On Thursday, the IIHF confirmed the inevitable: Patrice Bergeron is headed to the Hall of Fame. A member of hockey’s exclusive Triple Gold Club, Bergeron stands alone as the only player to capture World Championship gold before World Juniors U-20 gold. His resume further includes two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup of Hockey title—cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
Chris Johnson on the Neilson Show: It goes Vancouver, Nashville and Calgary in that order for most likely to start making some moves.
It’s difficult to gauge how to rank situations like this. Reports suggest the Canucks’ asking price on certain players is steep, making a deal unlikely. Still, in a seller’s market, there’s always the chance an owner pressures his general manager to push for the playoffs and meet that price. One thing seems clear to me: the Bruins should steer clear of Kiefer Sherwood and Conor Garland.
Dave Pagnotta on DFO Rundown on Sherwood – Talking to people around the league, he’s looking at $5 million plus on his next contract; 5 years at $5 million plus? It’s not out of the realm of possibility at all.
Pagnotta added: A lot of teams are looking at this as both a short-term addition for this season, like the Stars. Others are looking at this as a long-term type of power forward addition.
One more from Pagnotta on Sherwood: Dallas, Minnesota’s been in the mix, Boston, Montreal, the Flyers, the Kraken, Columbus, Edmonton to an extent, I’m not anticipating that happening
Pierre LeBrun on Early Trading got into the Sherwood discussion saying: I think that in a perfect world the Canucks get a young player back…as opposed to just a futures deal.
What’s a Sherwood rumor without Elliotte Friedman getting into the mix. On with Vingan & Daunic. Friedman weighed in: I do think they [Vancouver] asked Philadelphia about Owen Tippett. I don’t think that’s gonna happen. They have kind of looked at likeminded players for Sherwood. Barring that I think they would look at a 1st round pick.
In my opinion, Sherwood just doesn’t make any sense for the Bruins whatsoever.
Scott Maxwell of Daily Faceoff writes about which players could kick of the NHL trade market this month – or not.
I’ve been tracking Yegor Chinakhov closely since his trade request, and Maxwell’s piece highlights a striking detail: he sits tied for 31st in 5‑on‑5 goals per 60 minutes since the start of 2023‑24, yet averages only 10:18 of ice time with Columbus. The Bruins’ analytics department will have every number at their disposal—including, more importantly, the ones the public doesn’t get to see.
Michael DeRosa of The Hockey News had two trade targets for the Bruins from the Calgary Flames: Rasmus Andersson and Morgan Frost.
There’s no hiding the Bruins’ need for an upgrade on the right side of their blue line. Andersson would certainly fit the bill, though acquiring him wouldn’t come cheap—particularly if Don Sweeney looks to secure an extension before finalizing a deal, as he often does. And with plenty of teams expected to be in the mix, competition for his services will be fierce.
A trade for Frost would have made sense a couple of years ago, but the fit isn’t as clear today. While he aligns with the age profile the team is targeting and carries term at $4.375 million through 2026-27, center simply isn’t a pressing need. With prospects already in the pipeline, the assets required to acquire him are better allocated elsewhere.
This and That
In case you missed it on Thursday, Chris Pelosi was named to the Collegiate Selects Squad that will represent the United States at the 2025 Spengler Cup in Switzerland, joining Ryan Walsh.
It’s unfortunate that fans won’t get the chance to see Will Zellers and Dean Letourneau suit up for the U.S. and Canada, respectively, at the upcoming World Junior Championships. Both players have, at the very least, earned consideration with their performances this season. Unfortunately, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada put too much emphasis on the summer showcase,
Credit to Alex Steeves for maximizing his recall with Boston, but the conversation inevitably shifts toward Fabian Lysell and whether he deserves a similar opportunity. The two are very different players. My case for Lysell has long been about granting him an extended look to determine if he fits into the organization’s future plans. The online debate surrounding him, however, has become polarized—built more on assumptions and selective use of quotes than on the full context. Both sides have pushed the narrative to extremes, leaving a discussion that feels more misleading than constructive.
Speaking of Steeves, fan opinion is split. Some argue the Bruins should secure him now before he hits unrestricted free agency—unless he plays the remaining 52 games, which would keep him restricted. Others caution patience, noting it’s still just a 14-game sample size.
As with any signing, the decision ultimately comes down to term and dollar value. Rest assured, Sweeney, Evan Gold, and the Bruins’ front office have already weighed the options internally.
The Bruins continue to eye goaltending depth for the future, even in a backup capacity. One name that has surfaced repeatedly is Albin Boija of the University of Maine Black Bears, a free agent eligible to sign with any team once his college season concludes. Linked to Boston for more than a year, Boija has posted a 6-5-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage this season.
Another goaltender drawing attention is Ben Hrebik of the Barrie Colts (OHL). A Bruins rookie camp invitee, Hrebik is eligible for the 2026 draft and left a strong impression on Boston’s staff during his stint. He’s posted an 11-5-1-3 record with a 2.71 goals-against average and a league-best .927 save percentage. His standout play earned him my recognition as OHL Draft-Eligible Goaltender of the Month for November, along with league honors as OHL Goaltender of the Month.
I’ve seen plenty of mock lineups floated for when David Pastrnak returns, with some suggesting Steeves should remain on the top line while Pastrnak slides alongside Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt. While Sturm has leaned on that line in a matchup role, here’s why I don’t see it working:
It may sound unconventional, but Zacha has shown he’s more effective without Pastrnak. When skating alongside the superstar, he tends to defer, whereas centering a line with Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson, he takes on the role of a true driver at both ends.
Dom - Hockey 