Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster & Salary Cap III.

[Bruinswillwin77]

Continued.

 

[finaliz3d]

For context from last thread:

I don't think Hagens should be involved in any Barzal trade. I'd do Hagens as part of a package for a legit 1C, but hold back on guys a tier below. Maybe there's some kind of Zacha or Geekie deal you could do, but if one of them is going to NY, I don't think you're trading someone on the tier of Minten or Letourneau with them.

If they also take on Elias, I'd offer Minten or Letourneau + 23 for him, even throw in Lohrei if they like him.

Wait… Zacha, Minten and a first for Barzal if they take Lindholm? Jesus…

I was suggesting Lindholm, Minten + 1st for Barzal. Didn't word that as well as I could have.

What I meant with that other sentence was that maybe there's some kind of deal you could do based around Zacha or Geekie that wouldn't involve a Minten or Letourneau. I can't imagine them wanting a package for Barzal that doesn't have a young center coming back, so that's probably not feasible.

 

[bbfan419]

For context from last thread:


I was suggesting Lindholm, Minten + 1st for Barzal. Didn't word that as well as I could have.

What I meant with that other sentence was that maybe there's some kind of deal you could do based around Zacha or Geekie that wouldn't involve a Minten or Letourneau. I can't imagine them wanting a package for Barzal that doesn't have a young center coming back, so that's probably not feasible.

Not a fan of Barzal, sure I would trade Lindholm for him, but not trading any top picks or young players, If they wanted maybe Khusnutdinov or Lohrei maybe, but not more than that. Barzal is overrated.

 

[Dizzay]

Did someone actually suggest Hagens + Letourneau +20261st for Thomas? That's what you think it'd take to acquire him? Glad your doctor prescribed you the strongest medical marijuana on the market.

Zacha 30+35 = 65 in 2025-26 Age 29
Thomas 25 +39 =64 in 2025-26 Age 26

I also included Mason Lohrei + Boston first in 2026............I think the term you used was lightyears away from reality. Who's reality?

Logan Stanley had more goals last season than every dman on our team not named McAvoy.

But you're likely right......they'll just trade Poitras, Lohrei, and resign Zacha and run it back! That's what I got from the press conference too.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Did someone actually suggest Hagens + Letourneau +20261st for Thomas? That's what you think it'd take to acquire him? Glad your doctor prescribed you the strongest medical marijuana on the market.

Zacha 30+35 = 65 in 2025-26 Age 29
Thomas 25 +39 =64 in 2025-26 Age 26

I also included Mason Lohrei + Boston first in 2026............I think the term you used was lightyears away from reality. Who's reality?

Logan Stanley had more goals last season than every dman on our team not named McAvoy.

But you're likely right......they'll just trade Poitras, Lohrei, and resign Zacha and run it back! That's what I got from the press conference too.

Yes. Did you see the deal St Louis apparently turned down for Thomas?

 

[NDiesel]

The interesting thing with the two remaining teams is that neither was built through tanking. Most key guys on both sides came either through UFA or trade.

While UFA is slim this year, we have a lot of assets at this moment and I think this is the time to get aggressive and go out and get that big fish through trades. Minten and Hagens are the two off limits for me, as much as I'd hate to lose Letourneau, he has to be an option.

For UFA, as much as these aren't my favourite options either, I think you take a long look at Raddysh or Andersson to help that 2nd pair.

 

[DKH]

They need to avoid having a day care

Fortunately the plan Sweeney has outline is ideally adding 2+ young players to the group

Kuzy & Minten are ideal based on their meturity level

Hagens and hopefully Poitras by everything I’ve seen are the same

The glue of the 25-26 was the second line and many here just blowing it up and magically think when the debris settles the house will be back together with a new deck and pool

delusional but that’s more directed at the Twitter GM’s who think while waiting at the drive thru for their coffee (actually do Gen Z’s drink coffee ? Mine don’t. Tea though) they can rebuild the Bruins into the 22-23 edition

 

[DKH]

The Canes foundation is built thru suckage

They went 5, 7, 5, 12, 13, and 2 from 2013 -2018 grabbing players like Hanifin, Necas, and Svetchnikov

Bruins can’t do their model - style yes but I’m starting to see this glorious Hurricanes way and why can’t the Bruins lol

The Vegas Golden Slumbers actually did my (not so humble brag) model : Stone, Eichel, Hanifin, Hertl, and Rasmus Andersson.

