Bruins acquire 2026 fourth-round pick in trade with Ducks

The Boston Bruins additional stocked up their already spectacular haul of picks for the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.

Boston introduced that it traded ahead Jeffrey Viel to the Anaheim Geese in alternate for a 2026 fourth-round decide. The choice would be the earlier of the Geese’ two fourth-round picks this season. 

With this deal, Boston now holds 9 picks within the 2026 NHL Draft: two 1st-round picks, one 2nd-round decide, one Third-round decide, three 4th-round picks, one Sixth-round decide and one Seventh-round decide.

Viel, 28, made the reduce for Boston out of coaching camp after spending a majority of his professional profession within the AHL.

The hard-nosed, bodily ahead was seen as a strong depth possibility for a Bruins workforce wanting so as to add some snarl in Marco Sturm’s first 12 months as head coach. He appeared in 10 of Boston’s 48 video games up to now this season, posting zero objectives and 0 assists whereas recording 30 penalty minutes and 27 hits. 

The Bruins have had no scarcity of bottom-six choices up entrance this season — be it Mark Kastelic, Sean Kuraly, Tanner Jeannot, Mikey Eyssimont, and Fraser Minten.

Depth gamers who’ve stepped up into larger roles like Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves additional made Viel expendable on this roster. 

Viel needs to be afforded extra common reps in Anaheim, the place he figures to be thorn within the facet of opponents on a fourth line with gamers like Ross Johnston. 

The Bruins additionally bolstered their blue line on Friday earlier than taking off for a fast two-game street journey towards Chicago and Dallas. 

Boston known as up defenseman Billy Sweezey on an emergency foundation Friday, with the 29-year-old blueliner standing as added insurance coverage for the Bruins after Andrew Peeke left Thursday’s win over Seattle with a lower-body damage. 

Talking after Thursday’s win, Bruins head coach stated Peeke will journey with Boston on this present street journey. 

“As of proper now, I don’t assume it’s going to be long-term,” Sturm stated of Peeke’s prognosis.

Sweezey, a Hanson, Massachusetts, native, has appeared in 9 video games within the NHL — all with Columbus in 2022-23. He has spent the final two seasons with the Windfall Bruins, recording 11 factors in 34 video games this season. 

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author protecting the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.