The Boston Bruins were among the NHL’s worst teams this past season, but their front office is aiming for a quick turnaround.
NHL insider Confirms a major offseason deal that would send a highly versatile star to the Bruins.
This deal is confirmed to be a blockbuster, appearing to function as a salary dump for the Rangers. In shedding top star’s contract, New York would also include a second-round pick in exchange for Mittelstadt.
For Boston, veteran star would address a glaring need at center and potentially slot in as the top-line pivot next to David Pastrnak. Entering the fourth year of an eight-year, $68 million contract, the Swedish forward could benefit from a change of scenery. He tallied 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points in 82 games last season and would help fill the void left by the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
The Rangers would receive Mittelstadt in return, a capable third-line center who split last season between Colorado and Boston. He notched 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points in 81 games and has two years remaining on his three-year, $17.25 million contract.
Bruins Expect to be Playoff Team Next Year
The Boston Bruins struggled this past season, finishing with the fifth-worst record in the NHL, but the organization remains confident in a quick rebound.
Holding the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Boston has a valuable opportunity to bring in top-tier talent. In addition, the front office plans to be aggressive this offseason in an effort to return to playoff contention, according to CEO Charlie Jacobs.
“I truly believe—and we’ve had extensive conversations about this—that with a healthy roster and the additions we plan to make this summer, we’ll be a playoff team and playing meaningful hockey at this time next year,” Jacobs said during the team’s end-of-season press conference on April 23.
The Bruins ended the year with a 33-39-10 record, placing them second-to-last in the Eastern Conference.
Rangers Shopping Their Star Players
After missing the playoffs this season, the New York Rangers may look to overhaul their roster with significant trades.
According to NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Rangers are reportedly exploring the market for Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Artemi Panarin.
“We’ll see what kind of moves Chris Drury has planned,” Pagnotta said in a May 6 report. “Don’t be surprised if Kreider’s name surfaces again. And even with a full no-move clause, Zibanejad could come up as well. Lately, I’ve also been hearing some chatter around Artemi Panarin…”
Pagnotta noted that it’s still unclear whether the Rangers will follow through on these potential moves but added, “There are definitely going to be some intriguing storylines as New York looks to reshape its roster for next season.”
With both the Rangers and Bruins aiming to retool this offseason, a trade between the two could be a realistic possibility.