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BOSTON — There’s a lot of playoff hockey still to go in the NHL, but already the offseason rumors are in high gear.
There are several still-in-their-prime elite players who could maybe, possibly, not-entirely-out-of-the-question be on the market this summer.
All of these are long shots...
The core of the Bruins' roster is in its championship window. If Boston wants to make a run at the Stanley Cup during the David Pastrnak/Charlie McAvoy era, they need to add some pieces.
It’s a quiet free agent class and it could be 2028 before a 2026 draft pick makes it to the NHL and longer before they make an impact.
Trading is the most likely path. Don Sweeney has an excellent track record making deals and will likely be active this offseason.
But will he go after big fish?
It would be surprising if anyone landed the superstars listed below. But it would be just as surprising if Sweeney didn’t at least look into their availability. Nobody thought Luka Doncic was going to end up on the Lakers either. It can’t hurt to make a call.
Let’s get a few caveats out of the way. These guys aren’t getting traded unless they want to be and they’re not getting sent somewhere they don’t want to go. So they have to want out and Boston has to appeal to them.
Who might be out there:
Brady Tkachuk
- Age: 26
- Cap Hit: $8,205,714 through 2027-28 with a no-movement clause
He and the Senators have denied the rumors that there’s a rift between the team and its biggest star, but trade chatter persists.
His personality is bigger than his numbers (22 goals, 37 assists in 60 games last year). Still, the Bruins have been trying to find a power forward with offensive skill and a mean streak for years. It’s why they acquired Matt Beleskey, Rick Nash, David Backes and why they drafted Trent Frederic. If Tkachuk is available, they’d likely be interested.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)AP
Auston Matthews
- Age: 28
- Cap Hit: $13.25 million through 2027-28 with a no-movement clause
The Maple Leafs star would be the clear No. 1 center the Bruins have been lacking. After averaging 51.4 goals from 2019-20 to 2023-24, his numbers have been depressed by injuries over the past two years, but he still averaged 30 goals over that stretch.
The Leafs are going to be under new management after hiring Mats Sundin and John Chayka to run their front office. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing in Matthews’ mind might be the deciding factor of whether he wants to stay. He’s publicly remained committed to the Leafs, but has asked the Leafs to add some toughness around him and William Nylander.
William Nylander
- Age: 30
- Cap Hit: $11.5 million AAV through 2031-32 with a no-trade clause
The 30-year-old probably isn’t getting moved unless the new Toronto leadership decides to fully rebuild.
“Unless it was a full rebuild and we were going to get rid of everybody, then it’s a different story. Then you take that conversation then,” Nylander told The Athletic. “But just to do a retool or whatever, I don’t even know, but I mean, I still want to be here, yeah.”
If Matthews decides he wants out, Nylander may follow. He’s averaged 37.8 goals and 85.6 points over the past five seasons. He and David Pastrnak are longtime pals.
Leon Draisaitl
- Age: 30
- Cap Hit: $14 million AAV through 2032-33 with a no-movement clause
After the Oilers got bounced by the Ducks, Draisaitl didn’t sound like a guy who is content in Edmonton.
“I am concerned because we’re not trending in the right direction,” Draisaitl said Saturday. “We’ve taken big steps backwards and have to get a grip of this and head back in the right direction.”
He has a no-movement clause in his $14 million AAV contract that runs through 2032-33. His willingness to waive it might be tied to Connor McDavid.
It’s worth noting that Draisaitl, who is German, has a good relationship with Marco Sturm, who coached him on the national team. He’s also close friends with David Pastrnak. None of that means he wants to be moved, but there are reasons Boston might appeal if he gets to that point.
After a crushing loss against Anaheim, the Edmonton Oilers are back on the ice to face the Los Angeles Kings. Find out how to watch the NHL for free. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)AP
Connor McDavid
- Age: 29
- Cap Hit: $12.5 million through 2027-28 with a no-movement clause
Don’t get excited. This is the longshottiest of long shots. The Oilers aren’t dealing him unless they absolutely have to and if he’s available, there will be teams with more to offer than the Bruins do. But he agreed with Draisaitl’s assessment.
“Yeah, I feel the same way,” McDavid said. “I feel the same as I did a couple of days ago and agree with Leon that the organization as a whole has taken a step back. It starts with me, it starts with Leon, we all can be better, we need to be better.”
If he gets traded, he’ll dictate where and there’s no reason to think he’s dying to move to Boston. But if he gets moved, it will impact the rest of the market significantly, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
What can Bruins offer in trade
For the Bruins to be in consideration for any kind of deal, they’ll likely have to unload a large portion of the young players and picks they acquired last year.
The Athletic ranked the Bruins prospect pool 19th, but they have some potentially valuable draft picks.
The Bruins have a unique collection of young players and assets they can deal.
James Hagens
To get any one of the superstars in question, they’ll almost certainly have to trade their top prospect. His value is at an interesting point. With five games of NHL experience, he’s all projection.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 27: Fraser Minten #93 of the Boston Bruins prepares for a face off during the first period against the Nashville Predators at TD Garden on January 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)NHLI via Getty Images
Fraser Minten
If the Bruins get deep into negotiations, teams are going to ask for Minten. He’s cheap, under team control and has terrific two-way upside.
Toronto first-round pick
The actual value of this asset will be clearer after the NHL draft lottery on Tuesday. If a team behind the Leafs wins one of the three draws and knocks Toronto out of the top five, the Maple Leafs first-round pick would go to the Bruins. There’s a 58.2% chance of that happening.
Otherwise it gets pushed back to a future season. The Bruins’ chances of pulling off a trade will improve significantly if they have the No. 6 overall pick to offer.
If the Bruins don’t get the pick this year, things get a little complicated. The wording from the trade is this (from Puckpedia):
“Top 5 protected, slides to 2027. The 2027 pick goes to Philadelphia (as part of Scott Laughton trade) if it is outside the top 10, which converts this pick to Boston to a 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick. If this Pick slides to 2027 and is in the top 10, TOR can either transfer it to BOS to satisfy this trade and then give PHI the 2028 unprotected, or transfer it to PHI and give BOS the 2028 unprotected 1st Round Pick.”
Florida first-round pick
The Bruins have Florida’s 2027 first-round pick, although it’s top 10 protected. If it’s a top 10 pick in 2027, the Bruins would have Florida’s 2028 pick unprotected.
The 23rd pick
The Bruins’ first-round pick at No. 23 overall is certainly an asset that would appeal to teams in a trade.
Dean Letourneau
The Bruins’ 2024 first-rounder likely has different value in the minds of different teams. He made a huge step forward in 2025-26 after looking overmatched as a freshman at BC. Is there another big step left in him?
Will Zellers/Cooper Simpson
The Bruins have two forwards with high offensive upside that won’t be in the NHL for a while.
Zellers dominated in the USHL in 2024-25 (44 goals, 27 assists in 52 games) and was an All-Rookie selection in the NCHC for North Dakota in 2025-26. He also had eight points in five games at the World Juniors.
Simpson had a breakout campaign in his first full season in the USHL in 2025-26 with 74 points in 61 games. He’ll be Zellers’ teammate next year at UND.
Will those scoring numbers continue as they reach higher levels? That’s what scouts would be asking themselves.
Mason Lohrei/Matt Poitras
Neither of these players would be a centerpiece of any deal for a star. But teams could look at either one as a secondary piece with some potential upside.
More Bruins content
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- NHL Draft Lottery: What Bruins need to happen to get a top 10 pick
- Bruins assistant GM doesn’t land Maple Leafs job, but is a candidate for another Canadian team
- Bruins reflect on Marco Sturm’s first year as coach
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