NHL Draft lottery race II - Bruins locked into 5th before ping pong balls.

[Sevendust]

This team isn’t Beniers away from being a contender

You’d need to add Beniers+ a legit 1st line talent for them to be a Cup contender. Right now they have only 1 legit 1st line player in Pasta

& at that point you have to admit they can’t afford to have a competitive roster with 4 players getting top dollar, having zero quality elc’s& having Beniers, Lindholm, Lindholm likes on big money contracts

It’s building what the Rangers did and now few years later they are a complete mess

There’s no escape from it. They have to rebuild the prospect pool

I get you but the Bruins have the problem that they have a superstar in Pastrnak who will be 30 year old next year. You don´t have the time to approach the retool the slow way and the core of the team is mostly set. They have to target top six talent and I personally think that they are not that far away of being a contender again if they do that. A young stud center and little bit of luck next free agency (Eichel, McDavid) and they are right at it again.

 

[McBrom7]

I wouldn't be penciling in any draft pick into next year's lineup just now. No need to rush things unless they force themselves.

That's fair. I'm under the assumption that Misa is already NHL ready. That's why I had him there I guess.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

That's fair. I'm under the assumption that Misa is already NHL ready. That's why I had him there I guess.

I wouldn’t dismiss Schaefer, Misa, Frondell or even Hagens from playing in the NHL next year. Not saying it’s likely, but it’s not a certainty, and the first two almost surely go right into a NHL role.

 

[rfournier103]

I get you but the Bruins have the problem that they have a superstar in Pastrnak who will be 30 year old next year. You don´t have the time to approach the retool the slow way and the core of the team is mostly set. They have to target top six talent and I personally think that they are not that far away of being a contender again if they do that. A young stud center and little bit of luck next free agency (Eichel, McDavid) and they are right at it again.

I love your thought process, and getting Eichel (kind of possible) or McDavid (super long shot) here would jumpstart this franchise in a big way.

McDavid would instantly be the second best player to ever suit up for the Bruins. I’m not sure Charlie Jacobs has that kind of vision for this franchise, and I’m certain his father would have to sign off on that one, but that would change the course of NHL history.

If it were up to me, I’d take a run at him. Imagine McDavid and Pastranak on the same line? Gretzky-Kurri all over again.

If only Bruins ownership wasn’t so small-minded.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I love your thought process, and getting Eichel (kind of possible) or McDavid (super long shot) here would jumpstart this franchise in a big way.

McDavid would instantly be the second best player to ever suit up for the Bruins. I’m not sure Charlie Jacobs has that kind of vision for this franchise, and I’m certain his father would have to sign off on that one, but that would change the course of NHL history.

If it were up to me, I’d take a run at him. Imagine McDavid and Pastranak on the same line? Gretzky-Kurri all over again.

If only Bruins ownership wasn’t so small-minded.

I don’t know how you could put up the lack of “vision” for acquiring McDavid as some sort of ownership flaw. It’s a .0001% probability he’s available, and were he to decide he wants to leave Edmonton, he’d be traded.

Talking about offer sheets is one thing - it’s a 1% type of probability but still could conceivably happen. Same with Eichel. But McDavid? Come on.

 

[BB88]

I get you but the Bruins have the problem that they have a superstar in Pastrnak who will be 30 year old next year. You don´t have the time to approach the retool the slow way and the core of the team is mostly set. They have to target top six talent and I personally think that they are not that far away of being a contender again if they do that. A young stud center and little bit of luck next free agency (Eichel, McDavid) and they are right at it again.

I’m not even sure if this is serious?

Not that far away, if they manage to land Eichel or McDavid level of a player? So in other words they are million miles apart

You have to add

2-3 high end forwards (including a 1C)
Boost the depth at F
Add RD

And they are competing

Not that far away and you can just do it with cap space and assets? How?

Yes I know hold Pasta is but thr fact is they are at the bottom of the East and have abysmal prospect pool for a team not competing

This is not a 1 year fix, even if you add Beniers

So you draft -25& -26 and go for the big moves in the offseason of 2026. You are still competing at the same time and you have rebuild your prospect pool and don’t live in fantasy land

 

[Sevendust]

I love your thought process, and getting Eichel (kind of possible) or McDavid (super long shot) here would jumpstart this franchise in a big way.

McDavid would instantly be the second best player to ever suit up for the Bruins. I’m not sure Charlie Jacobs has that kind of vision for this franchise, and I’m certain his father would have to sign off on that one, but that would change the course of NHL history.