I’m obviously Vegas because I basically built that team.

Please understand Carolina missed a zillion years of the playoffs

 

[ON3M4N]

@MarchysNoseKnows

My point was more so that we don't usually see rumors about this many teams in the top 10 looking to move their pick. Could it be a sign of how teams feel about this draft? Maybe, idk.

 

[neelynugs]

The Canes foundation is built thru suckage

They went 5, 7, 5, 12, 13, and 2 from 2013 -2018 grabbing players like Hanifin, Necas, and Svetchnikov

Bruins can’t do their model - style yes but I’m starting to see this glorious Hurricanes way and why can’t the Bruins lol

The Vegas Golden Slumbers actually did my (not so humble brag) model : Stone, Eichel, Hanifin, Hertl, and Rasmus Andersson.

I’m obviously Vegas because I basically built that team.

Please understand Carolina missed a zillion years of the playoffs

the canes are also very good at compiling assets. they use the draft as their own personal sandbox,
trading down repeatedly, picking up tons of extra picks, and usually selecting the most skilled players
(the amount of russian players they've picked in the past 4-5 years is wild).

was never a big kyle dubas fan, but in pittsburgh, he's done similar things as far as asset management.
for a harvard man, our GM doesn't seem to do a ton of outside the box thinking like that. yes, in years
past they were cap strapped and had issues taking on contracts for picks, but would be nice for
them to have more than 1 virtuoso moment like they did at the 2025 trade deadline. at least IMO.

 

[ON3M4N]

Did someone actually suggest Hagens + Letourneau +20261st for Thomas? That's what you think it'd take to acquire him? Glad your doctor prescribed you the strongest medical marijuana on the market.

Zacha 30+35 = 65 in 2025-26 Age 29
Thomas 25 +39 =64 in 2025-26 Age 26

I also included Mason Lohrei + Boston first in 2026............I think the term you used was lightyears away from reality. Who's reality?

Logan Stanley had more goals last season than every dman on our team not named McAvoy.

But you're likely right......they'll just trade Poitras, Lohrei, and resign Zacha and run it back! That's what I got from the press conference too.

First and foremost you're leaving the the games played this season.

Zacha - 65 PTS / 78 GP / 0.83 PGP
Thomas - 64 PTS / 64 GP / 1.00 PGP

So yes, Zacha had one more point, but he did so with while playing in 14 more games.

This was also a career year for Zacha. It was the first time he scored 30+ goals and only the 3rd time in his career that he's scored 20+ goals. For Thomas this was this lowest amount of games he played since the 2020-2021 season when he was 21yr old

If you compare them over the last 3 years, which (IMO) provides a better representation of how a player has been performing

Zacha - 238 GP / 65 G / 171 P / 0.72 PGP
Thomas - 216 GP / 72 G / 231 P / 1.07 PGP

Their 82 games pace over the last 3 years:

Zacha - 22G / 37A / 59P
Thomas - 27G / 60A / 87P

 

[ON3M4N]

the canes are also very good at compiling assets. they use the draft as their own personal sandbox,
trading down repeatedly, picking up tons of extra picks, and usually selecting the most skilled players
(the amount of russian players they've picked in the past 4-5 years is wild).

was never a big kyle dubas fan, but in pittsburgh, he's done similar things as far as asset management.
for a harvard man, our GM doesn't seem to do a ton of outside the box thinking like that. yes, in years
past they were cap strapped and had issues taking on contracts for picks, but would be nice for
them to have more than 1 virtuoso moment like they did at the 2025 trade deadline. at least IMO.

