It’s unclear what direction the Boston Bruins will go in the 12 days leading up to the NHL trade deadline. When general manager Don Sweeney addresses the media on Sunday after the Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena, we could learn more.
Boston’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the TD Garden on Saturday night in their first game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off didn’t help their cause. The supporters who want to sell and retool by March 7 won.
If Sweeney want to sell any pieces, Morgan Geekie is one player who has emerged as the Black and Gold’s best trade chip. The former Seattle Kraken forward delivered a strong message to the front management on his future in Boston following the loss to Anaheim.
The Bruins front office receives a loud message from Morgan Geekie.
Geekie, who has a tendency for scoring crucial goals late in games, has been the Bruins’ best producer aside from David Pastrnak. He scored with the extra skater with 1:11 remaining against the Ducks to tie the game, but the goal was first disallowed by the referees. The Toronto situation room reversed the ruling and declared it a good goal after Boston interim coach Joe Sacco contested it. Geekie clearly stated his career goals beyond this year when he spoke with the media in the locker room.
“My goal is to become a Bruin,” Geekie declared. “As long as I can, I would really like to be a Bruin. I’m simply going to go out there and play; it’s not up to me. I adore every man here and everything about the company.”
The 26-year-old is delivering a very clear message. In comparison to the 17 goals he scored for the Bruins the previous season, his 18th goal versus Anaheim set a new career best. He was a restricted free agent after two unsuccessful seasons with the Kraken, but Boston pounced on him after GM Ron Francis failed to extend a qualifying offer to him after the 2022-2023 season.
During Sweeney’s free-agent spending binge in the summer of 2023, when he primarily offered one-year contracts, Geekie signed a two-year contract. He has been playing under a deal with an AAV of $2 million, and this summer, when he becomes a free agent, he will be seeking a raise. Will Boston give him that? is the question.
Sweeney has until March 7 to sort it out. A deal is likely to be completed if Geekie and the Bruins can agree on one. Sweeney must act before the deadline and get some assets in exchange if Boston doesn’t view him as a part of the future or if the two parties simply cannot agree on a price. Geekie has informed the front desk of his preferred location; now it’s time to sit back and see what transpires.
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