Three players refused to get traded to Boston at the deadline!

The Boston Bruins managed to make two important acquisitions prior to Monday’s trade deadline. They landed forward Charlie Coyle from the Minnesota Willd on Wednesday, in return for forward Ryan Donato and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Then at the deadline, the Bruins acquired forward Marcus Johansson from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2020.

However, the two players might not have been their first choices. When it comes to Coyle, it seems that the Bruins wanted his teammate Eric Staal. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Staal was looked at by the Bruins, however, he refused to be moved. In the end, it was a good decision from the veteran forward, who ended up signing an extension with the Wild. 

The deal will pay the Staal $3.5 million for the 2019-20 season and $3 million the season after that. The 34-year-old forward was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

The Bruins reportedly attempted to acquire veteran Thomas Vanek from the Detroit Red Wings, according to Bruins insider Jimmy Murphy.  However, he too refused to waive his clause to become a Bruin. 

Same for Vanek’s former teammate in Detroit Gustav Nyquist: he reportedly refused to waive his no-trade clause to join the Bruins. In the end, he was moved to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night. San Jose sent a 2019 second-round pick and conditional 2020 third-rounder to the Red Wings.

The Bruins still did well prior to the deadline, adding to two depth forwards to their arsenal for the postseason. However, we all know now they weren’t their first picks…