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A heap of available salary-cap space, a potential top-five draft pick, and several other assets could help the Bruins at least right the ship and start building up a revamped core.
With the fifth-worst record in the NHL, the Bruins will have a shot at drafting as high as No. 1 — or as low as No. 7 — once the lottery is conducted next month.
Moving up would give Boston the chance to select potential franchise defenseman Matthew Schaefer or top-line talent Michael Misa (62 goals, 134 points in 65 games with OHL Saginaw).
Even if they land between 5-7, they should be in the range to select among centers James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, and Jake O’Brien.
The Bruins also added a pair of 2025 second-round picks courtesy of the Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic trades.
Few expected him to develop into a top-line winger next to Pastrnak, and while it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old can replicate his 33-goal production this past season, he is due a sizable raise just as the salary cap is set to spike.
The Bruins do have the right to go to arbitration with Geekie, but given his seamless chemistry with Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm down the stretch — they outscored opponents, 16-4, in 93:58 of five-on-five ice time — they should make every effort to work out a long-term deal.
Expect the Bruins to offer Geekie a deal worth $5 million-$6 million per year.
Other restricted free agents such as Mason Lohrei and Marat Khusnutdinov will likely be retained on bridge deals.
The Bruins also have to determine which checking-line forwards will return among Cole Koepke (UFA), Jakub Lauko (RFA), and Johnny Beecher (RFA), as well as make calls on pending free agent defensemen such as Henri Jokiharju and Parker Wotherspoon.
The logjam of middle-six centers under contract could prompt the Bruins to entertain trade offers for veterans such as Casey Mittelstadt ($5.75 million AAV through 2027) or younger talent such as Matt Poitras.
Boston ranked 26th in the NHL with just 2.71 goals scored per game. Its 29th-ranked power play cashed in on just 15.2 percent of opportunities, while Pastrnak (106 points) paced the No. 2 scorer (Geekie) by 49.
The Bruins will need game-breaking talent up front in order to give Swayman and the defense a bit more margin for error.
With a projected $28.8 million in cap space, their most pressing need is a top-six center, but there aren’t many options in free agency. Sam Bennett is arguably the best, but he is the type of player a contender signs to put it over the top rather than a play-driver on a retooling roster.
Barring a blockbuster trade — would a Canucks team at a crossroads look at moving Elias Pettersson’s hefty contract? — the Bruins’ best bet is to bolster the roster at wing and let the center position marinate with the development of Poitras, Fraser Minten, and possibly the 2025 first-round pick.
Mitch Marner might command $12 million-$14 million per year this summer. Other wingers available in free agency include Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser.
Be it Hampus Lindholm’s eventual season-ending knee injury, McAvoy’s shoulder turmoil at the 4 Nations Face-Off, a back injury that had Elias Lindholm playing catch-up in September, or Mark Kastelic’s concussion woes, the Bruins should benefit from a long summer of rest and clean slate when camp opens this fall.
That extended time off also should benefit Swayman, who will be able to enter camp without the distractions of last summer’s contract negotiations.
Hopes of leaving the 2024-25 season in the rearview mirror will be difficult if Swayman can’t regain the form of a legitimate No. 1 netminder.
A heap of available salary-cap space, a potential top-five draft pick, and several other assets could help the Bruins at least right the ship and start building up a revamped core.
Find a potential franchise building block in the draft
The Bruins will have to wait a few more weeks to find out when exactly they will be on the clock.With the fifth-worst record in the NHL, the Bruins will have a shot at drafting as high as No. 1 — or as low as No. 7 — once the lottery is conducted next month.
Moving up would give Boston the chance to select potential franchise defenseman Matthew Schaefer or top-line talent Michael Misa (62 goals, 134 points in 65 games with OHL Saginaw).
Even if they land between 5-7, they should be in the range to select among centers James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, and Jake O’Brien.
The Bruins also added a pair of 2025 second-round picks courtesy of the Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic trades.
Hammer out a long-term deal for Morgan Geekie
Morgan Geekie signed a two-year, $4 million contract in July 2023 with the expectation of a bottom-six winger with more to give after limited reps in Seattle.Few expected him to develop into a top-line winger next to Pastrnak, and while it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old can replicate his 33-goal production this past season, he is due a sizable raise just as the salary cap is set to spike.
The Bruins do have the right to go to arbitration with Geekie, but given his seamless chemistry with Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm down the stretch — they outscored opponents, 16-4, in 93:58 of five-on-five ice time — they should make every effort to work out a long-term deal.
Expect the Bruins to offer Geekie a deal worth $5 million-$6 million per year.
Determine who else stays and who goes
Other restricted free agents such as Mason Lohrei and Marat Khusnutdinov will likely be retained on bridge deals.
The Bruins also have to determine which checking-line forwards will return among Cole Koepke (UFA), Jakub Lauko (RFA), and Johnny Beecher (RFA), as well as make calls on pending free agent defensemen such as Henri Jokiharju and Parker Wotherspoon.
The logjam of middle-six centers under contract could prompt the Bruins to entertain trade offers for veterans such as Casey Mittelstadt ($5.75 million AAV through 2027) or younger talent such as Matt Poitras.
Add a legitimate offensive threat — and help on the blue line
The Bruins are holding out hope for a return to form from Jeremy Swayman and the defense, but if they are going to correct some of the flaws that doomed them, they’ll need to invest in more scoring.Boston ranked 26th in the NHL with just 2.71 goals scored per game. Its 29th-ranked power play cashed in on just 15.2 percent of opportunities, while Pastrnak (106 points) paced the No. 2 scorer (Geekie) by 49.
The Bruins will need game-breaking talent up front in order to give Swayman and the defense a bit more margin for error.
With a projected $28.8 million in cap space, their most pressing need is a top-six center, but there aren’t many options in free agency. Sam Bennett is arguably the best, but he is the type of player a contender signs to put it over the top rather than a play-driver on a retooling roster.
Barring a blockbuster trade — would a Canucks team at a crossroads look at moving Elias Pettersson’s hefty contract? — the Bruins’ best bet is to bolster the roster at wing and let the center position marinate with the development of Poitras, Fraser Minten, and possibly the 2025 first-round pick.
Mitch Marner might command $12 million-$14 million per year this summer. Other wingers available in free agency include Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser.
Get healthy
Plenty of things went wrong for the Bruins in 2024-25, including injuries to key players.Be it Hampus Lindholm’s eventual season-ending knee injury, McAvoy’s shoulder turmoil at the 4 Nations Face-Off, a back injury that had Elias Lindholm playing catch-up in September, or Mark Kastelic’s concussion woes, the Bruins should benefit from a long summer of rest and clean slate when camp opens this fall.
That extended time off also should benefit Swayman, who will be able to enter camp without the distractions of last summer’s contract negotiations.
Hopes of leaving the 2024-25 season in the rearview mirror will be difficult if Swayman can’t regain the form of a legitimate No. 1 netminder.
