. A second-round pick isn’t out of the question - and depending on how desperate teams get, maybe even more.
Of course, trading away a right-shot defenseman during a playoff push isn’t ideal. Charlie McAvoy is currently the only other righty on the Bruins’ back end, and going into the postseason with five left-shot defensemen is far from conventional.
But there’s some flexibility here. Jonathan Aspirot has shown he can handle playing on his off side, and Jordan Harris is expected back soon.
If Henri Jokiharju can find his game again, that defensive group starts to look a little more stable - even without Peeke.
This is the kind of decision that defines a front office. Do you keep Peeke for the playoff run, knowing he might walk for nothing in the summer? Or do you flip him now, take the asset, and trust your depth to carry you through?
The Bruins are in a familiar spot - balancing the urgency of the present with the long view of the future. If moving Peeke now helps them build a more complete, competitive roster down the line, it’s a move worth considering. But it’s a gamble, and like any good trade deadline decision, it’s going to take equal parts insight, timing, and nerve.