Boston Bruins 2026 Offseason Roster & Salary Cap VII

[AngryMilkcrates]

I'd at least like to see Sweeney trade Middlestadt, Korpi, Eysemont, Lohrei, Joki and let Peeke walk.
Would keep me entertained. At least it would feel like they have a plan... Aggressive or not.

While I agree, who are we replacing the defensemen with?

 

[jgatie]

25-40% of the posts in here are outlandish Pastrnak proposals generated from one or two posters who’ve totally derailed the thread.

Whether it’s a good idea or not, realistically speaking there’s zero chance Pastrnak is traded this year. I’ve proposed someone create a “Pastrnak Trade Proposals” thread so we can ignore it. As Feleger would say, “keep those fracacta takes to yourself”!

Unfortunately, in this era of "clicks uber alles", getting a reaction trumps making sense, being objectively correct, or even avoiding embarrassment. Replies generated are dopamine hits, and the mice in here just keep hitting that button until their brains are mush.

 

[Sheppy]

The biggest thing is offloading a few guys right now. Korpisalo, Middlestadt and hell, even Hampus come to mind if they can find a taker.

 

[Boston BROin]

Only move I want if they don't sell again is a Bedard offer sheet. Throw whatever you can in terms of money at him and lose the picks. They'll still have two in 2028.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I dunno - maybe not, I am just going by what I loosely understand. He seems Bedard-ish, not so much McDavid-ish, so maybe not

But he's got 1C potential, and Pasta is almost at declining asset level

McKenna is a wing. Not generational from a projection standpoint,

 

[NeelyDan]

McKenna is a wing. Not generational from a projection standpoint,

Why'd I think centre - in any event, yeah this changes my response.

 

[JCRO]

Yes please

 

[Sheppy]

Yes please

I wonder which other Atlantic division team he goes to?

That said, I'd be aggressive at this guy. He's a hell of a player.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Yes please

Lohrei+Zellers+1st seems like too little right?

 

[mar2kbos]

Is McKenna thought to be generational ?

I think so. From what I seen of him he has that special IT factor. Like most highly scouted prospects, prospect fatigue starts to happen especially with the consensus number 1

 

[Beyonder]

Is McKenna thought to be generational ?

I would say he was though his time at Penn State probably took some of the helium out of his balloon.

I'm no expert on McKenna but I watched enough video of him at Penn State to believe that he came on very strong as time went on. His vision is off the charts - the IT factor that mar2kbos mentions. Imagine him setting up an elite scorer... that looks very promising. I think he's a legit #1OA and could be a star in the NHL and I was skeptical around November.

Opinions about whether he is generational are probably divided now. He'll have to prove it post-draft. Comparing McKenna's situation to say Bedard's, IMO McKenna is in a much better situation if he goes to Toronto than Bedard entered in Chicago. He'll join other former #1 picks Matthews and Tavares, and there's Knies and Nyander too. McKenna will have a good heat shield during his first year or three, something Bedard did not have and which has hurt his progress IMO.

Toronto really lucked out getting that pick. Basically replaces Marner with upside to be better.

 

[mar2kbos]

Have you forgotten that horrific goal scoring slump he had last season??? The problem wasn't his stick it was between his ears. While he wasn't scoring he was dead weight on any line Sturm put him on.

I'm probably overthinking this (that is my thing lol) but is Geekie a late bloomer or did he just enjoy a 1 1/2 season long hot spell????

Well that’s it right there. It’s between his ears. It’s not technically his shot, that will be there, it’s the conviction and confidence to do it.

He just was not as good as when he plays with Pasta which is a concern. It actually made Pasta score less and pass more. Technically you want both guys firing the puck but he hasn’t really found chemistry with anyone else but him.

 

[BruinDust]

Have you forgotten that horrific goal scoring slump he had last season??? The problem wasn't his stick it was between his ears. While he wasn't scoring he was dead weight on any line Sturm put him on.

I'm probably overthinking this (that is my thing lol) but is Geekie a late bloomer or did he just enjoy a 1 1/2 season long hot spell????

Seemed like during his dry spell he basically got stapled to the offensive black hole called Elias Lindholm at even strength. A player that has been a boat anchor for whatever line he's played on here in Boston, just ask Brad Marchand or Charlie Coyle, let alone David Pastrnak.

 

[Dr Hook]

Have you forgotten that horrific goal scoring slump he had last season??? The problem wasn't his stick it was between his ears. While he wasn't scoring he was dead weight on any line Sturm put him on.

I'm probably overthinking this (that is my thing lol) but is Geekie a late bloomer or did he just enjoy a 1 1/2 season long hot spell????

I haven't forgotten, but he still got 37 goals and where would the Bruins have been without that? Not in the playoffs. All scorers have streaks- Muzz could be streaky, Pasta is streaky etc etc. I guess we can't know 100% if Geekie is a flash in the pan, but he's 27 so in his prime and has had two back to bacl 30 goal+ seasons. I like the projection for the next 2-3 seasons (or more since his game doesn't depend on speed or stupid skill/agility. His shot should stay with him- Look at Ovi and Stamkos (and no I am NOT saying he is as good as either of those guys for those of you that like to pile on).

