Boston Bruins
The Bruins might parlay draft picks, prospects, and NHL expertise into different property earlier than Friday’s commerce deadline.
The 2025-26 Bruins aren’t bracing for a roster teardown on the commerce deadline.
Nonetheless, GM Don Sweeney acknowledged final week that Boston continues to be leaving all choices open in relation to the staff’s plans on the March 6 deadline.
“We began a plan — a painful one at that individual time — final deadline so as to add to the organizational depth and expertise,” Sweeney said on NESN. “We’ve carried out a few of that. We’ve received work to do, to proceed to do. However we’re going to discover either side of the fence. On the finish of the day, we’re happy with our group and we imagine in them.”
The Bruins — nonetheless holding onto a playoff spot within the Jap Convention with a 33-21-5 document — might not have a lot of an urge for food for leases at this commerce deadline.
However, be it transferring off property for extra draft capital or pooling these property to acquire an impact player with term like Robert Thomas, Sweeney and Co. have a number of commerce chips that they will make the most of within the coming days.
Right here’s a have a look at a few of Boston’s high commerce property.
Draft picks
After years spent giving up useful draft picks with a view to put win-now golf equipment excessive, the Bruins seemingly have an abundance of riches transferring ahead.
Not solely does Boston have every of its personal first-round picks in each 2026 and 2027, however additionally they maintain each the Maple Leafs’ 2026 first-round choice and the Florida Panthers’ 2027 choice.
On high of that, Boston has loads of Day 2 draft alternatives readily available that it may well half with if needed. The Bruins maintain their very own second-round decide in every of the subsequent 4 drafts, and all of their third-round picks in three out of these 4 years — with Boston dealing its 2027 third-round choice for Andrew Peeke in March 2024.
The Bruins have had loads of success the previous couple of years in relation to using their first-round picks, choosing Dean Letourneau twenty fifth general in 2024 earlier than including James Hagens to the pipeline final spring.
Boston’s present standing as a playoff staff means it’s unlikely that the Bruins’ personal 2026 first-rounder shall be a lottery choice. Nonetheless, the 2026 NHL Draft appears to be rife with high-floor skaters, particularly in relation to defensemen and wingers with middle-six upside.
With 4 first-rounders within the subsequent two years, the Bruins at the least have the choices to maneuver one or two of these useful property for the proper of transfer, with Florida’s 2027 first-rounder — acquired within the Brad Marchand commerce final March — doubtless providing the least quantity of worth, particularly if Florida bounces again from this yr’s injury-riddled marketing campaign.
The case will be made that one in every of Boston’s most-prized commerce chips — or arguably, one in every of its few untouchable property — is that Toronto 2026 first-rounder, which was snagged together with Fraser Minten in what is already looking like a steal of a trade.
Whereas that Leafs decide is top-5 protected, a plummeting Toronto squad is seemingly primed to provide Boston one other blue-chip prospect — with solely eight groups having a decrease factors share than the Leafs.
Toronto might attempt to unload property and tank the remainder of the best way to try to sneak into that top-five spot and recoup its decide, however there’s no assure that they will overtake different cellar-dwellers just like the Canucks, Blues, Rangers, Blackhawks, and Flames during the last six weeks of the season — barring assist from the draft lottery.
The Bruins have sufficient draft picks readily available that they will conceivably half with at the least one or two first-round alternatives for the correct deal, however that Toronto decide could be off-limits if it secures an overachieving Boston roster one other top-10 decide in June.
Mason Lohrei
If the Bruins try to entice groups with youthful NHL expertise on their roster, Mason Lohrei might be an intriguing commerce chip. The 25-year-old blueliner has a coveted profile as a puck-moving, offensively-gifted D-man (23 factors in 53 video games) who additionally boasts a 6-foot-5 body.
Lohrei has made strides this season below Marco Sturm’s tutelage, and really nicely might be a long-term fixture in Boston’s D corps. However Lohrei — signed by means of 2027 at a $3.2 million cap hit — might be flipped as a part of a deal for an improve on the blue line or for a top-six ahead.
Andrew Peeke
Andrew Peeke is probably not a chunk flipped as half of a bigger bundle for a star expertise. However, the writing appears to be on the wall that the 27-year-old blueliner’s time in Boston might be coming to an finish. Past his standing as a pending UFA, Peeke has been a wholesome scratch the final two video games.
Sweeney noted on Monday that the Bruins aren’t going to maneuver soon-to-be free brokers on their very own roster only for the sake of doing it earlier than Friday’s deadline — not with depth being a necessity over the subsequent six weeks.
However, if the Bruins discover a technique to improve the correct aspect of their protection, Peeke might be an expendable participant flipped for a draft decide.
Viktor Arvidsson
One other soon-to-be free agent, Viktor Arvidsson might web the Bruins a second-round draft decide if the staff shipped him to a real contender. However, the 33-year-old winger — who additionally has a no-movement clause — is held in excessive regard by each Sturm and his teammates and is third on the staff in 5-on-5 factors (22).
If Sweeney needs to provide this overachieving Bruins roster a shot at punching its ticket to the playoffs, transferring on from a veteran like Arvidsson would seemingly sting a locker room seeking to compete and make good on its promising play.
