Boston Bruins
The Bruins could parlay draft picks, prospects, and NHL talent into other assets before Friday’s trade deadline.
Mason Lohrei and several other Bruins could be used as trade chips before Friday’s trade deadline. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
The 2025-26 Bruins aren’t bracing for a roster teardown at the trade deadline.
Still, GM Don Sweeney acknowledged last week that Boston is still leaving all options open when it comes to the team’s plans at the March 6 deadline.
“We started a plan — a painful one at that particular time — last deadline to add to the organizational depth and talent,” Sweeney said on NESN. “We’ve done some of that. We’ve got work to do, to continue to do. But we’re going to explore both sides of the fence. At the end of the day, we’re proud of our group and we believe in them.”
The Bruins — still holding onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 33-21-5 record — may not have much of an appetite for rentals at this trade deadline.
But, be it moving off assets for more draft capital or pooling those assets to acquire an impact player with term like Robert Thomas, Sweeney and Co. have several trade chips that they can utilize in the coming days.
Here’s a look at some of Boston’s top trade assets.
Draft picks
After years spent giving up valuable draft picks in order to put win-now clubs over the top, the Bruins seemingly have an abundance of riches moving forward.
Not only does Boston have each of its own first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027, but they also hold both the Maple Leafs’ 2026 first-round selection and the Florida Panthers’ 2027 selection.
On top of that, Boston has plenty of Day 2 draft selections on hand that it can part with if necessary. The Bruins hold their own second-round pick in each of the next four drafts, and all of their third-round picks in three out of those four years — with Boston dealing its 2027 third-round selection for Andrew Peeke in March 2024.
The Bruins have had plenty of success the last few years when it comes to utilizing their first-round picks, selecting Dean Letourneau 25th overall in 2024 before adding James Hagens to the pipeline last spring.
Boston’s current standing as a playoff team means it’s unlikely that the Bruins’ own 2026 first-rounder will be a lottery selection. Still, the 2026 NHL Draft seems to be rife with high-floor skaters, especially when it comes to defensemen and wingers with middle-six upside.
With four first-rounders in the next two years, the Bruins at least have the options to move one or two of those valuable assets for the right kind of move, with Florida’s 2027 first-rounder — acquired in the Brad Marchand trade last March — likely offering the least amount of value, especially if Florida bounces back from this year’s injury-riddled campaign.
The case can be made that one of Boston’s most-prized trade chips — or arguably, one of its few untouchable assets — is that Toronto 2026 first-rounder, which was snagged along with Fraser Minten in what is already looking like a steal of a trade.
While that Leafs pick is top-5 protected, a plummeting Toronto squad is seemingly primed to give Boston another blue-chip prospect — with only eight teams having a lower points percentage than the Leafs.
Toronto could try to sell off assets and tank the rest of the way to try and sneak into that top-five spot and recoup its pick, but there’s no guarantee that they can overtake other cellar-dwellers like the Canucks, Blues, Rangers, Blackhawks, and Flames over the last six weeks of the season — barring help from the draft lottery.
The Bruins have enough draft picks on hand that they can conceivably part with at least one or two first-round selections for the right deal, but that Toronto pick might be off-limits if it secures an overachieving Boston roster another top-10 pick in June.
Mason Lohrei
If the Bruins are trying to entice teams with younger NHL talent on their roster, Mason Lohrei could be an intriguing trade chip. The 25-year-old blueliner has a coveted profile as a puck-moving, offensively-gifted D-man (23 points in 53 games) who also boasts a 6-foot-5 frame.
Lohrei has made strides this season under Marco Sturm’s tutelage, and very well could be a long-term fixture in Boston’s D corps. But Lohrei — signed through 2027 at a $3.2 million cap hit — could be flipped as part of a deal for an upgrade on the blue line or for a top-six forward.
Andrew Peeke
Andrew Peeke may not be a piece flipped as part of a larger package for a star talent. But, the writing seems to be on the wall that the 27-year-old blueliner’s time in Boston could be coming to an end. Beyond his standing as a pending UFA, Peeke has been a healthy scratch the last two games.
Sweeney noted on Monday that the Bruins aren’t going to move soon-to-be free agents on their own roster just for the sake of doing it before Friday’s deadline — not with depth being a necessity over the next six weeks.
But, if the Bruins find a way to upgrade the right side of their defense, Peeke could be an expendable player flipped for a draft pick.
Viktor Arvidsson
Another soon-to-be free agent, Viktor Arvidsson could net the Bruins a second-round draft pick if the team shipped him to a true contender. But, the 33-year-old winger — who also has a no-movement clause — is held in high regard by both Sturm and his teammates and is third on the team in 5-on-5 points (22).
