Bruins’ offseason plans leaked and it explains a lot!

The 2024 Trade deadline wasn’t a great success for the Boston Bruins. General manager Don Sweeney came out short on too many occasions, twice attempting to acquire star forward Elias Lindholm before he was sent to the Vancouver Canucks and then losing MA native Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights. While these just sound like bad memories, one NHL source told Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now that there are signs of significant moves to come during the summer.

“Sweeney set the table for the offseason,” an NHL executive source told Boston Hockey Now. “Look at all that cap space he has, and his two biggest trade targets are still set to become free agents.”

The trade targets are Lindholm and Hanifin, and with the cap space expected to be $21.7 million this offseason, thanks to the NHL salary cap expected to rise to $87.7 million, the Bruins are likely to make monster improvements.
Especially when it comes to Lindholm, who landed back in trade rumours shortly after his move to Vancouver. There is a feeling that he could be headed to market, with the Bruins becoming front-runners.

“Initially, when we made the deal, I talked to his camp and said our intention was to sign him, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said earlier this week. “But obviously, it’s got to work for both sides. We’ll see. I think it’s been a little bit of an adjustment time for him.”

It could mean a move to Boston and the same thing could be said of Hanifin, who might command too much money for Vegas to be able to squeeze into its already jam-packed cap.

The Bruins have forwards Jake DeBrusk, James van Riemsdyk, Milan Lucic, Pat Maroon, and Danton Heinen, and defensemen Matt Grzelcyk, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Derek Forbort are all set to become unrestricted free agents. No developments have occurred for DeBrusk, whose name landed in trade chatter more than once in recent months. He is likely to get a minimum of $6 million per season and at least a four-year contract, but it might not be in Boston…

There have also been a lot of speculation on the future of goalie Linus Ullmark in Boston, which could lead to an even bigger trade and therefore blockbuster changes in Boston.

Could this be the reason why the Bruins were more quiet at the Trade Deadline? Were they in preparation of huge moves to come this summer?

Stay tuned.

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