Grading the Boston Bruins’ 2025 Trade Deadline

Before coming over in the trade, Wanner had played in 90 professional games – all with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League – where he scored eight goals and racked up 11 assists. So, on the surface, the return was not all that great for Boston.

However, the draft picks are what makes this at least a decent deal. The second-round pick now gives the Bruins two second-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and the fourth-round pick now gives them a bridge pick between the third and the final round in 2026. Overall, the first trade was decent, but not great.

Overall Grade: B

Trade #2: Boston Trades Justin Brazeau to Minnesota Wild for Jakub Lauko & Marat Khusnutdinov

Trading Justin Brazeau to the Minnesota Wild for Jakub Lauko and Marat Khusnutdinov was, perhaps, the first trade that left Bruins fans a bit puzzled. The only logic behind this trade could be that Sweeney felt uneasy going into the offseason. With Brazeau becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, perhaps he wanted to get something for him now rather than lose him for nothing later.

While it is nice that Boston brought back a familiar face in Lauko, what they had to give up to do so was a bit puzzling. Through 38 games with the Wild, Lauko has only mustered six points (three goals, three assists), and Khusnutdinov has not played much better, racking up seven points (two goals, five assists) in 58 games.

Take that in contrast with Brazeau, who has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in the same amount of games. Did the Bruins make the right call financially? It’s possible, but it’s also possible that they royally messed up on-ice chemistry.

Overall Grade: B-

Trade #3 – Bruins Trade Charlie Coyle, 2025 Fifth-Round Pick to Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers & 2025 Second-Round Pick

At the tip of the iceberg of this trade, fans will look at this and wonder why in the world Boston traded Charlie “the kid from Weymouth” Coyle and a draft pick. The answer is simply in the return, and you will see why Coyle was so coveted at the deadline.

So far this season, Casey Mittelstadt has played in 64 games (including one with the Bruins), where he has tallied 35 points – including an assist in his first game with Boston. He also scored 11 goals and assisted 23 more in his time with the Avs. In addition to that, the Bruins acquired the rights to Will Zellers.

Zellers, following the 2024-25 United States Hockey League (USHL) season, is expected to join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks of the NCAA. To this point in the 2024-25 season, he leads the USHL in scoring with 60 points (38 goals, 22 assists) while playing for the Green Bay Gamblers.

Finally, the last piece of this trade (the second-round pick) is what really puts it over the edge. This now gives the Bruins two second-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft and puts them in a position to either trade said picks for bonafide NHL players or draft future prospects.

Overall Grade: B+

Trade #4 – Boston Trades Brandon Carlo to Toronto Maple Leafs for Fraser Minten, 2026 First-Round Pick & 2025 Fourth-Round Pick

The trade of Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs is the opposite of the Coyle trade. It looks great, and Boston got a first-round pick out of the deal, but if this is what the Bruins really think Carlo is worth, then they really need to rethink their strategies at the trade deadline.

Carlo is a plus defender at his position, and on top of that, he also holds some offensive prowess. But to trade him away for Fraser Minten and a draft pick that could very well be in the bottom half of the first round? Yes, it gives Boston a first-round pick back in this season’s draft, but that’s not right.

Minten is in his first professional season, where he has split time between the Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In that time, he has played in 41 games (15 in the NHL) and contributed 17 points (eight goals, nine assists). While it’s better to get something rather than nothing, I’m not sure if this qualifies for Boston.

Overall Grade: B

Trade #6 – Bruins Trade 2026 Fourth-Round Pick to Buffalo Sabres for Henri Jokiharju

I think the first thought that comes to mind when you look at this trade is, “Who in the world is Henri Jokiharju?” Well, guess what? You’re not alone. He’s a defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres who has only scored above three goals in a season once, and has never contributed more than 20 points in a season.

Jokiharju has only contributed six points thus far this season between his time with the Sabres and the Bruins. While he does fit the need of a veteran defender with Carlo gone now, it remains to be seen how he fits in with the rest of the team.

On the bright side, Boston did not have to give up much to get him from Buffalo. So I guess that begs the question, why was it so easy?

Overall Grade: C

Trade #7 – Bruins Trade Brad Marchand to Florida Panthers for 2027 Conditional Second-Round Pick

Now, for the heart breaker trade of all heart breakers: Brad Marchand being traded to the Florida Panthers. While it’s better than trading him to the Montreal Canadiens, why the Bruins would trade him to the Panthers of all places is completely unclear at this time.

The return is where this trade gets tricky to analyze. The pick that Boston picked up from Florida becomes a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick if the Panthers win the first two rounds of the 2025 Playoffs AND Marchand plays in 50% of the team’s playoff games. Definitely one of the weirder contingencies in a trade that this reporter has ever seen, but a contingency nonetheless.

This trade was one of the ones that frustrated Bruins fans the most. Marchand wanted to stay and retire as a member of the Bruins. Sweeney wanted the same, but still swung the trade. Perhaps the reasoning is something that is happening behind closed doors. Regardless, with Marchand gone now, there is not a single player left on the roster from the 2011 Stanley Cup champion team.

Overall Grade: C-

Trade #8 – Boston Trades Marc McLaughlin to the New Jersey Devils for Daniil Misyul

This final trade was yet another puzzler for fans. Trading Marc McLaughlin doesn’t quite make sense, but not for the reason you’d think. It’s not that he was a valuable NHL piece, but given their lack of talent in the farm system (outside of a few players including McLaughlin himself), he might have been a good piece to hold onto.

McLaughlin will bring plenty of depth to the Devils’ lineup moving forward, but what Misyul brings to the Bruins is absolutely nothing at the moment, except maybe another piece to sit with the Providence Bruins for a while. He has played in 48 games this season (one at the NHL level) and has yet to score a goal while tallying eight assists.

Where this trade was exactly headed, I’m not entirely sure. On the surface, it looks like an easy way to free up cap space for the upcoming offseason, but whether that was the actual intent remains to be seen.

Overall Grade: C

What’s Next For Boston?

Boston is back in action on Tuesday, March 11, when they welcome Marchand back to TD Garden when the Panthers come to town. Puck drop in that one is slated for 7 p.m.