We’re a week removed from the end of the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes. Despite the Bruins’ pitches of top-six ice time and playing for his hometown team, Vesey opted to sign with the Rangers and join good friend Kevin Hayes and the rest of the Blueshirts on Broadway.

Even with all the questions of coach Claude Julien preferring established veterans over younger talent, Vesey would likely have skated with David Krejci and David Pastrnak and earned substantial playing time in the process. Regardless, it wouldn’t have fulfilled Don Sweeney’s top off-season priority of upgrading the Bruins blue-line.

With Training Camp a few weeks away and the regular season beginning in less than two months, the time is ticking for Sweeney and company to check off their No. 1 item on that list. The options for defensive upgrades are few and far between, however. Here is a look at those options.

Kris Russell – UFA

(Kris Russell battles for positiong with former Bruin Reilly Smith during a Bruins-Flames game in March 2015. Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

His desire to block shots would be a welcome addition for Claude Julien’s defense. The 29-year-old has recorded over 200 blocked shots over the last three seasons, including a league-leading 283 in 2014-15 and 210 last year in just 62 games with Calgary and Dallas, which was still good for second in the league. That’s saying something for a guy standing 5-feet-10 inches and 170 pounds.

Although gritty, Russell’s game lacks in other areas. His Corsi for percentage (a measurement of shots on goal + missed shots + blocked shots both for and against) at even strength was at 45, a few points below his career average. More often than not, this means that Russell’s teams don’t control the puck as often while he’s on the ice. That’s not a good sign for a Bruins defense that let their goaltending out to dry on numerous occasions last year.

With teams looking to fill their back ends with more skilled and up-tempo skaters, Russell, while a decent puck mover, is best suited as a bottom pairing defenseman and playing less than 20 minutes per night. Adding Russell, who tallied 19 points with the Flames and Stars in 2015-16, would marginally improve the Bruins D at best. Unless Russell is willing to take a short-term deal, Sweeney should stay away.

Kyle Quincey – UFA

Kyle Quincey looks for a puck during a Bruins-Red Wings game (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

Ever since playing in all 82 games in 2013-14, Quincey’s games played has dropped over the last two years to 73 in 2014-15 and 47 last year, a season where he suffered a concussion and had surgery to remove bone chips from his ankle. Even in a year full of injuries, Quincey was serviceable for a transitional Red Wings squad.

Like Russell, Quincey would be best served as a bottom pairing defenseman averaging less than 20 minutes a night. At 31 and with a history of injuries, this wouldn’t be the best option for Sweeney to upgrade his D.

Jacob Trouba – RFA

Of the RFA’s who haven’t signed a contract for next year, Trouba is one of the most prominent names on that list. Even after a down year where he tallied 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 81 games with Winnipeg, there’s no question that Trouba would help fill a top four role that Sweeney and company desperately need.

At 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, Trouba isn’t one to shy away from throwing his body out there as seen with his 144 hits and 177 blocked shots (good for 10th among all skaters) a year ago. At 22, Trouba still has a lot of room to grow into a bonafide two-way defenseman, but the former Michigan Wolverine could be a good anchor for the Bruins D down the road, especially with the growing list of defensive prospects in the pipeline.

At what price would Sweeney try to persuade Trouba to leave Winnipeg? There’s always the option to give him an offer sheet still, but with the Bruins not having a second or third round pick in next year’s draft, the only salary they could offer is north of $9.3 million. The return for that offer sheet shall the Jets decide not to match the offer? Four first round draft picks.

Unless Sweeney has another offer up his sleeve to acquire his rights, this option is far from realistic.

Hampus Lindholm – RFA

Like Trouba, Lindholm is a young two-way defenseman that the Bruins would love to have anchor their blue-line.

Lindholm is part of a solid Ducks back end that includes the likes of Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Simon Despres and a couple of prospects in Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour hoping to crack the lineup after a solid season in the AHL.

A first-time all-star a year ago and a Team Sweden representative at this year’s World Cup of Hockey, Lindholm would fill a top-four role with the Black and Gold if talks were to break down in Anaheim. Even if Lindholm signs, Fowler’s name could come up in trade talks again to make room for Theodore and/or Montour. It’s a situation that Sweeney should monitor closely.

Although the Bruins could still use an upgrade to their top two lines, they are running out of time to fulfill their top off-season priority. Time will tell these next few weeks whether ‘Trader Don’ can pull off a move and finally cross that item off his list.