I won't tell you you are overthinking it, because that is a legit concern but it might be too soon? If he scores 17 next season then yeah, we should probably worry.

 

[EverettMike]

In case you missed it, as stated in the original post, Pasta for 1OA is nothing more than a thought exercise. Not an actual trade proposal.

 

[HustleB]

If we can do a sign and trade with Buffalo for Tuch, would you move Geekie and Lohrei to SJ for #2 overall?

Draft Stenberg.

Not sure those two pieces get it done alone but its intriguing. Geekie just put up 39 goals with an incredible cold stretch. Playing him alongside Celebrini I could see him putting up 50 pretty consistently.

Draft Tommy Bleyl and all of a sudden we have:
Hagens-Letourneau-Stenberg-Poitras-Zellers-Locmelis-Brunet-Bleyl to compliment
Pasta-Zacha-Lindholm-Tuch-Minten-McAvoy-Lindholm-Zadorov-Swayman

Not nearly enough for 2 in my mind.

 

[bme44]

More or less. He we get a decent return. Regardless he isn't going anywhere and the least of this teams concern

not at the moment

 

[Beyonder]

He (Geekie) just was not as good as when he plays with Pasta which is a concern. It actually made Pasta score less and pass more. Technically you want both guys firing the puck but he hasn’t really found chemistry with anyone else but him.

And that is the fundamental problem of not having a genuine #1 center with all-star level offensive talent. You want that guy feeding his 2 wingers with plus scoring ability. You don't want those wingers trying to make up the deficit or languishing without a playmaker.

I don't know if Hagens becomes that player. It's highly unlikely that happens as soon as next season. Hopefully he has the upside. In the meantime, it comes down to whether you make a bid to get a Larkin or Pettersson but that's a topic for 100 other discussions.

Standing still is not attractive if you didn't love the 2025-26 results.

 

[JCRO]

Lohrei+Zellers+1st seems like too little right?

Probably to little, yeah.

But I do like the line of thinking. Lohrei is cost controlled and brings offense compared to Nikishin who is an RFA and needs a pay day. They do have Gostisbehere for one more season but its a good succession plan for them imo.

 

[PB37]

In case you missed it, as stated in the original post, Pasta for 1OA is nothing more than a thought exercise. Not an actual trade proposal.

I feel the attention to get the Bruins to the table is there with the 1OA but I wouldn't do it in this draft. I'd like to see some sort of sweetner added besides the #1 overall too - Pasta is a franchise changing player. A good young player and another draft pick along with the 1OA would do it, I think.

 

[ON3M4N]

I'd swing at Kent Johnson. Geekie has a career high 14 points, and Wright had 27 last year. At least with KJ, we've seen 50+ points from him.

That said, who comes out of the lineup? Ultimately you're likely going to have a team of David Pastrnak and then a bunch of middling forwards.

14pts as a 20yr old playing 4th line minutes. I wouldn't be overly concerned. He's nearly a P/GP player at the AHL level.

On your second section:

Johnson - LW/RW
Geekie - RW
Wright - RW

If Arvidsson doesn't return you have an opening at 2RW. You may also end up having to move a guy like Mitts in a deal for one of them or another roster player and sudden you open up a spot.

 

[Sheppy]

14pts as a 20yr old playing 4th line minutes. I wouldn't be overly concerned. He's nearly a P/GP player at the AHL level.

On your second section:

Johnson - LW/RW
Geekie - RW
Wright - RW

If Arvidsson doesn't return you have an opening at 2RW. You may also end up having to move a guy like Mitts in a deal for one of them or another roster player and sudden you open up a spot.

This is kind of where I'm at. I'm not against it if guys are moved out for pieces but if they're not, you're kind of stuck with a log jam of secondary talent. I'd welcome C. Geekie in Kuraly's spot, no doubt.

 

[Beyonder]

I don't think Geekie is a problem that needs to be solved, even if you question whether he's going to continue to be a 30+ goal scorer (and he has a track record so it's hard to dismiss out of hand).

I can see making a case to sell high on him if you get a great offer but standing pat with him otherwise isn't a terrible thing. I still believe that standing pat with ALL of the top 6-7 forwards from last year, on multi-year deals, is a problem but that's a different topic.

The real issue is to find a path to improving the center position. Hagens is here and someday, whether starting this October or in other Octobers, he may become firmly part of the solution. Minten shows good promise as a keeper down the middle, with #2C upside (tbd). E Lindholm, despite whatever good qualities his supporters want to point out, is not part of the solution for me. But he will be very hard to move out without retaining a bunch of salary or bundling in a package where you pay to get rid of him - and I'd consider that, it's just a pill they need to swallow.

Geekie is easy to take for granted because he doesn't bring a lot of sizzle - just some needed goals.

 

[Sheppy]

I genuinely haven't been this confused with what the Bruins plan is in ages.

 

[MaratMania92]

Donny should have been on that 4th overall pick from Davidson like flies on a pail of shit last night. How did he miss that one?

He was too busy watching Cam play monopoly on Jimmy Fallon