Bruins trade tiers: Who could be moved by the deadline to advance the rebuild? – The Athletic

Maybe the Boston Bruins could stop taking penalties. Perhaps Jeremy Swayman can steal more games. It’s possible the fourth-ranked power play can make opponents pay for poor discipline.

But more than halfway through 2025-26, the Bruins look more like what they are with each game: not a playoff team. 

Last season, it was painful for general manager Don Sweeney to swing his hammer at the roster he designed. But the selloff and the ensuing tank netted the Bruins assets such as James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2026 first-round pick, the Florida Panthers’ 2027 first-round pick, Vashek Blanar, Will Moore and Liam Pettersson. Sweeney’s transactions gave the franchise much-needed futures assistance. 

The Bruins need more. So who could play a part in that movement ahead of the March 6 trade deadline? Here are our Bruins trade tiers — a breakdown of the 25 players currently active or on injured reserve on the NHL roster:

Foundational players

Charlie McAvoy

The do-it-all defenseman is still recovering from the jaw fracture that kept him out for 11 games. He will play a shutdown role for Team USA in the Olympics.

David Pastrnak

Not only the Bruins’ best finisher but also their top passer. He can play with any of the team’s centers and is contending with McAvoy to be the next captain.

Jeremy Swayman

He’s clearly back to his old self after the 2024-25 aberration and may not necessarily be the Americans’ No. 3 goalie at the Olympics.

Anything’s possible, but unlikely

Morgan Geekie

Geekie has hit a wall, not scoring in his last seven games, but he still has 25 goals. His year-long output in 2025 was proof that his nose for the net is sustainable. He’s also earning just $5.5 million annually through 2031.

Fraser Minten

An ideal deadline pickup considering his age (21), game (all-around) and value ($816,667 annually through 2027), Minten could grow into a No. 2 center. He plays and acts like a veteran.

Tanner Jeannot

Any playoff team would like a no-nonsense left wing who kills penalties, but the 28-year-old has played an important role in rebuilding the Bruins’ identity. He’s worth more internally than as a trade chip.

Tanner Jeannot has helped the Bruins establish a new identity. (Winslow Townson / Getty Images)

Mark Kastelic

The rugged right wing has taken another step by killing penalties and taking overtime faceoffs, all while staying true to his dark-alley game. He’s critical, like Jeannot, in leading the Bruins’ turnaround toward belligerence.

Marat Khusnutdinov

The 23-year-old has room to grow as a multi-position forward, and he brings energy and skill. He’s valuable at $925,000 per year through 2027.

Hampus Lindholm

Second behind McAvoy in ice time per game, Lindholm plays in all situations and is halfway through an eight-year, $52 million contract. The return would have to be gigantic to deal someone who touches so many areas.

Nikita Zadorov

Zadorov has continued the growth he started last spring as a shutdown ace and intimidator. He’s too important of a defender to put on the market, barring a massive return.

Limited market

Jordan Harris

Harris is a depth defenseman with the bad luck of being injured since October.

Henri Jokiharju

It’s tricky to determine his level of play after missing 16 games because of an undisclosed injury — and difficult to project a robust trade market because of his contract (signed though 2028 at $3 million annually) and inconsistent defensive-zone work.

Vladislav Kolyachonok

Kolyachonok is a smooth skater with good puck skills, but the 24-year-old has now played for four clubs in the past two seasons.

Joonas Korpisalo

Unless the Bruins retain part of Korpisalo’s $3 million average annual value (through 2028), the market is spare for a 31-year-old below-average backup.

Elias Lindholm

With just nine five-on-five points, the 31-year-old’s contract ($7.75 million per year through 2031) is too cumbersome to move.

Jeffrey Viel

There’s minimal trade value for the 28-year-old’s zero-goal, zero-point production line.

Let’s talk deals

Viktor Arvidsson

The unrestricted free agent-to-be could be a good addition for a playoff team seeking pace and a willingness to shoot in the bottom six.

Jonathan Aspirot

The pending UFA did well to make himself an everyday NHL defenseman this season. Contenders always need depth defensemen who can close and hit.

Mikey Eyssimont

Signed for one more season at $1.45 million, the high-speed agitator with skill would be a good depth pickup.

Sean Kuraly

The 32-year-old has checked every box in his second Bruins tour of being a good penalty killer and energy center. He’s signed through next year at $1.85 million annually.

Mason Lohrei

Skilled with the puck in the offensive zone, Lohrei has the touch to put up points and work a power play. The 24-year-old’s struggles in the defensive zone make it unlikely that coach Marco Sturm will give him matchup assignments anytime soon.

Mason Lohrei can be a power-play asset for a team in need. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

Casey Mittelstadt

The natural center has done well to adjust to left wing and can still make plays off the walls. Is there a playoff team that believes the 27-year-old can be a go-to top-six forward? 

Andrew Peeke

A year ago, Brandon Carlo had two more years under team control, which drove up his price. Peeke, meanwhile, is a pending UFA. But the return the Bruins got from Toronto for Carlo shows how the market can be good for right-shot defensemen.

Alex Steeves

The pending Group 6 UFA turned himself into a full-time NHLer this season at 26 years old. He could also be re-signed as a long-term top-nine forward.

The biggest decision

Pavel Zacha

Zacha could be this year’s Coyle: a natural center, multi-position forward, all-situations player, responsible defensively with one year left on his deal. Then consider that Zacha is younger (28) and cheaper ($4.75 million AAV) than Coyle was when he was moved to the Colorado Avalanche.

The return could be very good.

The question is whether Zacha is more valuable as a trade asset or a long-term second-tier fixture.