r/Bruins

>Since 2018, the Bruins have only drafted one player who played meaningful minutes for them in this year's playoff run. 

I’m hoping this information is not true. Zacha is not worth this kind of money. The minute it gets rough (playoffs) this guy vanishes. Sweeney is making a grave mistake. How unfortunate.

This is theoretical and what I would do if I was Don Sweeney.

Let Walk:

A. Peeke
J. Harris
G. Merkulov
J. Farinacci
V. Soderstrom
P. Brown

Resign:

V. Arvidsson 2 x 4.85$ (Comes in handy later)
R. Tufte 1 x 850k$
M. Callahan 1 x 850k$

Trades:

C. Mitestadt
2028 1st (Toronto’s)
S. Kuraly
2027 2nd

For

Karill Marchenko 1 x 3.85$

Marchenko is young and a stud, with the Jackets likely extending Fantilli & Jenner & Marchment & Greaves, they wont have the money to pay a guy like Marchenko when he comes asking for his 10 million, especially after just handing coyle a contract that will likely age badly.
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H. Lindholm
R. Tufte
2027 1st (Florida’s)

For

O. Zellweger & extend 3 x 3.5$

Zellweger is a Young LHD with lots of potential, The ducks get a reunion with Lindholm with a 1st and a young prospect for their current 3rd pair expiring LD. Not a bad get.
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Lohrei
Steeves
2026 2nd

For

J. Farabee 2 x 5$

Calgary is junk and get a young defenseman, young forward and a high pick for Farabee. He would fit really well in Boston, TWF/PWF top 6 guys.
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V. Arvidsson
F. Lysell
2028 1st (Boston’s)

For

B. Schneider extend 4 x 4$

The NYR are disappointing, Schneider needs to be resigned. They get a guy who needs a fresh start, Lysell. A proven top 6 veteran forward to hold them over during the Rebuild/Retool and a 2028 1st. Good fit for the Bruins in my opinion.
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J. Korpisalo
M. Eyssimont

For

Literally Anything

Nothing against these two. They had a good year, but with Dipietro seemingly ready for the NHL and Eyssimont seeming to be the odd man out in a crowded bottom 6, it’s just time to move on.
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That Leaves the Bruins looking like this.

Geekie - Lindholm - Pasta
Farabee - Zacha - Marchenko
Hagens - Minten - Khusnutdinov
Jeannot - Poitras - Kastellic
Reichel

Zellweger - Mcavoy
Aspirot - Schneider
Zadorov - Joki
Brunet

Swayman
Dipietro

Let me Know what you guys think. I think this is a much better team. I also didnt include any free agent signings. You could improve RD3 with a guy like Gudas or Murphy or Trevor Van Riemsdyk if those guys are let go of.

6M AAV

2025-2026 stats - 20 goal - 38 assist and 58 pts

What do we think, should be more or less? Just right?

Personally take away everything around it, in a vacuum you just can’t do that and I would always expect 10 games for overhand swinging a stick, embarrassing he should know better.

Just pick one. A. Trade (if possible) B. Resign C. Finish out their contracts.

All of the players listed will either be a UFA, RFA or have only one year remaining on their contracts.

In no order

Forwards

• 1 Arvidsson

• 2. Mittelstadt
• 3. Zacha
• 4. Kulary
• 5. Eyssimont
• 6. Reichel
• 7. Poitras
• 8. Lysell

Defense

• 9. Peeke
• 10. Jokiharju
• 11. Harris
• 12. Lohrei
• 13. DiPietro

He has been in the doghouse under John Tortorella and Rich Tocchet (scratched in the playoffs) for not trying harder on defense.

Not trying harder or incapable. He is small and stocky. Strong on his skates but not a fast skater. Burst and top speed are both mediocre at best.

He still managed to score 63 pts and 51 pts in his first two seasons, and is considered a threat on the PP. He is still young and has room to improve.

IF the Bruins traded for him, they would need to pair him with a Zacha or Minten/Khusnutdinov to makeup for - shortcoming on defense.

If another team overpays - they can take the risk.

But if not many teams are interested and the Flyers want to move on. I wonder if they would bite on...

To Flyers: Poitras, Lohrei, Jokiharju, 2nd

To Bruins: Michkov, Jiricek

From the recent Bruins Rinkside episode.

Reason: They have fallen out of favor/benched in the playoffs. Same with Vatrano.

The Bruins and Ducks have a good trade history.

Trade idea

To Ducks: 2026 Bruins 1st, 2028 1st (most favorable pick), Mittelstadt, Locmelis, Jokiharju

To Bruins: McTavish, Zellweger, Vatrano

Then I would sign UFA - Darren Raddysh. I would overpay him like 10m aav on the condition - no NTC would be included in the contract. Worst case - RHD that can score points will be in trade demand.

