On the night leading up to the league-wide roster freeze, the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings finalized a trade that sent Phillip Danault back to Montreal.
New reporting now adds an interesting wrinkle. According to insider information, the Bruins were among several teams that poked around to gauge what it would take to acquire Danault before the deal was completed.
Boston ultimately did not pull the trigger, but their involvement matters. It shows the Bruins are not sitting on their hands as the season progresses, especially with the team hovering in the playoff mix.
Danault, 32, profiles as a familiar type of player Boston values. He is a reliable two-way center, strong defensively, trusted in matchups, and capable of stabilizing a middle-six role.
Danault's history against Boston is well documented. During his previous stint with Montreal, he was routinely tasked with slowing down top Bruins lines, often successfully. Adding that type of player would have addressed a clear need.
The fact Boston checked in but did not close the deal suggests price or fit concerns, not a lack of ambition.
Still, interest alone is meaningful. It signals that Don Sweeney and the front office view this roster as worth investing in rather than tearing down.
Boston's center depth has been under scrutiny all season, especially in defensive situations and late-game matchups. Danault would have been a clean solution, even if not a perfect one.
The Bruins will now look elsewhere, but the takeaway remains. Boston is in buyer mode, or at least buyer curious, and that mindset often leads to action once the calendar turns.
As the roster freeze lifts and the trade market opens up again, do not be surprised if the Bruins revisit similar profiles. The Danault call may have been the first sign, not the last.