The Bruins have already shown a willingness to get younger, and that shift could open the door to a much bigger move.
Boston rolled out Frederic Brunet and Matthew Poitras in Monday night’s tough loss to the Ottawa Senators, giving the lineup five players age 24 or younger. If the front office keeps leaning into that direction, one of the most intriguing names it could chase is Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings.
A deal like that would hinge on Boston’s ability to sell high on Mason Lohrei. The left-shot defenseman has opened the season well, though that momentum took a hit with a rough outing against Ottawa. The Bruins would have reason to hope it was only a temporary dip, but if it turns into something more, the team could revisit the trade market for him the way it did last season.
Detroit is looking for help now, and Lohrei fits that ask. He could step into the lineup and log minutes on the blue line, which gives him real value in a package for a 23-year-old defenseman like Edvinsson.
There is still a chance Lohrei develops into the player he was expected to be, after disappointing Marco Sturm enough that he was a healthy scratch in both the regular season and playoffs last year. But if he can be part of the return for Edvinsson, Don Sweeney would have to pull the trigger.
Pavel Zacha is another name that could come into play if those contract talks truly are going nowhere. The Bruins would be taking on some risk if they overpay him, especially if last season ends up looking like his peak. Through four games this season, there have already been hints of regression, and Boston has options in the organization to fill that role.
For the Red Wings, the appeal would be immediate help on the blue line and another center who could potentially step into Dylan Larkin’s spot if the former captain is moved. For the Bruins, the payoff would be clear: get younger, replace Zacha internally, and build a top pairing with Edvinsson and Charlie McAvoy.
Marco Sturm has started giving more runway to the younger players, and this kind of move would add another one to that group, alongside this offseason’s addition of JJ Peterka. It would not cost Dean Letourneau or Will Zellers, two players Boston may also add after the college season ends. It could leave some veterans wondering what the short-term ceiling really is, but long term, it would give the organization a much stronger foundation.
In Other News...
Bruins Are Sending James Hagens A Clear Message After Another Loss
After consecutive losses, the Bruins used Wednesdays practice to shuffle their forward groups and give rookie James Hagens a different look. The experiment put Hagens with Elias Lindholm and Casey Mittelstadt, a sign that Boston is still trying to find the right mix up front while leaning on one of its younger players in a season that has already demanded some adjustment.
Hagens had Bostons only goal in the recent loss, but coach Marco Sturm made it clear the organization is looking for more from him even as it manages his development carefully. The message is straightforward: Hagens is young, but he has to keep growing, and the veterans around him are expected to help bring him along as the Bruins try to stop the skid. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Already Have A Roster Question Fans Wont Ignore
The Bruins are still sorting through a few moving parts as they get ready to host the Utah Mammoth, with Andrew Peeke set to see his former team and Marco Sturm having already tweaked the lines in practice. The final lineup for the game is still not locked in, which has become a familiar source of intrigue for a club trying to settle into its early-season identity.
Pavel Zacha is part of that conversation for reasons beyond just the nightly lineup. Reports have linked him to ongoing contract uncertainty, and his name surfaced in trade discussions with Columbus as Boston weighed larger roster questions. For a team that wants clarity as soon as possible, Zachas situation is one fans will keep watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Could Still Have A Matthew Poitras Decision Coming
Matthew Poitras has already become one of the more watchable names on Bostons roster-building board, and now his future is drawing outside interest as well. Reports say Edmonton has checked in on the young center, a sign that other teams still see upside in a player the Bruins would rather not move casually.
Bostons stance appears to have slowed things down, with the asking price believed to be steep enough to make any deal hard to line up. Edmontons recent addition of Filip Hallander may ease some of the pressure there, but the idea has not fully gone away, especially with the possibility that injuries or changing needs could reopen the conversation later. [Read more 🡒]