NHL Rumors: Could Bruins Flip No. 7 Pick For Proven Star?

The Boston Bruins are holding a rare hand, and the clock is ticking on how they want to play it.

For the first time since 2011, Boston owns a top-10 pick in the NHL Draft. At No. 7 overall, the Bruins have a chance to add a premium young center to a pipeline that has been thin since Patrice Bergeron retired. But with stars like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy in their prime, general manager Don Sweeney is not ruling out a more aggressive approach.

“We’re in a unique position this year drafting in the top 10 that we haven’t been there for a significant amount of time,” Sweeney said at Marco Sturm’s introductory press conference, as transcribed by Conor Ryan of Boston.com. “It might be making the selection, but it won’t mean that we aren’t having conversations that says, ‘How do we improve our hockey club today and moving forward?’”

The Bruins could stay put and take one of the top pivots expected to be available such as Brady Martin, Jake O’Brien, Roger McQueen or Caleb Desnoyers to groom a future franchise center.

But with four possible first-round picks over the next three years, Boston has the draft capital to get creative.

Trade buzz includes Martin Necas and Jason Robertson, two high-end wingers who could jolt the offense but do not address the team’s long-term need down the middle.

Sweeney made clear at the deadline that Boston was willing to pivot. That selloff brought in flexibility, leaving the Bruins straddling two timelines — one focused on the future, the other on maximizing Pastrnak’s prime.

If a top-10 pick cannot deliver fast enough, it may be used to land a proven star.