Five Potential Trade Candidates For The Boston Bruins

 

The offseason has begun for the Boston Bruins, and it is time for management to look toward next season. General Manager Don Sweeney stated that the team will be “aggressive” in free agency as the club is a couple of moves away from possibly being a top Stanley Cup contender during the 2024-25 season. When it comes to the trade market, there aren’t many assets for Boston to use in a deal to add a major piece to the roster. The Bruins have only three draft picks available from rounds four through six in this year’s draft and very few prospects to entice other teams. One major trade piece could be goaltender Linus Ullmark, who is entering the last year of his four-year deal. The Bruins could use the former Vezina Trophy winner to pull off a solid hockey trade with half of the league, as the other half is on his no-trade list. Here are five candidates for the Bruins to acquire this offseason:

Leon Draisaitl – Edmonton Oilers
Let’s be honest. This scenario is a bit of a pipe dream for the Bruins. Draisaitl is a top-five player in the NHL and makes a ton of money. His contract expires after next season, and there is talk that the Oilers will not re-sign the big center. Acquiring Draisaitl would be a coop for Boston and solve a lot of problems. But do the Bruins have enough to trade for him? And are they willing to include someone like Mason Lohrei? This is fun to think about but probably not feasible.

Martin Necas – Carolina Hurricanes
Necas is more of a possibility for Boston. The Bruins need another younger forward with speed and offensive ability, particularly if they lose Jake DeBrusk to free agency. Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared that the Bruins had trade discussions with the Carolina Hurricanes about Ullmark at the trade deadline. Calgary and Vancouver have also shown interest in the 25-year-old center, who scored 24 goals with 29 assists in 77 games with the Hurricanes. The 12th overall pick in 2017 also contributed four goals and five assists in 11 playoff games. Necas is a restricted free agent who would need a new contract.

Jacob Chychrun – Ottawa Senators
According to longtime NHL columnist and Ottawa Senators beat reporter Bruce Garrioch, the Senators were among the teams that pushed hard to acquire Linus Ullmark heading into the 2024 NHL Trade market. The Bruins have been connected to Chychrun in the past, and putting the offensive-minded defenseman with Hampus Lindholm and Mason Lohrei would give Boston a terrific trio at left defense. Chychrun would have to be re-signed and will probably command around $6-7 million annually. However, Bruins General Manager loves him, and a deal for Chychrun could be back on the table if Ullmark’s no-trade list will allow.

Brock Nelson – New York Islanders
Rumors are swirling that the Islanders might be moving on Nelson potentially being moved this offseason. Nelson is 32 years old and entering the final season of a six-year, $36 million contract. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward scored 34 goals and had 35 assists in 82 regular season games this past season. Nelson also collected two goals and two assists in the Islanders’ five-game series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nelson has scored at least 30 goals for the last three straight seasons and has 275 goals and 256 assists in 840 regular season games and has 27 goals and 23 assists in 78 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Anthony Cirelli – Tampa Bay Lightning
Cirelli has a $6.25 million salary cap hit and no trade protection, which makes him a viable trade candidate. Add to that the fact that the Lightning just required defenseman Ryan McDonagh and still would like to sign center Steven Stamkos and you have a bit of a cap dilemma in Tampa. Another detail with Cirelli is that the center receives a full no-trade clause in 2025-26. The Bruins could use a viable NHL center and Cirelli would be a good fit in Boston. Would the Lightning trade within the division? Maybe, maybe not. Cirelli registered 20 goals and 25 assists in 79 games last season. The 26-year-old is also a perennial Selke Award candidate for best defensive forward. If the Bruins can not find a more offensive center, then they could kick the tires on Cirelli.

The Bruins have needs at center and left defense, and the trade market could be the way to go, with Ullmark being one of their few assets. Expect a deal to be done before this June’s draft.