Bruins eye Mitch Marner ahead of free agency, but concerns remain

Bruins offense floundered despite strong years from Pastrnak and Geekie

The numbers don’t lie—the Bruins simply didn’t have enough offensive firepower in 2024–25.

David Pastrnak did what he always does: score.

Morgan Geekie was a bright spot too. But once you looked beyond those two, things got thin—fast.

The lack of reliable scoring depth was a problem all season and a major reason why Boston found themselves watching the playoffs from home.

For a franchise with championship expectations, that’s not acceptable.

Bruins expected to hunt elite forwards in free agency

With July 1 around the corner, the Bruins are expected to take a hard look at the open market.

Several top-six caliber forwards are likely to be available, and Boston has both the cap room and the urgency to make something happen.

Mitch Marner is arguably the biggest name expected to hit the trade block as he enters the final year of his deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He’s supremely skilled, a gifted playmaker, and a point-per-game player in the regular season.

But as with many things involving the Leafs—there’s a catch.

NHL analyst Pete Blackburn not sold on Marner’s playoff chops

During a recent episode of “The Hockey Hub” podcast, NHL media personality Pete Blackburn didn’t mince words when asked about Marner potentially landing in Boston.

I think he’s a great player, I think he’s a really, really, really great player, but I have concerns about how he disappears when games get hard.

Blackburn said.

That’s been a common criticism of Marner for years, especially come playoff time.

When the pace picks up and the ice gets tighter, his impact seems to fade.

That trend has shown up again this postseason.

And we’ve seen that in these playoffs.

We’ve seen it in previous playoffs. When the game gets nasty, Mitch Marner tends to disappear.

He’s had zero shots in each of his last two games for the Leafs, and that’s just not good enough.

For the Bruins, it’s not just about skill—it’s about timing. Can a guy deliver when the pressure spikes and every mistake matters?

That’s where the hesitation with Marner starts.

Sure, he’s talented.

But Boston’s culture values grit, effort, and toughness in crunch time. The optics of acquiring a player with a shaky playoff résumé might not sit well with fans—or the locker room.

Expect Boston to stay aggressive, but calculated 

This offseason won’t be quiet in Boston.

The front office knows what’s at stake and understands how quickly windows can close in the NHL.

The Bruins are in win-now mode, but they won’t chase names for the sake of headlines.

If they’re going to spend big or make a move, it’ll be for someone who fits what the Bruins are built around—guys who show up when it matters most.