Bruins Eye Agitators In Free Agency, Continue To Make Zac Rinaldo Trade Worse
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- As if it weren't already plainly obvious how ugly of a misstep it was for the Bruins to trade a third-round pick for Zac Rinaldo, they're already looking for an upgrade at his spot in the lineup. Though they are just rumors at this point, as are many of the reports that trickle out in free agency, the Bruins have been linked to multiple names on the unrestricted free agent market who would fill the role of bottom-six agitator, which Rinaldo barely held onto his spot in the lineup for in 2015-16.
One name linked to the Bruins is Islanders winger Matt Martin, whom Arthur Staple of Newsday tweeted has drawn interest from the Bruins in addition to five other teams, including Montreal and Toronto. The 6-foot-3 Martin would be a good fit as a physical presence on the Bruins' fourth line.
Another possibility is the Devils' Bobby Farnham, a native of North Andover, Mass. whom Jimmy Murphy of Dirty Water Media said the Bruins are targeting, per an NHL source. Though more undersized at 5-foot-10, Farnham has the speed to keep up with other potential fourth-line players like Noel Acciari, and certainly has a physical edge to his game.
SEE ALSO: Were Bruins Looking For Do-Overs For Rinaldo, Stempniak On Draft Weekend?
Either Martin or Farnham would fit well with the Bruins' bottom-six forwards and would likely be cost-effective compared to past signings in that role. And they would definitely be upgrades over Rinaldo, who almost immediately became a bust in a Bruins uniform. The most newsworthy thing Rinaldo did all season for the Bruins was getting suspended in both the NHL and AHL for a dirty hit while playing in Providence.
It's bad enough that Don Sweeney valued Rinaldo as much as a third-round pick in the first place, which ended up hampering their ability to even threat an offer sheet in restricted free agency. It also hurt the Bruins' ability to trade down in the 2016 draft, in which they reached at the end of the first round for a player they admit will be a bottom-six forward for them in Trent Frederic.
The Bruins have a hole to fill on the fourth line with the role that Rinaldo was supposed to fill. It becomes more apparent by the day that the Rinaldo trade is arguably Sweeney's worst move as Bruins GM and an example of how a minor move can lead to major difficulty.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
