Given their limited salary space and lack of assets, Boston may decide to hold quo, but they may also look for a way to bolster their team lower on the depth chart, particularly on the third defensive pairing.
However, Sweeney and his team certainly have the resources to pull off a seismic transaction before the deadline, thanks to the presence of possible trade chips like Linus Ullmark and Jake DeBrusk.
Boston’s next available first-round pick is projected to be traded if the Bruins want to go all in for an impact player like Noah Hanifin or a reliable contributor with a long term (like Minnesota’s Jacob Middleton).
Naturally, the Bruins have had no trouble giving up first-round selections over the years. But as Boston keeps emptying its dwindling pool of prospects, the money will eventually come due.
In the previous seven seasons, the Bruins have only made two draft selections (in the first round, in 2019 and 2021). Boston won’t start counting down until the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Although the Bruins don’t have the best pipeline of prospects, they do have a few young players that are considered blue-chip prospects and who may be pursued by other clubs.
Lohrei, 23, has a profile as a dynamic, playmaking defenseman that makes him an attractive young player already.
However, hardly many 6-foot-5 blueliners with that profile have the potential to become minutes-eating, top-four mainstays.
As early as the following season, Lohrei might be a fixture in the Boston lineup, and eventually, he might be given a chance to start at quarterback for the team’s power play.
While some may consider Lohrei to be untouchable, he might not be useful if Boston decides to pursue Hanifin or another defenseman through a trade or free agency.
Poitras is another young player that the Bruins should ideally keep around for the long run as a member of the future generation of skill, much as Lohrei. Even though Poitras may be more valuable given Boston’s need for a potential top-six center in the coming years, Lohrei may have a greater ceiling.
Despite having to undergo shoulder surgery to complete his rookie season, Poitras’ poised play with the puck was evident in his first 33 NHL games. A 19-year-old pivot like Poitras would be a great addition to many teams.
