When Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney entered free agency last summer, he was optimistic about his signings of forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov. However, both players have underperformed this season, much like the rest of the team.
At the trade deadline, Sweeney made the bold move of trading long-time stars Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, and Charlie Coyle, signaling that the Bruins were essentially giving up on the 2024-25 season. Now, as they head into a five-game road trip starting Thursday night against former coach Bruce Cassidy and the Vegas Golden Knights, they find themselves five points behind a playoff spot, with several teams standing in their way.
This means Sweeney will need to make a significant splash in free agency, though that’s easier said than done. A former Bruins coach and NHL analyst weighed in on what the team needs moving forward.
Mike Millbury criticized the current roster, joining the Greg Hill Show on WEEI to discuss the team’s needs, whether through free agency or trades. He explained, “They have role players and some guys who can be effective in the bottom six. (Morgan) Geekie looks like he’s having a great year, and he could be a top-six forward alongside (David Pastrnak), but there’s a void in high-end talent. You need to fill that gap to become competitive. Role players alone won’t cut it—you need game-changers, and they don’t have enough.”
Millbury’s comments highlight a major issue—the Bruins lack game-changers. This gap could have been addressed by retaining players like Jake DeBrusk or pursuing a different forward than Lindholm. While Zadorov has shown improvement recently, his tendency to find the penalty box has been a frustration.
If Sweeney plans to add through free agency this summer, he will need to find more impactful players than last year’s signings. Though he’s had success in free agency before, he certainly didn’t this past July. If he repeats the same mistakes, the team will face another season like this one, which won’t sit well with the core players he hopes to build around. This retooling process must happen quickly, not drag on for multiple years.
The lack of game-changers was evident before the trade deadline, and after the deals, the Bruins still face the same issue with their roster makeup.
Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney Strikes Gold in Trade with Minnesota Wild
The 2025 NHL trade deadline was a unique one for Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney. Typically a buyer at the deadline, this year he focused on a much-needed retooling of the roster. As part of this process, he traded several players, with Brad Marchand’s departure being the most notable move in the final moments of the deadline.
Along with Marchand, Sweeney dealt Charlie Coyle and Brandon Carlo, while Trent Frederic and Max Jones were sent to the Edmonton Oilers a few days earlier. However, one of the most interesting trades occurred the night before the deadline, which at the time seemed like a minor transaction but could prove to be much more significant in the long run.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney Shakes Up Wild with Justin Brazeau Trade
Just after the Bruins suffered a surprising 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, Sweeney made a deal with the Minnesota Wild, sending bottom-six forward Justin Brazeau to Minnesota in exchange for Jakub Lauko and Marat Khusnutdinov. While Bruins fans were excited to see Lauko return, it was Khusnutdinov who quickly caught the attention of Boston supporters.
Khusnutdinov may not be destined for a top-six role, but he has brought speed, a sharp hockey sense, and solid effort in all three zones. His speed was on full display in a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, when he raced past the Ottawa defense to score his first goal as a Bruin with a perfect wrist shot. That goal also marked his first point with Boston.
Khusnutdinov, a second-round pick by Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Draft, has proven to be a valuable addition to the lineup. While Lauko is another bottom-six player with experience in Boston and a pending free agent, his return after being traded to the Wild less than a year ago suggests the Bruins have long-term plans for him.
As for Brazeau, he had fallen out of favor with interim head coach Joe Sacco, so his departure wasn’t a surprise. In his first four games with the Wild, he has yet to register a point and is playing just 6:38 per game, a significant drop from the 12:58 per game he averaged in Boston.
When the 2024-25 season concludes, both Khusnutdinov and Lauko will be restricted free agents, and it’s likely that the Bruins will make them offers. If Khusnutdinov continues to develop as expected, acquiring him for Brazeau could be a masterstroke by Sweeney, especially given the speed and energy he adds to Boston’s lineup.
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