Bruins trade tiers: Who could GM Don Sweeney move before the NHL Draft?

General managers have yet to reach for pens that will be busy signing contracts on July 1. The 224 picks for the 2025 NHL Draft are all available. As such, Don Sweeney has more flexibility to move assets before Friday’s first round than he will after the first 32 selections are made.

On Wednesday, the Boston Bruins GM did not rule out the possibility of trading a roster player. He has done this before.

Ten years ago, in the hours leading up to the first round of the 2015 draft, Sweeney traded Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton. The return included two 2015 first-rounders and a pair of second-round picks the Bruins used to draft Jakub Zboril, Zach Senyshyn, Jeremy Lauzon and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson. As has become clear, acquiring picks and hitting on them are separate matters.

Whether for additional draft capital or immediate assistance, Sweeney is motivated to consider every option. The GM has layers of needs: multiple forwards, a right-shot defenseman, goaltending depth, more prospects. He would not be keen to chase a possible short-term upgrade such as Matt Dumba (unrestricted after 2025-26), regardless of need.

“When we have runway, I think that’s what we’d look to do,” Sweeney said of acquiring a player with term. “Otherwise, we are going to focus on some of the draft capital we have and use it as effectively as we possibly can. I don’t say that if something presents with a player that has some term and/or runway, we wouldn’t jump at that. Because we would.”

What, then, could the Bruins use to acquire such an asset?

The untouchables

Charlie McAvoy

One of six Americans to secure an Olympic spot, McAvoy is eager to get back at it after his shoulder injury and infection at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s one of two candidates if the Bruins want a captain in 2025-26.

David Pastrnak

Pastrnak performed well as the lone alternate captain after the deadline selloff. He’s tasked, along with McAvoy, with leading the organizational transition. Only Nikita Kucherov is a more dangerous right wing.

Not untouchable but not really going anywhere

Morgan Geekie

From the way Sweeney characterized negotiations, he’s had regular communication with Judd Moldaver, Geekie’s agent, but is not in the immediate neighborhood of an agreement. A contract will be tricky considering the factors: a breakthrough season, the rising cap and the possibility of arbitration. The chances of a trade increase later in the offseason if the sides remain apart, but even that is unlikely considering Geekie’s value to the team.

Elias Lindholm

It’s hard to see any team being interested in assuming the six years remaining on the center’s contract. He found a way to settle in between Geekie and Pastrnak by the end of 2024-25. He has value, albeit at an elevated price, as a multi-situation center.

Hampus Lindholm

The blue line went sideways this past season in part because of Lindholm’s season-ending knee injury. He could be a big part of the organizational recovery as an all-situations defenseman. Given rising salaries, his $6.5 million average annual value looks quite reasonable.

Jeremy Swayman

As poorly as he played in 2024-25, it’s possible it was a one-year exception considering the circumstances: the pressure of his $66 million contract, adjusting to life without Linus Ullmark, and the crumbling of his defensive infrastructure. He has everything on his side to be a high-end No. 1. The Bruins would need another top-end goalie if they put Swayman on the market.

Listening but unlikely to be moved

No. 7 pick in 2025

It could be put in play if the Bruins want to move down, but considering the quality of player the Bruins could get at No. 7, they would have to be confident their target would still be available if they trade down.

Either of the 2026 first-rounders

It’s certainly possible one of them could be traded before next year’s draft, but the greater likelihood is during the 2025-26 season for an existing player, not in this window.

Joonas Korpisalo

Three years remaining is a long time to commit to an inconsistent goalie, and one of the explanations for Swayman’s downturn was that he wasn’t pushed enough by Korpisalo, but he should be in line for more action in 2025-26 and be able to settle into a playing rhythm. The Bruins would need to sign or acquire another experienced goalie if they traded Korpisalo.

Mason Lohrei

Sweeney classified Lohrei as being exposed at times defensively in 2024-25, but a bridge deal signals that both sides see room for growth in the 24-year-old.

Fraser Minten

He might not develop into a top-two NHL center, but he has the hockey sense to be a No. 3, which is a valuable commodity. He’s already a good pro at 20 years old.

Andrew Peeke

Peeke is best cast as a third-pair defensive defenseman, but he could be in line for more playing time if Sweeney can’t find right-side help. He will be unrestricted after 2025-26 and could be put in play as a rental during the season if the Bruins are out of playoff contention.

Matt Poitras

It remains to be seen whether the 2022 second-rounder will make the team out of camp. He had a productive eight-game AHL playoff run with Providence that should do him good.

Pavel Zacha

Zacha would have leaguewide value because of how he touches the game in multiple areas. But it is the same reason the Bruins would want to keep him, especially with two years left at $4.75 million annually. The return would be significant considering the 28-year-old’s three-zone reliability and cost control. He could open the year as the Bruins’ No. 2 center.

Nikita Zadorov

The big man settled down throughout the season in the defensive zone. He plays an important role when he focuses on patrolling his territory and playing with more restraint. He should still have the freedom to go up the ice on occasion.

Trade possibilities

Fabian Lysell

Lysell has NHL speed and skill but has yet to apply his strengths toward varsity traction. He did not score in the AHL playoffs. He’s only 22 but may feel like he has hit his limit with the Bruins.

Casey Mittelstadt

Mittelstadt can make first-line plays because of his vision and creativity, but he didn’t play with enough strength on the puck upon arriving from the Colorado Avalanche. He has a hefty price tag ($5.75 million annually) if he’s centering the third line.