The Boston Bruins exceeded expectations so far this year, which could give momentum to a busy off-season once their salary cap space opens up. Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak celebrates his goal with Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha against the Florida Panthers in a March 26 matchup. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1MzQwOTk2OTk5ODQ5NDcw/usatsi_22874799_168400847_lowres.jpg] Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak celebrates his goal with Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha against the Florida Panthers in a March 26 matchup. Limited salary-cap space this season prevented the Boston Bruins from making major moves in last summer's free-agent market and at the March NHL trade deadline. With a projected $21.7 million in cap room for 2024-25 [https://puckpedia.com/team/boston-bruins], GM Don Sweeney will have the flexibility to add via this summer's trade and free-agent markets. Sweeney could free up an additional $5 million by trading Linus Ullmark. The 30-year-old goaltender has a year left on his contract and reportedly used his 16-team no-trade list to reject a deal [https://thehockeynews.com/news/this-season-could-be-linus-ullmarks-last-with-the-boston-bruins] that would've shipped him to a Western Conference club before the trade deadline. With Jeremy Swayman an RFA this summer and poised to become the Bruins' full-time starting goalie, Ullmark could be playing his final season in Boston. Sweeney could ship the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner to one of the clubs not on his no-trade list, with the New Jersey Devils among the suitors. Sweeney could use some of that cap space to add an experienced two-way center among his top six forwards. He was reportedly interested [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bruins-expected-to-target-canucks-star] in Elias Lindholm before the 29-year-old center was traded by the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks. The Bruins GM could attempt to sign Lindholm if he becomes a UFA on July 1. THN contributor Michael DeRosa believes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/latest-news/bruins-must-sign-star-defenseman-in-offseason] Sweeney could also pursue Noah Hanifin if the 27-year-old defenseman tests the open market this summer. It's believed he was interested in the Boston native before the Flames traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights before the trade deadline. Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy cited [https://bostonhockeynow.com/2024/03/22/boston-bruins-nhl-source-sweeney-set-the-table-for-the-offseason/] an NHL executive suggesting Sweeney has set the table to make some major moves in the off-season. If he can pull it off the Bruins could remain among the NHL's top teams for the foreseeable future.
