Per a report by Nick Goss of NBC Sports and Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, the Boston Bruins might be interested in forward Lawson Crouse of the Arizona Coyotes. A player teams are starting to look at as a depth possibility, especially as the playoffs near, Crouse is garnering interest, perhaps none more than from the Bruins.
Marek is reporting the Bruins are connected to Crouse and said, “Boston has always been attached to that name.” He adds, “…there’s a reason for that. Who wouldn’t want a 24-year-old forward at 6′-4″, 220 pounds?”
Crouse was the 10th overall selection in the 2015 draft by the Florida Panthers and has been considered a decent depth piece good for about 25 points. This year, he’s really coming on strong while playing on a poor Arizona Coyotes team. He’s scored nine goals and nine assists in 35 games. He’s not shy about getting physical and that’s certainly something the Bruins are going to be attracted to.
DeBrusk and Crouse Connected?
Perhaps the reason the Bruins are so closely tied to the Coyotes in a potential trade like this is that Crouse could theoretically play where Jake DeBrusk has been playing and it’s well known that DeBrusk is looking to get traded and start fresh in another organization. It’s easy to associate these two players, even if that’s not the trade these two teams are actually talking about.
Crouse turns 25 this summer and is a pending RFA with a $1.533 million contract. He will be due a qualifying offer of $1.75 million. He was selected three spots ahead of DeBrusk. DeBrusk is a pending RFA with a $3.675 million AAV and will be due a $4.41 million minimum qualifying offer.
Is Crouse’s career year a reason to move him while the value might be at its highest? Or, is he just coming into his own in the NHL and the Coyotes would be better served to hang onto him as part of their rebuild? That’s a question the Coyotes might have to answer sooner than later here.
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