Bruins may have five 1st-round picks in next three NHL Drafts after upgrading Brad Marchand return

The Bruins have landed a first-round pick for trading their captain.

At the deadline, Boston dealt Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers for a conditional second-round pick that could become a first-rounder, and on Tuesday night those conditions were satisfied. For Boston to net a first-rounder, Florida needed to advance past the second round and Marchand needed to appear in at least 50% of their playoff games.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, Marchand dressed for the 13th time this postseason, and with a maximum of 13 games remaining for the Panthers, that’s now guaranteed to be at least 50%.

The first rounder will either be in 2027 or 2028 depending on a couple of factors.

Puckpedia reports the pick is Top 10 protected in 2027, so if Florida finishes with one of those selections, the pick reverts to 2028, where it’s unprotected for Boston. The pick could also slide back to 2028 due to Florida’s Seth Jones trade. If the Panthers opt to trade their 2026 first-round pick before the next month’s draft, then Chicago would get their 2027 first and Boston would be bumped back to 2028, per ESPN.

If the Panthers don’t trade that pick — which seems far more likely — Boston winds up with the (Top 10 protected) 2027 selection.

If the pick lands in 2027 for Boston, the Bruins will have five first-round selections over the next three NHL Drafts. They currently own all of their current first-rounders, as well as Toronto’s in 2026 (Brandon Carlo trade) and the Florida pick.

In dealing Marchand, Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and a fifth-rounder at the deadline, the Bruins landed two first-round picks, two second-round picks, two fourth-round picks, Fraser Minten, Casey Mittelstadt and more.

Here’s how each one of those major trades has panned out:

Brad Marchand

First-round pick (FLA, 2027 or 2028)

Brandon Carlo

First-round pick (TOR, 2026), fourth-round pick (PHI, 2025), Fraser Minten

Charlie Coyle and fifth round pick (2026)

Second-round pick (CAR, 2025), Casey Mittelstadt, William Zellers

Trent Frederic

Second-round pick (STL, 2025), fourth-round pick (EDM, 2026), Max Wanner