I still don't know how much of that is Sweeney vs Neely. Sweeney seems like he values skill, speed and pace, while Neely values hard nosed hockey like he played with some piss & vinegar.

 

[Bruin4]

I still don't know how much of that is Sweeney vs Neely. Sweeney seems like he values skill, speed and pace, while Neely values hard nosed hockey like he played with some piss & vinegar.

I’m not so sure. Neely no dummy I think he realizes it takes a blend.

Sweeney has made more than a few suspect picks that weren’t no where near a Neely-Clone or guys with a piss and vinegar type demeanor

 

[22Brad Park]

Anyone see the ask for Kyrou.The Blues are BAKED!

 

[Bruin4]

“Thomas is the most ambitious swing and the one with the most noise behind it.

He is 26 years old with 64 points in 64 games this season and a contract running through 2030-31 at $8.125 million per year.”

 

[GHFC79]

They could take that article, replace the team name, and publish it again. It's the same five obvious names that get mentioned for every team.

 

[UncleRico]

Did someone actually suggest Hagens + Letourneau +20261st for Thomas? That's what you think it'd take to acquire him? Glad your doctor prescribed you the strongest medical marijuana on the market.

Zacha 30+35 = 65 in 2025-26 Age 29
Thomas 25 +39 =64 in 2025-26 Age 26

I also included Mason Lohrei + Boston first in 2026............I think the term you used was lightyears away from reality. Who's reality?

Logan Stanley had more goals last season than every dman on our team not named McAvoy.

But you're likely right......they'll just trade Poitras, Lohrei, and resign Zacha and run it back! That's what I got from the press conference too.

I wouldn’t do that deal for Thomas, but let’s not act like Thomas and Zacha are equal players based off last year.

That was a career year for Zacha and Thomas lowest point total in 5 years.

Zachas career year at 29 was Thomas down year (missed 18 games)

Thomas has been a PPG player since 22.

 

[ON3M4N]

I’m not so sure. Neely no dummy I think he realizes it takes a blend.

Sweeney has made more than a few suspect picks that weren’t no where near a Neely-Clone or guys with a piss and vinegar type demeanor

Sweeney is the guy "making the pick" but its not his decision alone. He's getting input from the scouts, Neely has input as do some others. I think Sweeney realizes to takes a blend more than Neely does. Sweeney was the GM for the 4-Nations team + the AGM for the last two olympic teams.

 

[GHFC79]

Sweeney is the guy "making the pick" but its not his decision alone. He's getting input from the scouts, Neely has input as do some others. I think Sweeney realizes to takes a blend more than Neely does. Sweeney was the GM for the 4-Nations team + the AGM for the last two olympic teams.

To be polite, I'd say that at the very least Sweeney has better media training and is better at articulating his thoughts.

 

[Dizzay]

Yes. Did you see the deal St Louis apparently turned down for Thomas?

My kids ask for outlandish shit everyday, doesn't mean they get it.
Just because they played the waiting game and didn't move him at the deadline doesn't automatically mean they'll get that package in the summer. The one thing that's always true in the NHL from my over 40 years of watching is that star players return far less than what the fanbase think they'll get.

The Blues don't have to move Thomas obviously, or Kyrou, but they're clearly looking to shake that organization up if they're being two names mentioned. From what I read, they don't want a full rebuild either. In saying that, I'd deal them Hagens and 1st for Thomas in a heartbeat. Thomas is a proven commodity, I think Hagens will be good but who knows how good. Pasta wants to win, McAvoy and Swayman I'd think want to win as well. Cant be wasting 5 years to get them with Hagens and Letourneau as their hopes and dreams.

 

[Dizzay]

I wouldn’t do that deal for Thomas, but let’s not act like Thomas and Zacha are equal players based off last year.

That was a career year for Zacha and Thomas lowest point total in 5 years.

Zachas career year at 29 was Thomas down year (missed 18 games)

Thomas has been a PPG player since 22.

