Trade Proposal Has Boston Bruins Getting $30M Center

The Boston Bruins head into this offseason looking to retool on the fly. After a flash fire sale at this year’s trade deadline, one hole stands out in the team’s lineup: A solid middle-six center.

Assuming Pavel Zacha handles the top line, there would be a spot open on the second and third lines.

Boston currently has Casey Mittelstadt and Elias Lindholm on the books. Mittelstadt could be in the mix for the second-line role. But after how he fared in Buffalo and Colorado, the third line is his likeliest spot. As for Lindholm, a permanent move to the wing would be the best choice.

So, that situation leaves the door open for the Bruins to be active on the trade market and land a legit middle-six center rumored to be available: The New York Islanders’ Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

Pageau is entering the final year of a six-year, $30 million deal he signed in Long Island. The Islanders don’t seem confident in re-signing him. That’s why it seems newly-minted GM Mathieu Darche could be looking to move Pageau.

The Boston Bruins could use Pageau on their second line, potentially playing with Lindholm and another top-six winger the Bruns will be looking to land.

This deal makes sense as Pageau has already been linked to the Bruins by insider David Pagnotta. Plus, the Islanders were actively looking to move Pageau at this year’s trade deadline. But a deal never materialized.

The Cost for Boston Bruins to Land Pageau

The big question is: What would it cost the Boston Bruins to land Pageau?

The answer to that question depends on how the Bruins view Pageau. If the team sees him as a one-year rental, they may not want to splurge on the 32-year-old.

But if the Bruins feel he could be a part of the team moving forward, they could be enticed to spend a little more.

Here’s a look at how this proposed trade could look:

Bruins get:

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C

Julien Gauthier, F

Islanders get:

2025 second-round pick

Victor Soderstrom, D

The Boston Bruins get the biggest piece in Pageau while adding an RFA winger who could step into a middle-six role as soon as this upcoming season.

The Islanders get a second-round pick and a solid defensive prospect who could support the Isles’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. Soderstrom could also be in the mix for a job with the big club if injuries become a major issue again this upcoming season.

It’s worth pointing out that the biggest victory for the Islanders would be getting $5 million in cap space they could use to pursue a free agent more to their liking.

One Major Hold-Up for Boston Bruins in Acquiring Pageau

There’s one major hurdle the Islanders and Bruins would need to clear before signing off on this deal. Pageau has a 16-team no-trade clause. If the Bruins are on it, Pageau will need to waive it in order to make the deal work.

Otherwise, the Bruins and Islanders could pull the trigger on this deal.

The likelihood of this trade is uncertain at this point. The Bruins already have Zacha, Lindholm, and Mittelstadt penciled in as center at a cost of $18.25 million next season. Adding Pageau’s $5 million could be a bit too much unless the Bruins unload a center, with Lindholm being the likeliest candidate.