Bruins To Use Mittelstadt To Beef Up At Forward

The Boston Bruins, like every team in the Eastern Conference, is very much in the playoff race. They are 21-18-2 and are two points out of a wildcard spot, but need improvements. The defense and goaltending are pretty solid, but it's the forward group that really needs the upgrades.

Frank Seravalli said, "The Bruins are in a spot where they need more heft up front. How are they going to find that? Maybe moving out Mittelstadt to get a better fit is a way to start, but you're going to have to attach to that to find something impactful."

The Bruins have spread their top scorers around the top-9, so that isn't the ideal lines for a playoff hopeful, especially when the top dogs were doing so well together at the start of the season. Mittelstadt, who has nine goals and 16 points in 31 games and playing on the second line, is someone who could clear up cap space in order to make the larger upgrade the team needs. The Bruins have under $1 million to spend and Mittelstadt is signed for one more year at $5.75 million AAV.

Whether it's a center or a winger, I think the Bruins are good with just an upgrade in general. The center depth, though not top tier, has been workable with Elias Lindholm playing better this season, Pavel Zacha doing a good job, and the emergence of Fraser Minten as the 3C.

Mittelstadt hasn't really been a good fit for the Bruins since being acquired, and it's not for a lack of trying and opportunities. But he's small, his scoring isn't what it used to be, and is the perfect trade candidate to move to make room for what the Bruins really need moving forward.