NHL Free Agency: Bruins Linked To Specific Offseason Need
The Boston Bruins are heading into the offseason with a clear organizational priority: adding speed across the lineup.
According to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, the Bruins’ struggles this season often came down to their inability to get to pucks and key areas of the ice fast enough. “We’re just defending too much,” said David Pastrnak following a 3-2 overtime loss to Buffalo.
Interim coach Joe Sacco echoed the sentiment, noting the team needs to “do a better job at times supporting… whether it’s a defenseman holding the wall, defensemen below the goal line.”
With just five forwards under contract for next season and nearly $28 million in projected cap space, GM Don Sweeney will have flexibility to bring in faster players.
Despite the #NHLBruins overall season, David Pastrnak has remained a superstar
— Michael Sullivan (@_MikeSullivan) March 27, 2025
35 goals on the year, 50 Assists and primed for his third 90+ point season in a row
Pastrnak is world class pic.twitter.com/b7FyYkLFLs
Injuries to key puck-moving defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm have further exposed the Bruins’ lack of tempo and clean breakouts.
Though both are expected to return healthy next season, management is still expected to reshape the roster with speed in mind. The Bruins moved on from several experienced players at the trade deadline and brought in younger, quicker skaters like Casey Mittelstadt, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Henri Jokiharju, who offer better pace even if they lack playoff experience.
Still, the team continues to struggle in transition, often pinned in their own zone and outshot heavily, including a lopsided 20-0 shot differential in one period against Tampa Bay earlier this month.
Will the #NHLBruins sign highly coveted NCAA Free Agent and #YellCornell winger Dalton Bancroft once his season ends? https://t.co/PLCFSrbT78
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) March 26, 2025
To address their speed and depth issues, the Bruins are also looking at the college free agent market and have emerged as one of several teams pursuing Cornell forward Dalton Bancroft.
The 6’3”, 207-pound winger leads Cornell with 15 goals this season and plays a direct, north-south style that suits the Bruins’ evolving identity.
“He’s got that rare power-forward package that so many teams covet,” a source told RG.org, citing Bancroft’s combination of size, skating, and physicality. After attending the Bruins’ development camp last year, Bancroft could be a natural fit as Boston looks to rebuild with more pace, purpose, and energy.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
