Bruins have to prioritize acquiring draft picks in trades

The Boston Bruins are in an interesting situation this offseason.

One season after the most historic regular season in NHL history, the Bruins would put together another successful season despite significant roster changes. Despite this, it was evident early on that the Bruins lacked certain crucial players to challenge for the Stanley Cup. Any deep playoff run would have been more akin to a Cinderella story than an expected result. Cap space will surprisingly be the Bruins’ friend as they attempt to fix these weaknesses and construct the roster for the future without a lull. However, draft capital will be a very other issue.

The Bruins must add players that can help to the team, either through free agency, trade, or a mix of both. However, they must also develop a future pipeline, as their current one is as shallow as it can get in the NHL. The team is currently lacking first-, second-, third-, and seventh-round picks in 2024, as well as second- and fourth-round picks in 2025. Missing out on so much draft capital is the cost of success; while the Bruins may not have emerged victorious, the benefits of these decisions certainly outweighed the drawbacks when the ultimate aim is to lift the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.

Given their current circumstances, the Bruins will need to make strategic summer transactions. Acquiring influential, high-level players will be critical, but finding a method to haggle for picks in the first two rounds might be quite beneficial. Although it is difficult to uncover an influential player in the late first round or beyond, the Bruins’ scouting department has done an excellent job of identifying NHL regulars in these positions. Brandon Carlo (37), Jeremy Lauzon (52), Trent Frederic (29), Ryan Lindgren (49), Jeremy Swayman (111), Jakub Lauko (77), Johnny Beecher (30), and Mason Lohrei (58) are some notable examples, with the number in parenthesis indicating the draft position.

Sweeney has done well discovering value in these situations, but the likelihood of finding a true player decreases the longer he waits to make a decision. This is why the Bruins must be inventive this summer as they navigate the trade market.

Bruins Should Aim for Larger Trade Packages to Satisfy Multiple Needs

The haul would have to be substantial if the Bruins decide to part ways with Linus Ullmark and split up the team’s excellent goalkeeper duo. In order to get a top roster player plus a draft pick in the first two rounds (or a top prospect) in exchange, Sweeney should try to pull off a bigger package deal. But a tango requires two, and Ullmark’s altered no-trade clause is one of them. In professional sports, general managers want to feel as though they have won every transaction they make. They wouldn’t be the best candidates for the position if maximizing assets wasn’t the main objective. Sweeney’s goal of maximizing value will directly compete with the opposing general manager’s goal of maximizing their own asset value; it’s a tricky business that isn’t always straightforward.

It’s also rarely ever easy.

The goalie situation is the Bruins’ greatest asset at the moment, and they are well aware of it. Regretfully, Swayman has maneuvered himself into a sizable increase as a restricted free agent, while Ullmark only has a single year left on his deal. The Bruins are thinking about all of these throughout the offseason.

Sweeney said to Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub, “We’re going to find a landing spot with Swayman, and if we can make the math work, we’re going to have the best tandem.”If not, we’ll investigate our choices; additionally, Linus might approach us and decide to change his mind. We’re thrilled to have signed Linus right now, and in an ideal world, we would stick with the tandem because I think it’s fantastic. However, we will investigate the possibilities. I’m going to answer calls when my phone rings. That’s exactly what the position calls for.

During the whole offseason, Sweeney’s phone will be constantly busy, so taking advantage of the team’s advantageous position to add players in other key areas of need may be highly beneficial. It would also be beneficial to figure out how to look into the future in order to prevent the need for a protracted rebuild later on.