With the Olympic break looming, the NHL trade rumor mill is heating up-and the Boston Bruins are right in the thick of it. Two of their defensemen, Andrew Peeke and Mason Lohrei, have landed on a prominent trade board, signaling that Boston could be weighing its blue line options ahead of the deadline.
Peeke, a right-shot defenseman, comes in at No. 24 on the board. His name has been floating around the rumor circuit for a while now, and it's easy to see why.
He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and if the Bruins don’t view him as part of their long-term future, now might be the time to explore a move. But there’s a catch: Peeke plays the right side-a position where Boston isn’t exactly overflowing with depth.
If they do decide to move him, they’ll need to find a replacement who can step in and contribute right away. You don’t just subtract from your defensive core mid-season without a plan, especially when you’re in the thick of a playoff push.
Then there’s Mason Lohrei, slotted at No. 25.
This one’s a little more surprising. At 25 years old and standing 6-foot-5, Lohrei has started carving out a meaningful role on the Bruins’ blue line.
He’s not just a big body-he’s been productive, too, posting six goals and 17 assists for 23 points through 51 games this season, along with a solid plus-7 rating. That’s the kind of two-way contribution you want from a developing defenseman.
Lohrei’s name surfaced earlier this season when the Bruins were reportedly in talks with Calgary for Rasmus Andersson. While that deal didn’t materialize-Andersson ended up in Vegas-it’s telling that Lohrei was part of those conversations. It suggests that Boston sees him as a valuable trade chip, but also that they’re only willing to move him for the right return.
And that’s the key here. Trading Lohrei would be a bold move, and one that only makes sense if it brings back a legitimate top-four right-shot defenseman. Anything less, and you risk weakening a defensive unit that’s already walking a tightrope between experience and youth.
Bottom line: the Bruins are clearly exploring ways to fine-tune their roster ahead of the stretch run. Peeke might be the more likely of the two to be moved, given his contract status and the Bruins’ need to manage assets.
But Lohrei? That’s a tougher call.
He’s young, productive, and still developing. Unless the return is a clear upgrade, Boston may be better off holding onto him as they gear up for what they hope is a deep playoff run.