Boston Bruins
The Bruins could use some of their draft picks and prospects to acquire players with term or high-upside skaters.
Time is ticking for Don Sweeney and the Bruins when it comes to adding — or subtracting — from this Bruins roster before Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
Boston has the assets in place to try and add an impact player or two with Sweeney stressing that the Bruins aren’t expected to peruse the rental market as they try to build a sustainable contender in Boston.
After taking a look at Boston’s trade chips entering Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline, here are a few players the Bruins could target as they try to punch their ticket back into the postseason.
C Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues
Stats: 12 goals, 23 assists in 43 games
Contract: Signed through 2030-31 season, $8.125 million AAV
The big fish on this trade market, Robert Thomas checks off plenty of boxes for Boston. An ascending roster looking to open a new contention window would receive a lift from Thomas — a 26-year-old, first-line center signed to a reasonable cap hit for six seasons.
A smooth playmaker, Thomas has already surpassed the 80-point threshold twice in his young career and could be a force if stapled to a line with David Pastrnak for the foreseeable future. Thomas could be a franchise fixture in Boston, but the cost to acquire him would be very steep.
St. Louis is looking at a long rebuild, but they don’t need to trade him by Friday, given his current contract. Boston has the means to make a compelling offer. But, it would require multiple first-round picks and blue-chip prospects to get the deal across the finish line.
Here’s a longer look at the pros and cons of a Thomas blockbuster deal for Boston.
F Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks
Stats: 7 goals, 19 assists in 49 games
Contract: Signed through 2031-32 season, $6 million AAV
If Boston is looking for some additional scoring punch in its middle-six grouping, Conor Garland could be a fit. The 29-year-old forward would be a fan favorite in Boston, beyond the fact that he’s from Scituate.
Despite his smaller frame (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), Garland is a relentless forechecker and spark plug who tilts the ice in his team’s favor when he’s out on the ice.
Garland is a good player, but it seems unwise for a Bruins team still a year or two away from being a legitimate contender to prioritize a winger who might be more of a third-line force than a second-line talent. He’s a player you add to put a strong team over the top — a position that Boston isn’t in at this stage of their retool.
D Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
Stats: 1 goal, 5 assists in 23 games
Contract: Signed through 2026-27 season; $5.1 million AAV
Upgrading the right side of Boston’s D corps might be the most pressing need for Sweeney and his staff this season.
A glass-eater like Rasmus Ristolainen would fit in well on a Bruins team whose identity is rooted in tenderizing opposing puck carriers. Once a reckless player prone to costly D-zone miscues and poor discipline, Ristolainen’s game has quieted down as of late — with the 31-year-old skater developing into a physical and sturdy presence on the blue line.
D Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues
Stats: 11 goals, 21 assists in 60 games
Contract: Signed through 2026-27 season; $6.5 million AAV
If Boston is looking for an immediate upgrade to its D corps for this season, Justin Faulk stands as a key addition. The veteran, right-shot defenseman eats a lot of minutes (22:30 average time on ice per game), can chip in on special teams, and generates a good amount of offense with 11 tallies on the season.
Faulk would shore up a critical area of Boston’s depth chart ahead of a potential playoff run. But, at 33 years old, he’s not exactly a long-term addition to a Bruins team that should still be focused on building up its roster for the next few seasons, rather than giving up a hefty package for a win-now asset.
D Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils
Stats: 9 goals, 12 assists in 47 games
Contract: Signed through 2025-26 season; soon-to-be restricted free agent
The New Jersey Devils are reportedly taking calls on Simon Nemec, the 22-year-old blueliner who was selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. Rather than target an older right-shot D like Ristolainen or Faulk, Boston could bank on future potential by dealing for a gifted puck mover with a high ceiling in Nemec.
Of course, the cost will be steep to pry Nemec out of New Jersey. He hasn’t been a transformative presence on the Devils’ defense, but the upside and skill are evident with a player who is averaging 19:42 of ice time per game this season.
He has some warts in his game that need to be corrected. But, Nemec could follow a similar career trajectory as Philip Broberg, a former top-10 pick from Edmonton who thrived in an increased role with a new team (St. Louis).
D Zach Whitecloud, Calgary Flames
Stats: 2 goals, 9 assists in 59 games
Contract: Signed through 2027-28 season; $2.75 million AAV
If Boston is looking for a long-term upgrade for a player like Andrew Peeke, Zach Whitecloud has some appeal as a no-frills, physical blueliner. He’d mesh well with the type of team Sturm and his staff are trying to build, but putting him higher than the third pair might be asking too much of him.
The Bruins already have no shortage of third-pairing options between Peeke, Henri Jokiharju, and even Mason Lohrei — who is skating on his weak side with Hampus Lindholm over the last few games.
F Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers
Stats: 19 goals, 17 assists in 60 games
Contract: Signed through 2031-32 season; $6.2 million AAV
If Boston is adamant about adding a top-six fixture to their lineup, Owen Tippett might be a better option over Garland — given both his age (27) and higher upside. Tippett is a speedy forward with good size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) and a nose for the net (soon-to-be four 20-goal seasons in Philly).
As Boston awaits the addition of top prospects like James Hagens and Dean Letourneau in the coming years, having a legitimate top-six winger in his prime like Tippett secured would be a prudent move for the Bruins. But, that proven production and agreeable long-term contract mean it’ll take at least a first and a few more assets to pry him from Philly.
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