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Boston Bruins could regret ignoring $18M forward Mason Marchment as Kraken steal key trade piece

Originally posted on Bruins After Dark | By Jake Donovan | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:20 PM ET

Dallas sheds salary, Seattle gets stronger, and the Boston Bruins miss a chance to add a proven goal-scorer Mason Marchment.

It didn’t make front-page headlines, but the Dallas Stars made a move this week that could quietly shift the tone of the offseason. They dealt forward Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken, and the cost? Two mid-round picks — a 2026 third and a 2025 fourth.

For Seattle, it’s a tidy piece of business. They pick up a 22-goal winger, big-bodied and battle-tested, without giving up anything that’ll sting long-term. For Boston, watching that deal go down might raise some eyebrows — especially given what the Bruins need right now.

This was a Sweeney-type deal — and he had the tools to do it

Marchment’s contract isn’t a backbreaker. At $4.5 million and one year left, he’s manageable. The Bruins had the cap room. They had picks to match or beat the Kraken’s offer. But instead, they stayed quiet.

What makes that silence harder to accept is that Don Sweeney had already suggested he was willing to use draft capital to improve the roster. He said it at Marco Sturm’s introductory press conference. Those weren’t vague words — they were a signal. But when an opportunity like this popped up, the Bruins let it slide by.

Mason Marchment isn’t a star, but he’s the kind of guy Boston needed

Back-to-back 22-goal seasons. A winger who doesn’t mind the corners. Six-foot-four, rugged, but with enough finish to hurt you if you give him space. That’s Marchment in a nutshell.

Boston needs scoring. They needed it before this week, and they still need it now. Left-shot winger or not, Marchment would’ve helped. The Bruins don’t have the luxury to get picky with style points or handedness — not after struggling to generate offense when it counted.

Sturm’s arrival marks a shift. You can feel it. But you still need the right horses. Marchment would’ve been a safe, sturdy piece to add to the stable.

If Boston’s offense sputters again, this might be the move fans look back on

It’s not a blockbuster. It’s not a headline-stealer. But trades like this, the ones made early, quietly, and with purpose, often end up shaping the season more than we realize in the moment.

The Bruins are trying to walk a fine line: stay competitive, build smart, and avoid overpaying. That’s fair. But when you get too cautious, you start watching other teams get better while you wait.

And then, suddenly, it’s February, and you’re still looking for goals.

This article first appeared on Bruins after dark and was syndicated with permission.

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