If it were up to me, I’d take a run at him. Imagine McDavid and Pastranak on the same line? Gretzky-Kurri all over again.

If only Bruins ownership wasn’t so small-minded.

Therefore I really hope that Sweeney is careful with the cap space he has the upcoming offseason. I know the chances are slim and didn´t happen a lot in the past that superstars are going to free agency but you better have the cap space if one or both are going to do it. I wouldn´t hesitate one second to offer McDavid a max contract.

 

[rfournier103]

I don’t know how you could put up the lack of “vision” for acquiring McDavid as some sort of ownership flaw. It’s a .0001% probability he’s available, and were he to decide he wants to leave Edmonton, he’d be traded.

Talking about offer sheets is one thing - it’s a 1% type of probability but still could conceivably happen. Same with Eichel. But McDavid? Come on.

In my defense, I did say “super long shot.”

I think the point I was trying to make, apparently rather poorly, is that if I were Bruins ownership and management, I would turn over every last stone no matter how ludicrous it was to improve this team.

Some hockey guy said once that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Was he wrong?

 

[Sevendust]

I’m not even sure if this is serious?

Not that far away, if they manage to land Eichel or McDavid level of a player? So in other words they are million miles apart

You have to add

2-3 high end forwards (including a 1C)
Boost the depth at F
Add RD

And they are competing

Not that far away and you can just do it with cap space and assets? How?

Yes I know hold Pasta is but thr fact is they are at the bottom of the East and have abysmal prospect pool for a team not competing

This is not a 1 year fix, even if you add Beniers

So you draft -25& -26 and go for the big moves in the offseason of 2026. You are still competing at the same time and you have rebuild your prospect pool and don’t live in fantasy land

Absolutely serious.

Adding McDavid or Eichel changes the dynamic of the team. Of course it´s by paying millions, how else? Still I prefer to give McDavid a max 15 million contract than paying Zadorov, Korpisalo and E. Lindholm 17 million combined.

Is your approach to draft as much prospects as possible in the next years and hope they pan out as elite players? All while wasting the prime of Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman?

I think the Panthers showed very well how trades can workout in your favour in building a contender

During a short time span they traded for

Bennett
Reinhart
Tkachuk

That put them finally over the top.

The Bruins already have drafted McAvoy, Pastrnak and Swayman.

Now try to improve the team by doing trades for elite talent and go for it. Sweeney mostly did his trades at the trade deadlines were prices were high and you mostly go for upcoming free agents. He did good with offseason trade for Zacha but that was mostly it. Go for elite talent that become available and improve the team.

Anyways everyone has his own opinion on how they should go on with this and this is the fun part of being on a message board. I absolutely respect your way of thinking and don´t claim on being right with this

 

[KillerMillerTime]

- Bruins jump up to #1, draft Misa

- Bruins trade the Leafs 2026 1st round for Howard, who signs an ELC

- Bruins offer sheet Knies, 7x8. Leafs fail to match

I can get behind that offseason.

If they were to OS and sign Knies that closes the door on Marchand, unless they traded Mittelstadt.

 

[Bruin4]

With the fourth pick of the 2025 NHL Draft the Boston Bruins Select from Trangsund, Sweden

• Highest U18 PPG in league history• 3rd on Djurgården in PPG• 1st on Djurgården in P/60• Feb/March player of the month• HA Rookie of the Year• 1st in U20 PPG at age 17

 

[BB88]

Absolutely serious.

Adding McDavid or Eichel changes the dynamic of the team. Of course it´s by paying millions, how else? Still I prefer to give McDavid a max 15 million contract than paying Zadorov, Korpisalo and E. Lindholm 17 million combined.

Is your approach to draft as much prospects as possible in the next years and hope they pan out as elite players? All while wasting the prime of Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman?

I think the Panthers showed very well how trades can workout in your favour in building a contender

During a short time span they traded for

Bennett
Reinhart
Tkachuk

That put them finally over the top.

The Bruins already have drafted McAvoy, Pastrnak and Swayman.

Now try to improve the team by doing trades for elite talent and go for it. Sweeney mostly did his trades at the trade deadlines were prices were high and you mostly go for upcoming free agents. He did good with offseason trade for Zacha but that was mostly it. Go for elite talent that become available and improve the team.

