Boston Bruins Acquire Nick Holden, Upgrading The Defense For The Stretch Run

The Boston Bruins made a trade ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.  The Bruins sent defenseman Rob O'Gara and a 3rd-round 2018 draft pick to the New York Rangers for defenseman Nick Holden.  Holden is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season so he might be a "rental" for the final 25 games.

Holden is 30 years old and will help this Bruins team.  He can block shots from getting to the goaltender, poke-check the puck away ending opponents scoring chances, and check skaters off the puck.

Not only can Holden do it on the defensive end, but he can also help offensively.  Holden shoots the puck from the blue line with one-timers or slap shots.  He has 3 goals and 9 assists for a total of 12 points, all coming on full strength.

If they need him to do so, Holden is able to play on the power play and power play kill.  In his 7-year NHL career, he has 7 goals and 11 assists on the power play.  Holden is quarterback on the power play.  When Holden fires on net, it can be tipped in for goals or create rebound chances.  His vision allows him to find his open teammates for goals.  He has yet to record a point on the power play this year.

On the power play kill, Holden slaps the puck to the opposite end to kill time.  His speed permits him to cause odd-man rushes and chances for short-handed scoring opportunities.  He has a total of 2 short-handed assists in his career.

The Bruins upgraded its defense with this deal.  Holden will not be on the 1st or 2nd defensive pair but should be part of the 3rd defensive pair.  The Bruins know what he can bring to the table and hopefully he’ll deliver. 

This is a tryout for Holden.   He must prove he can be part of the Bruins team for the rest of the year and the playoffs.  If Holden plays well, he could be headed for a new contract in a Bruins uniform.  If not, the Bruins may let him test free agency.  On paper, this seems like a respectable trade as the Bruins look to bring a Stanley Cup back to Boston for the first time since 2011.

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