Lineup

Khusnutdinov Zacha Pasta

McTavish Minten Hagens

Geekie Elias Vatrano

Jeannot Poitras Kastelic

Defensemen

Aspirot McAvoy

Lindholm Raddysh

Zadorov Zellweger

(I Meant 23rd)

The past two years have been defensive defenseman prospects who are solid but haven't fully panned out yet being Logan Hensler ( U minn) and Stian Solberg (AHL)

The 2023 22nd pick turned into Gabe Perrault, who is a very good rookie and has a potential to be a corner stone for the rangers in the future (0.5 P/G this year)

2022: Jimmy Snuggerud is a first liner for a struggling blues team, but he's 3rd of all rookies this year in points and again might be the future of blues hockey.

2021: Wyatt Johnson: First line center star for Dallas,over a point per game this year and 3/4 of his seasons are 60+ points and 30+ goals. Plus he's been one of their best playoff performers.

2020: Tyson Forestor is becoming a serious depth scorer for Philly, picking up a goal today as well.

2019: Simon holmstrom is the same deal as forestor, but he's a top liner for the islanders and a consistent goal scorer.

2018: Isaac Lunderstrom is kind of disappointing but he's still a 4th line quality player, he's good enough to be a pro which is more than other first round picks

2017: P-O Joseph, role playing defenseman but same deal as Lunderstrom

2016:Niki Borgström, had a 20 point in 50 game season with the panthers but really the one pick that didn't work out. Tage Thompson was 3 picks later though and we all know how he turned out.

2015: Brock Boeser, very solid scorer and has had 40 goal/ 70 point seasons (This whole draft haunts me).

2014: Conner Bleakly, ok this is the other exception, but he really didn't turn out unfortunately

2013: Andre Burakovsky, multi time Stanley cup winner and had huge roles on both teams, great second liner simply put

2012: Mike Matheson: Number 1 defenseman for many of the teams he's played for. Very solid skater and definitely would fit into the current bruins team.

My point is, despite not having a top round pick, the 23 overall pick has worked out 9/13 drafts between 12-23, not counting Joseph and Lunderstrom. If the bruins can pick up a solid player this draft we could give hagen's someone to look forward to playing with. It'll be important to keep an eye out on June 26th

What does everyone think of michael kesselring for the 2nd pair rd was just as big of a piece in the peterka trade as doan was at the time had a down year and was plagued by injuries however i think hes still got a great shot to bounce back hell be an rfa buffalo likely to move him hes big great skater and solid two way defnsemen obviously hes not a rasmus anderson level of player but i think the bruins need to get creative with the players they acquire yes u can go for a big swing but the best teams in the NHL are built off pro scouting identifying untapped potential in players examples being bennett marchment verhaghe chatfield montour mikkola raddysh shawn walker ghostibere these are all from tampa florida and carolina probably the 3 most successful eastern teams of the last 10 years all have successful pro scouting and acquiring players who outperform expectations also think the bruins need to get creative with trading id be very interested in seeing a couple hockey trades 1 for 1 look at a guy like mcleod in buffalo i think the big moves and selling the house for a thomas are obviously gonna get the main attention but u cant fill out your whole team like that u need to get creative and find undervalued players

It is getting harder and harder to find top 6 or D pairing UFAs/RFAs these days. Teams are reluctant to trade their young stars + cap rising - helps to keep them in the system longer.

We probably have to be realistic that a Robert Thomas trade is unlikely. As the Blues would want one of Hagens or Letourneau plus a bag of high picks.

The only impactful 'unaffordable' RFA - the Bruins could trade a 1st + Lohrei (example) is Dorofeyev. Which would help boost offense but doesn't solve the more pressing needs of a top line center and top pairing D.

This current situation is the byproduct of years of poor drafting. The Providence Bruins were one of the best AHL teams in the regular season. But at the moment, they are hanging on by a thread (could be eliminated tonight).

Poitras, Brunet and DiPietro are the only ones that have stood out. But at the next level they are all bottom level/backup players.

At this rate, unfortunately for Pasta and McAvoy. They will keep the seats warm for the next gen.

>Grier isn't shopping the pick, but he's invited the rest of the league to try and blow him away with an offer. Unless someone offers a young, elite top-pairing defenseman, expect him to stay at #2 and add another blue-chip prospect to the Shark Tank

The only trade asset they would care for...

• To Sharks: McAvoy (waive NTC)

• To Bruins: 2026 number 2 pick - Ivar Stenberg

Would you listen or hang up the phone?