NHL Rumor Mill – April 24, 2025
Check out the latest on the Bruins and the Utah Hockey Club in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BRUINS FOCUSED ON A QUICK TURNAROUND FOR NEXT SEASON
THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa reports Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney intends to use “every mechanism possible” during the offseason to bolster his roster for a quick turnaround from a disappointing 2024-25 season.
That includes being active in this summer’s free-agent and trade markets.
The Bruins GM wants to improve the depth among his top-six wingers. They also need more depth at center, but could stand pat this summer, given how expensive it is to address that issue.
Sweeney expects better performance from underachievers like goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo, defenseman Nikita Zadorov, and center Elias Lindholm. He’s also hoping for healthy seasons from blueliners Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Nick Goss also cited Sweeney saying he’d look to add scoring wingers this summer. Free-agent options could include Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets.
Goss acknowledged it’s unknown if Marner or Ehlers will be available on July 1, let alone if they’d sign with the Bruins. He believes that leaves the trade market for Sweeney to find that scoring winger, pointing out they have four first-round picks and five second-rounders over the next three drafts to draw up for trade bait.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have $28.8 million in projected cap space with 11 active roster players under contract next season.
Some of that money will go toward re-signing restricted free agents like Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, John Beecher, Marat Khusnutdinov and Jakub Lauko. Sweeney has already confirmed contract talks are underway with Geekie, and he’s expected to be in their lineup for next season.
Nevertheless, they should have enough left to make a significant signing or two in the free-agent market.
BOSTON SPORTS JOURNAL: Joe Haggerty wondered if the Bruins will make any surprising moves involving some of their veterans during the offseason.
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images)
Haggerty noted that Jeremy Swayman is the Bruins’ only high-salaried player lacking no-trade protection. The no-movement clause in the 26-year-old goaltender’s contract doesn’t kick in until the 2026-27 season.
Swayman’s difficult season contributed to the Bruins missing the playoffs. It has some observers like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wondering if he could be moved this summer based on his performance this season, his ugly contract negotiations last summer, or some potentially conflicting personalities within the Bruins’ dressing room.
Friedman believes the Bruins should be patient with Swayman and look for a bounce-back performance next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trading Swayman would be a bold move by the Bruins and there would be no shortage of suitors among clubs seeking a goaltending upgrade. However, it would also leave the Bruins without a reliable starting netminder. There is no suitable replacement in their system or in the trade and free-agent markets.
The Bruins hope to make a quick turnaround from this disappointing season. They need a focused Swayman between the pipes to pull it off.
LATEST UTAH HOCKEY CLUB SPECULATION
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Spencer Lazary noted the Utah Hockey Club intends to be aggressive in this summer’s trade and free-agent markets.
They could use their 2025 first-round draft pick as a trade chip to improve the current roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah is among the 16 teams in this year’s upcoming NHL Draft Lottery. They’re currently sitting 14th overall in the draft order but could move up 10 spots if they win the lottery.
Utah already has a well-stocked prospect pipeline and several rising young stars like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther on their roster. They can afford to peddle that first-rounder if it’ll fetch a return that provides immediate help.
They might attempt to make a splash in this summer’s UFA pool.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah has $22.3 million in cap space with 19 active roster players signed for next season, including their core players. They have room for a significant signing if ownership is willing to spend to the cap.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Belle Fraser reports Utah forward Matias Maccelli had a difficult season. After netting 57 points in 2023-24, his production dropped to 18 points in 55 games, becoming a regular healthy scratch during the second half.
Maccelli hopes for a bounce-back performance next season. Fraser indicates the club still has faith in him, but his role in Utah is now unclear. The 24-year-old left winger has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $3.425 million, but an offseason trade isn’t off the table.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maccelli could become a trade chip this summer as part of the return for an impact player.
UPL and Peterka for Swayman and Beecher
Holy smokes! I was thinking the same thing.
Where do I sign?
Peterka isn’t going anywhere. Especially for a 3rd liner and a overpaid keeper. Funny how everyone in Boston fell out of love with Swayman in one year.
If Edmonton loses it s series with LA look for them to go all in for a goaltender.Swayman has to be on their list. How about a deal centered around Swayman and Bouchard. This could help Bostons anemic power play and take some pressure off of Mcavoy.Could be a RD replacement for Carlo if they Don t sign Jokiharou.
Sr, I was just about to post the exact same scenario! Definitely intriguing!!
how about swayman and peeke for bouchard and stuart skinner
Bruins need to add a little something as
Bouch > Swayman
Swayman and Peeke and a 3rd for Bouchard and Stuart Skinner
So who would be between the pipes for Bruins? Need to find another goalie and pay Bouchard? Not sure I see that happening.
Tristan Jarry to the rescue…
(said with a pound of sarcasm, as few if any team would take him, and a grain of hope for his exodus from the Penguins’ organization)
A trade like that would only open up a big hole for the Oilers even while closing another.
The only reason the Bruins would consider trading Swayman is they are entering a rebuild. You can’t command a tank with a top goalie. Goalies like Swayman would keep the Bruins from bottoming out. They also have no need to reshuffle the deck chairs on the titanic so a trade for a player quality roster player won’t make sense either.
Moving Swayman would be beyond stupid.
Buffalo should consider a trade for Pettersson, like a Pettersson + Willander for Norris and Peterka.
Or Petey and Demko for Norris, Peterka and UPL👍
Swayman is going nowhere and will have bounce back year just to talented not too. Bruins D is set for years but definitely need help up front. I’d offer sheet Knies and sign Bennett and bring up two kids with speed to burn.
Obe ,not so sure the Bruins D is set for years. Mcavoy is injury prone,Lindholm had a serious injury like the one that ended KevinMillars career,Jokiharu is a free agent,Lohrei was-45 for the year,Zadorov needs to be much better w/ out the puck and Peeke is under contract for one more year and is a 3rd pair RD.Lots of holes there.
They could trade the 5th pick for Willander(RD) who is coming along nicely and was the 11th pick