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Boston Bruins Trade Deadline Activity Could Be Stalling Out

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Matt Barry | Last updated Mar 4, 2026 2:10 AM ET

Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney spoke to the media on Monday, and his words would lead one to believe that this trade deadline might be a lot more uneventful than last year’s. Last March, Sweeney traded captain Brad Marchand, longtime defenseman Brandon Carlo, and forwards Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, and Justin Brazeau. It was the beginning stages of a “retool” that looked more like a “rebuild”. However, after adding young center Fraser Minten and forward Marat Khusnutdinov, along with offseason signings Tanner Jeannot and Mikey Eyssimont, the Bruins are overachieving and exceeding preliminary expectations. As of Monday, Boston is in the second wild card spot. Instead of adding more assets, this success might be causing Sweeney to be more cautious.

During the press conference, Sweeney said, “We’re looking to give this team a bump because they deserve it, but it’s with an eye toward the long term as well as improving this season’s team.” Essentially, Sweeney is looking to add an impact player with term. When asked about trading players off the current roster, Sweeney answered that it depended on the needs of other teams. Rental players are “probably not at the top of the list.”

The Bruins have been linked by reputable sources to players such as Calgary’s Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar, St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas and Colton Parayko, Vancouver forwards Brock Boeser and Conor Garland, and Flyers’ defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Players who have been projected to be available from the Bruins’ organization are Mason Lohrei, Matt Poitras, Andrew Peeke, and Viktor Arvidsson. Poitras is at the end of his rookie contract, and Peeke and Arvidsson are pending unrestricted free agents. Lohrei is the only one of those players with more term. The value of any of those players is up for debate. Head Coach Marco Strum is a big fan of Arvidsson, and the likelihood of the veteran moving to another team is slim.

Sweeney mentioned that there are 11 games in 19 days coming, which will test the depth of the club. The priority has always been to make the playoffs for Boston. This season is no different. Expect the Bruins to make a minor move or two, but nothing big. This year’s trade deadline could be similar to the 2024 deadline, which saw Boston acquire defenseman Peeke and forward Pat Maroon. The Bruins sent Jakub Zboril, AHL forward Luke Toporowski, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick to complete those deals.

What will be more likely is more activity in the offseason, where the Bruins will have to make more concrete roster decisions. Until then, expect this Bruins team to be the one that continues to fight for a postseason spot.

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