Is Scituate native Conor Garland a worthwhile Bruins trade target?

In an ideal scenario, Don Sweeney would like to add to this Bruins roster.

After Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Penguins, Boston (73 points) remains in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 34-21-5 record, three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets in the struggling Eastern Conference standings.

Boston may need some reinforcements if it wants to regain its spot in the postseason after a year-long hiatus.

Although Boston has been impressive this season, offensive decline is still a risk — the Bruins have scored 15 goals higher than expected this year (Every trick has natural statistics).

Some additional scoring strikes may be needed for Marco Storm’s club to counter any decline in shooting or a move back to the center that could dampen Boston’s offensive production down the stretch.

But rentals, whether upfront or on the blue line, don’t appear to be a priority for Sweeney and his staff — not at this stage of Boston’s retooling efforts.

“We would like to give them a boost, because they deserved it, but obviously this year is our goal, but also moving forward,” Sweeney admitted on Monday.

A scoring winger may not steal the headlines like a blockbuster trade for a top-line pivot like Robert Thomas. Using trade chips to bolster the right side of Boston’s D-Team might be viewed as a wiser investment.

But with just a few days remaining before the NHL trade deadline on Friday afternoon, it appears as if Boston is leaving no stone unturned in its search to add players who can help this club — whether this spring or in the coming years.

Add Vancouver forward Conor Garland to the mix.

according to David Pagnotta of the fourth periodThe Bruins have “re-engaged” with Vancouver in trade talks involving Garland, Which has also been linked to teams like the Islanders Over the past few days.

Per Pagnotta, it could include a Bruins trade package to pry a player like Garland away from Vancouver.”[Matt] Poitras and/or [Mason] Lohri.”

Garland checks off at least a few boxes for what the Bruins might be looking for — other than the fact that he hails from Scituate.

The South Shore product has been one of the NHL’s most unheralded mid-six spark plugs over the past few seasons — averaging 18.8 goals and 48.8 points over his final four seasons with the Canucks.

He’s not the biggest body at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, but Garland has a nose for the net and has few concerns about throwing his body on the forecheck. He may not be a 30-goal threat, but Garland tends to tilt the ice in his club’s favor while he’s in the rotation.

His play has declined a bit on the woeful Canucks this season (seven goals, 26 points in 49 games), but Garland will serve as a driving force playing on either the second or third line for most NHL teams if he is dealt before Friday.

Garland also fits in with what the Bruins might prioritize when it comes to trade targets, given his contract.

Garland, who turns 30 on March 11, signed a six-year, $36 million extension with Vancouver last July, which won’t take effect until next season. He won’t join free agency again until he’s 36 years old.

If an NHL team is looking for a solid mid-major player capable of providing 40-50 points a season, Garland fits the bill.

But are this Bruins team – as currently formed – the team that makes the most sense for a player like Garland?

In some ways, Garland looks like the kind of asset the Bruins might covet during their final rivalry stretch of 2019-23 — a scoring threat on the third line who could give the Cup-ready club a much-needed dose of adrenaline on the depth chart.

The 2025-26 Bruins may be a playoff team, but they are likely a few years away from establishing themselves as a true Cup contender.

And it will be Boston’s next wave of young talent – not Garland – that will put them over the top in the coming years.

Acquiring coveted trade chips like first-round picks, premium 1C chip prospects like Thomas or a potential 30-goal winger like Owen Tippett — both of whom are signed to long-term deals — could be a worthwhile investment for a Bruins team looking to add key pieces both now and in the coming years.

But Garland seems more like the missing piece on an almost complete roster, rather than the type of player who moves the needle for a Bruins team in transition.

It’s safe to say the Bruins could get a scoring spark on the wing later this spring with just the addition of James Hagens — as long as he chooses to turn pro after Boston College’s season ends.

And while it should come as no surprise that a young midfielder like Poitras or a playmaker like Lohry could be exploited in an attractive trade, it should also be for the right return.

If the Bruins flip a player in Lohrei who has proven his game over the past few months, Boston should get an upgrade on the right side of their defense — or a forward with a higher offensive direction than Garland.

Garland could serve as a de facto replacement moving forward for a top-six winger like Viktor Arvidsson, who is set to hit free agency this summer.

However, there are some risks when it comes to adding a soon-to-be-30-year-old forward to this Bruins depth chart long-term — especially with Garland accounting for a $6 million annual cap hit through the 2031-32 season.

Garland will help the Bruins during this ongoing playoff push. Beyond his local connections, his approach and relentless effort will likely make him a fan favorite in Boston for years to come.

But it doesn’t quite fit into the timeline of this Boston Roster – Not at the price and schedule this retooling club is currently working on.

Connor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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