I never meant to portray them as identical players. I was just showing that they're getting a very quality guy in Zacha. Most people around here think Lohrei is only going to get better and a 1st is a 1st. My point was just that it's a compelling offer........now I wish I stuck to my "don't propose trades due to high blood pressure and anger issues" statement I made last week

 

[DKH]

the canes are also very good at compiling assets. they use the draft as their own personal sandbox,
trading down repeatedly, picking up tons of extra picks, and usually selecting the most skilled players
(the amount of russian players they've picked in the past 4-5 years is wild).

was never a big kyle dubas fan, but in pittsburgh, he's done similar things as far as asset management.
for a harvard man, our GM doesn't seem to do a ton of outside the box thinking like that. yes, in years
past they were cap strapped and had issues taking on contracts for picks, but would be nice for
them to have more than 1 virtuoso moment like they did at the 2025 trade deadline. at least IMO.

Sweeney went all in - now he’s not he’s adopted the Dan Plan: 100+ points make the playoffs, keep draft picks and eat more fish and chicken

 

[GHFC79]

My kids ask for outlandish shit everyday, doesn't mean they get it.
Just because they played the waiting game and didn't move him at the deadline doesn't automatically mean they'll get that package in the summer. The one thing that's always true in the NHL from my over 40 years of watching is that star players return far less than what the fanbase think they'll get.

The Blues don't have to move Thomas obviously, or Kyrou, but they're clearly looking to shake that organization up if they're being two names mentioned. From what I read, they don't want a full rebuild either. In saying that, I'd deal them Hagens and 1st for Thomas in a heartbeat. Thomas is a proven commodity, I think Hagens will be good but who knows how good. Pasta wants to win, McAvoy and Swayman I'd think want to win as well. Cant be wasting 5 years to get them with Hagens and Letourneau as their hopes and dreams.

Right now, Hagens is probably at or near his peak value. In the short term, he has more room to lose value than to gain it simply because expectations are already so high. If you're going to trade Hagens, the time is probably now, when you're still selling the projection as much as the player.

My personal limit would probably be Hagens, Lohrei, and the 2026 and 2027 (with top-10 protection) first-round picks. That's already a massive package, but Thomas is one of the few players I'd seriously consider paying that price for.

 

[GHFC79]

If Hagens makes the NHL, plays in a middle-six role, and puts up 35+ points, that's more or less what people already expect from him. It confirms the projection, but I'm not sure it dramatically increases his value because a lot of that expectation is already priced in.

On the other hand, if he struggles to establish himself, has to spend significant time in Providence, or simply doesn't progress as quickly as expected, his value can drop fairly quickly. That's the reality of being a highly regarded prospect. Expectations are already baked into the asset value.

Poitras is almost the opposite.

His value today reflects uncertainty, and the fact that he still hasn't played a full NHL season. If he simply establishes himself as a legitimate everyday NHL center, his value rises. If he produces, it rises even more.

Obviously we're talking about different tiers of prospects and different expectations, but from a pure asset-management standpoint, Hagens has more downside risk to his trade value in the short term, while Poitras probably has more room for value appreciation simply through playing NHL games and proving he belongs.

 

[yazmybaby]

The Canes foundation is built thru suckage

They went 5, 7, 5, 12, 13, and 2 from 2013 -2018 grabbing players like Hanifin, Necas, and Svetchnikov

Bruins can’t do their model - style yes but I’m starting to see this glorious Hurricanes way and why can’t the Bruins lol

The Vegas Golden Slumbers actually did my (not so humble brag) model : Stone, Eichel, Hanifin, Hertl, and Rasmus Andersson.

I’m obviously Vegas because I basically built that team.

Please understand Carolina missed a zillion years of the playoffs

Aho was great second round pick.
Blake was an even better 4th round pick.
Stankoven is the unsung hero on that team. He works hard every shift, hits, has skill and can score.
He reminds me of Marc Savard.