The Boston Bruins are in an interesting spot this offseason. One season removed from the most historic regular season in NHL history, the Bruins would put together another strong season despite some major roster subtractions. Despite this, it was clear early on that this Bruins team was missing some key pieces to compete for a Stanley Cup. Any deep playoff run would have been closer to a Cinderella Story than an expected outcome. As the Bruins look to fill these holes and build the roster for the future without a lull in between, cap space will surprisingly be their friend. Draft capital, on the other hand, will prove to be a different story altogether.
The Bruins need to acquire players who can contribute to the roster, either through free agency, trade, or a combination of both. However, they also need to establish a future pipeline, as theirs is a shallow as it gets in the NHL. Currently, the team is without a first-, second-, third-, and seventh-round pick in 2024, and a second- and fourth-round pick in 2025. Missing so much draft capital is the cost of success; while the Bruins may not have come out victorious, the benefits of these moves far outweighed the negatives when the ultimate goal is hoisting the Stanley Cup at season’s end.
Given their current situation, the Bruins will need to be clever in offseason trades. Acquiring impactful, high-end players will be key, but finding a way to also negotiate for picks in the first two rounds could go a long way. Although it’s not easy to find an impactful player in the late first round or beyond, the Bruins’ scouting department has done a good job identifying NHL regulars in these spots. Some prime examples include Brandon Carlo (37), Jeremy Lauzon (52), Trent Frederic (29), Ryan Lindgren (49), Jeremy Swayman (111), Jakub Lauko (77), Johnny Beecher (30), and Mason Lohrei (58), with the number in parentheses denoting the draft spot.
Related: 4 Bruins Trades That Shaped Their 2024 NHL Draft Position
Sweeney has done well finding value in these spots, but the odds of finding a legitimate player decrease the longer he has to wait to make a selection. This is why the Bruins must be creative this offseason as they manage the trade…
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