If Sweeney wants to give this overachieving Bruins roster a shot at punching its ticket to the playoffs, moving on from a veteran like Arvidsson would seemingly sting a locker room looking to compete and make good on its promising play.
Matt Poitras and other Providence skaters
While the Bruins have a wave of promising prospects set to make the jump up to the pro ranks in the coming years, Boston might have to clear some space on their current AHL roster — especially when it comes to intriguing prospects who could be due for a fresh start elsewhere.
A former first-round pick like Fabian Lysell could be one of those players who could use a clean slate, even if dealing the skilled winger as part of a 1-for-1 swap might not land Boston all that much.
But, a 21-year-old center in Matt Poitras could be an intriguing piece, especially if looped into a package for a team that has the means to give the 2022 second-round pick steady minutes in the NHL.
Injuries and stagnant play have hindered Poitras’ ability to build off of the promise he showed as a teenager during the 2023-24 season. But, as evidenced by his sweet tally against Tampa Bay during the Stadium Series, Poitras has all the makings of a potential NHLer with his solid skillset.
With prospects like Hagens, Letourneau, and Fraser Minten either on the way or already in the NHL, a young center like Poitras might be expendable.
Casey Mittelstadt
After struggling to settle in last season as one of the top returns in the Charlie Coyle trade, Casey Mittelstadt has been solid this season as a top-six forward for Boston.
A poised playmaker, Mittelstadt has posted 29 points in 49 games, has complemented a solid second line alongside Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Zacha, and is signed through next season at a $5.75 million cap hit.
The Bruins likely aren’t dangling Mittelstadt out on the trade market. But, his age, solid contract, and ability to play both center and wing could make him a piece that Boston could parlay as part of a larger deal — especially if Boston needs to move out money to take on a larger contract.
A former top-10 pick, Mittelstadt might still be an appealing player for teams that are trying to shore up a middle-six center spot in their lineup.
Pavel Zacha
It feels like a long, long time ago that Pavel Zacha was mentioned in trade rumors with the Vancouver Canucks.
(As a side note, imagine if the Bruins dealt Zacha and acquired a Canucks’ first-round pick that is currently projected to go No. 1 overall?)
Those trade rumors have quieted down, and Zacha remains a solid contributor and versatile weapon for Sturm and his staff at both 5-on-5 play and on special teams.
But, if the Bruins are both trying to land another impact player at the deadline and need to move out a contract or two to make it work, Zacha could be a similar trade chip as Mittelstadt — albeit with higher value as a 50-point regular.
The 28-year-old center is still signed through next year at an affordable $4.75 million cap hit. If the Bruins’ fortunes were different and they were sellers, Zacha would command a sizable return in this market.
Fraser Minten
One of the top returns from last year’s deadline, the 21-year-old Minten is already looking like an impactful third-line center for both now and in the coming years for Boston.
The two-way acumen was part of the appeal when the Bruins plucked him from Toronto’s prospect pool. But Minten — who has already scored 14 goals and 29 points this season — could potentially have the scoring upside to a second-line center if he reaches his ceiling.
Barring a trade for a proven, top-six pivot in his prime, Minten is likely off-limits for a Bruins team that has no qualms slotting him into a middle-six role for the foreseeable future.
Boston’s top prospects
The Bruins’ once barren prospect pool is as deep as it’s been in well over a decade.
James Hagens (40 points in 30 games at Boston College) has legitimate top-six upside as a skilled playmaker, drawing comparisons to Jack Hughes and Clayton Keller.
Be it on the wing or at center, Hagens figures to be a difference-maker in due time for Boston, with an NHL debut likely on the horizon later this spring once the Eagles’ season ends.
It’s hard to imagine a player with Hagens’ draft pedigree and skillset being shipped out later this week.
But, the Bruins have several other top prospects who could net Boston a true impact player — one who could help a core of under-30 stars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman.
Dean Letourneau could be a potential matchup nightmare in the NHL ranks, especially if the 6-foot-7 center’s production as a sophomore at BC (19 goals, 34 points in 32 games) carries over to the next level.
Letourneau may not be completely off-limits, but it would need to take a significant return for Boston to part with such an intriguing young talent.
Will Zellers — a shot-first winger who was acquired as part of the Charlie Coyle trade last March — is also a prospect with legitimate middle-six potential. After winning USHL Player of the Year in 2024-25, Zellers has scored 17 goals and 27 points as a freshman at the University of North Dakota.
Zellers isn’t untouchable, but there’s a lot to like about what the 19-year-old forward could develop into in the next few years as a 20-goal regular.
If the Bruins need to part with a prospect like Letourneau or Zellers in order to complete a blockbuster deal for a talent like a 27-year-old Robert Thomas, the juice might be worth the squeeze.
That being said, a trade like that might be painful for a Bruins fanbase who is starting to see a youth movement take hold for the first time in a long time.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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