Matt Poitras and different Windfall skaters
Whereas the Bruins have a wave of promising prospects set to make the soar as much as the professional ranks within the coming years, Boston may need to clear some house on their present AHL roster — particularly in relation to intriguing prospects who might be due for a recent begin elsewhere.
A former first-round decide like Fabian Lysell might be a kind of gamers who might use a clear slate, even when dealing the expert winger as a part of a 1-for-1 swap may not land Boston all that a lot.
However, a 21-year-old heart in Matt Poitras might be an intriguing piece, particularly if looped right into a bundle for a staff that has the means to provide the 2022 second-round decide regular minutes within the NHL.
Accidents and stagnant play have hindered Poitras’ capability to construct off of the promise he confirmed as an adolescent throughout the 2023-24 season. However, as evidenced by his candy tally towards Tampa Bay throughout the Stadium Sequence, Poitras has all of the makings of a possible NHLer together with his strong skillset.
With prospects like Hagens, Letourneau, and Fraser Minten both on the best way or already within the NHL, a younger heart like Poitras could be expendable.
Casey Mittelstadt
After struggling to settle in final season as one of many high returns within the Charlie Coyle commerce, Casey Mittelstadt has been strong this season as a top-six ahead for Boston.
A poised playmaker, Mittelstadt has posted 29 factors in 49 video games, has complemented a strong second line alongside Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Zacha, and is signed by means of subsequent season at a $5.75 million cap hit.
The Bruins doubtless aren’t dangling Mittelstadt out on the commerce market. However, his age, strong contract, and skill to play each heart and wing might make him a chunk that Boston might parlay as half of a bigger deal — particularly if Boston wants to maneuver out cash to tackle a bigger contract.
A former top-10 decide, Mittelstadt would possibly nonetheless be an interesting participant for groups which can be making an attempt to shore up a middle-six heart spot of their lineup.
Pavel Zacha
It appears like an extended, very long time in the past that Pavel Zacha was mentioned in trade rumors with the Vancouver Canucks.
(As a aspect observe, think about if the Bruins dealt Zacha and bought a Canucks’ first-round decide that’s presently projected to go No. 1 general?)
These commerce rumors have quieted down, and Zacha stays a strong contributor and versatile weapon for Sturm and his workers at each 5-on-5 play and on particular groups.
However, if the Bruins are each making an attempt to land one other impression participant on the deadline and wish to maneuver out a contract or two to make it work, Zacha might be an identical commerce chip as Mittelstadt — albeit with greater worth as a 50-point common.
The 28-year-old heart continues to be signed by means of subsequent yr at an reasonably priced $4.75 million cap hit. If the Bruins’ fortunes have been completely different and so they have been sellers, Zacha would command a large return on this market.
Fraser Minten
One of many high returns from final yr’s deadline, the 21-year-old Minten is already trying like an impactful third-line heart for each now and within the coming years for Boston.
The 2-way acumen was a part of the enchantment when the Bruins plucked him from Toronto’s prospect pool. However Minten — who has already scored 14 objectives and 29 factors this season — might probably have the scoring upside to a second-line heart if he reaches his ceiling.
Barring a commerce for a confirmed, top-six pivot in his prime, Minten is probably going off-limits for a Bruins staff that has no qualms slotting him right into a middle-six position for the foreseeable future.
Boston’s high prospects
The Bruins’ as soon as barren prospect pool is as deep because it’s been in nicely over a decade.
James Hagens (40 factors in 30 video games at Boston School) has legit top-six upside as a talented playmaker, drawing comparisons to Jack Hughes and Clayton Keller.
Be it on the wing or at heart, Hagens figures to be a difference-maker in due time for Boston, with an NHL debut doubtless on the horizon later this spring as soon as the Eagles’ season ends.
It’s laborious to think about a participant with Hagens’ draft pedigree and skillset being shipped out later this week.
However, the Bruins have a number of different high prospects who might web Boston a real impression participant — one who might assist a core of under-30 stars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman.
Dean Letourneau might be a possible matchup nightmare within the NHL ranks, particularly if the 6-foot-7 heart’s manufacturing as a sophomore at BC (19 objectives, 34 factors in 32 video games) carries over to the subsequent degree.
Letourneau is probably not fully off-limits, however it might have to take a major return for Boston to half with such an intriguing younger expertise.
Will Zellers — a shot-first winger who was acquired as a part of the Charlie Coyle commerce final March — can also be a prospect with legit middle-six potential. After profitable USHL Participant of the 12 months in 2024-25, Zellers has scored 17 objectives and 27 factors as a freshman on the College of North Dakota.
Zellers isn’t untouchable, however there’s rather a lot to love about what the 19-year-old ahead might become within the subsequent few years as a 20-goal common.
If the Bruins have to half with a prospect like Letourneau or Zellers with a view to full a blockbuster deal for a expertise like a 27-year-old Robert Thomas, the juice could be well worth the squeeze.
That being mentioned, a commerce like that could be painful for a Bruins fanbase who’s beginning to see a youth motion take maintain for the primary time in a very long time.
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