After their eight-year playoff run ended last season, the Boston Bruins made moves to bolster their roster for a bounce-back performance in 2025-26.
They acquired right winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers and signed free agents Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris.
Nevertheless, there's speculation suggesting the Bruins might not be done making moves during this off-season.
RG.Org's James Murphy recently reported Casey Mittelstadt's future in Boston could be in question. The Bruins acquired the 26-year-old center and prospect winger William Zellers from the Colorado Avalanche in the Charlie Coyle deal before the March NHL trade deadline.
Murphy claimed some observers believe the promising Zellers was the real target for the Bruins as they restock their prospect pool. They wonder if Mittelstadt could be dangled in the trade market at some point.
If so, it'll mark the third time since March 2024 that Mittelstadt would be on the move. Back then, he was sent to the Avalanche by the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram.
The Hockey News’ Michael DeRosa said Mittelstadt is one of the Bruins’ top centers, but he only put up six points and a minus-17 rating in 18 games after last season’s trade. At his age, he has bounce-back potential.
Murphy also indicated that trade rumors have dogged Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forward Pavel Zacha since the NHL draft in late June. However, Korpisalo's agent denied that his client was unhappy in Boston and wanted out, while Zacha's representative dismissed the chatter as “just rumors.”
Boston Hockey Now's Andrew Fantucchio dismissed the notion of Mittelstadt or Zacha being shopped this summer. He indicated the Bruins intend to contend for a playoff berth this season, which they can't do by further depleting their depth among their top-six forwards.
DeRosa, however, says it would not be surprising if the Bruins shake up their roster during the season if they struggle again.
Meanwhile, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited a recent rumor suggesting the Bruins could be cooking up a deal that would see them ship right winger Fabian Lysell to the Oilers.
Lysell, 22, was the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2021 draft. However, he's struggled to establish himself as a full-time NHL forward.
Staples rejected speculation suggesting the Bruins' asking price for Lysell might be promising forward Matthew Savoie or speedy winger Vasily Podkolzin. He doesn't see Lysell as a fit with the Oilers unless he's a ferocious checker like Savoie.
The move would make sense if the Oilers were attempting to shed Podkolzin's $1-million cap hit. They currently have around $225,000 in cap space. However, acquiring Lysell's $835,000 wouldn't be much of a savings. Sending him to the minors after trading away Podkolzin would leave them thinner up front.
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