After a nightmare 2024-25 season, the Boston Bruins are preparing for what should be a very busy off-season. It is clear that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has some serious work to do to fix the serious issues the team's roster has, and it could be a busy summer in Boston because of it.
Due to this, let's go over four moves the Bruins must make this off-season as they look to become a playoff-caliber team again.
Bruins Must Bring In True Top-Six Winger
One of the Bruins' top objectives of the summer should be to add at least one top-six winger. After trading Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers at the 2025 NHL trade deadline and letting Jake DeBrusk leave in free agency last summer, the Bruins have serious issues on the wing and need to address them this summer.
When looking at this year's pending free agents, there could be some very interesting players hitting the market on July 1 if they do not re-sign with their current clubs. Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner is undoubtedly the most notable of the bunch. Yet, there are also some other good pending unrestricted free agent options, like Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks), Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets), and Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings). Marchand, of course, can also hit the market on July 1, but a reunion between the Bruins and No. 63 seems unlikely.
The Bruins also have some fascinating pending restricted free agents to consider targeting with an offer sheet. A few notable ones include Matthew Knies (Maple Leafs), JJ Peterka (Buffalo Sabres), Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets), and Will Cuylle (New York Rangers).
Bruins Must Replace Brandon Carlo By Adding Top-Four Defenseman
The Bruins created a major hole on the right side of their blueline when they traded Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the Bruins got a nice return for the 2015 second-round pick, the assets they received will help them in the future, rather than in the present. Thus, the Bruins should be aggressive in bringing in a new top-four defenseman for their right side this summer.
Henri Jokiharju fit in well with the Bruins after they acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres at the deadline, but he can become a UFA on July 1 and is better-suited for a bottom-pairing role on a playoff-caliber club. Therefore, the Bruins should be looking to upgrade their right side with a true top-four blueliner.
Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is the top defenseman who can hit the free-agent market this summer, but he would not come cheap. While Vladislav Gavrikov is a left-shot defenseman, he can play the right side, so he could be a very good defensive defenseman for the Bruins to replace Carlo with. There is also Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Dante Fabbro, who undoubtedly stands out as a possible target.
Bruins Must Re-Sign Top Restricted Free Agents
Another big objective for the Bruins this off-season is to sign their top pending restricted free agents, Morgan Geekie and Mason Lohrei. Both players are expected to be important pieces for the Bruins as they try to get things back on track.
Geekie will be getting a significant raise from his previous $2 million average annual value, as he was simply fantastic for the Original Six club this year. In 77 games this season, the 26-year-old forward posted career highs with 33 goals, 24 assists, and 57 points. This included ending the year with an 11-game point streak, where he had nine goals and 19 points over that span.
Lohrei had some growing pains this season, which is normal for a young defenseman still adjusting to the NHL. In 77 games, he showed promise offensively, as he scored five goals and led all Bruins defensemen with 28 assists and 33 points. However, he also had a team-worst minus-43 rating. Yet, with Lohrei being one of the Bruins' most promising younger players, getting him signed to a new contract is important. A bridge deal is probably the best course of action for both sides.
Bruins Must Find A Way To Trade Joonas Korpisalo
Another goal the Bruins should have this season is to trade goalie Joonas Korpisalo. The 31-year-old struggled with consistency during his first season with the Original Six club, recording an 11-10-3 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, and a .893 save percentage in 27 games. He also expressed frustration about his limited playing time at the end of the season, and he is unlikely to get more starts with Jeremy Swayman locked up long term.
Trading Korpisalo would free up an extra $3 million of cap space for the Bruins to work with this summer. This would certainly benefit the Bruins, as it would open the door for them to improve their roster elsewhere.
If the Bruins traded Korpisalo, it could also create a potential spot for Providence Bruins goalie Michael DiPietro on the NHL roster. This could help the Bruins' chances of re-signing DiPietro, who can become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent on July 1. However, even if DiPietro ends up signing elsewhere this summer, the Bruins could still find a backup goalie at Korpisalo's level at a notably cheaper price.
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