Anyways everyone has his own opinion on how they should go on with this and this is the fun part of being on a message board. I absolutely respect your way of thinking and don´t claim on being right with this

The point is chances for that happening are in the 2-3% range.
You can’t seriously build your vision around landing McDavid, it’s just doomed to fail from the start

You blame me for wasting another year or their prime but that’s going to happen anyways. It’s happening in your plan as well

Trading 4th overall creates few issues

1. The prospect pool keeps being garbage

2. Beniers won’t make them competitive for next season and they won’t be drafting high enough to draft impact players

3. That 4th overall pick has a very good chance of being as good as Beniers is now in 2026-27 while being on elc

So if even you agree they won’t be competing next year and will waste another year of their prime why not build through the draft and in 2026 go all in for proven players?

If you build from the draft and you are getting quality elc’s into the lineup hell you can live in the fantasy land and dream about getting McDavid or Eichel at 15M and being able to afford it. Because you have impact players on elc’s playing for millions less their value

If you ignore the draft, they won’t be competitive anytime sooner and you’ll have worse chances at landing Eichel/McDavid because you can’t afford them,

+ it’s going to be easier to attract talent if you can show you have prime Pasta/Swayman/McAvoy and few elite young pieces in your system

But no, let the last place team in the East go for the all in moves now and see them crash and burn. You can’t build a winner via free agency. Nashville and Boston tried it and the wheels fell off

& Florida example doesn’t work. They already had one of the best C’s in the league in the house when they went for those moves. They had their nucleus of core in the building without major holes. 1C, 1D, 2D, 1G were already there

I’m saying draft Barkov in -25 or 26 and then go for the Tkachuk move in 2026

 

[bp14]

I think O'Brien is a lot closer to Desnoyers and Frondell then being given credit for. Have read a lot of scouting reports on him and his north/south playmaking is his strength, and every month his defensive game gets better. There are some questions about his true ceiling as a top 6 center as late as mid March, but I could see the Bruins liking him in that same 5-7 group.

This is what scares me. A guy almost every ranking has around #10 being a Bruins target at #5-6. That right there is the sh1t I want to see end.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Rangers are a great recent example why you don’t rush it.

They created a 2 year window and burnt down again needing basically another rebuild

Those moves are not going to jump them into the mix next year and you’d be without your -26 1st. Just draft your Knies and go for Knies like moves in -26

What OS did Rangers do that gave them a Knies?

Toronto can go 10% over the cap in the summer? They will match a Knies OS but if there is a world Knies comes to Boston at 8.75M you do it in a heartbeat. Kid is 22 years old only.

 

[rfournier103]

If they were to OS and sign Knies that closes the door on Marchand, unless they traded Mittelstadt.

So what? I hate to sound callous, but Marchand is the past. Time to build for the future.

 

[162]

No,No,No do not draft a Swede whatever you do. They're soft, and no heart. Pick a North American player that has size, grit, and can put the puck in the net and happens to be a center which is what we need most.

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

Let’s just win the lottery and get Schaefer

 

[Bruin4]

So what? I hate to sound callous, but Marchand is the past. Time to build for the future.

i agree,Its over! spend the cap space elsewhere and move forward. This is Pasta team now, bld around him!

 

[Bruin4]

Let’s just win the lottery and get Schaefer

Yes!

 

[rfournier103]

i agree,Its over! spend the cap space elsewhere and move forward. This is Pasta team now, bld around him!

This.

I love Brad Marchand as much as anyone. But the future of the Boston Bruins is David Pastranak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. A forward, a defenseman and a goalie. The cornerstone is there, but the next GM (time to move on from Sweeney) needs to flesh out the squad, starting with a bonafide 1C.

 

[PB37]

That's fair. I'm under the assumption that Misa is already NHL ready. That's why I had him there I guess.

Knies -- Lindholm -- Pasta

Howard -- Zacha -- Geekie

Mittlestadt -- Minten -- Lysell

Khusy -- Kastelic -- Lauko

It may be too young of a lineup though. It's a pipe dream but interesting to think about.

 

[rfournier103]

Knies -- Lindholm -- Pasta

Howard -- Zacha -- Geekie

Mittlestadt -- Minten -- Lysell

Khusy -- Kastelic -- Lauko

It may be too young of a lineup though. It's a pipe dream but interesting to think about.

Honestly, the Bruins may have little choice but to sink or sail with what they have.

 

[Oates2Neely]

No,No,No do not draft a Swede whatever you do. They're soft, and no heart. Pick a North American player that has size, grit, and can put the puck in the net and happens to be a center which is what we need most.

Peter Forsberg says hello

 

[Bruin4]

 

[quietbruinfan]

Desnoyers is moving up, judging by the executives in attendance. Teams must be willing to wait.