Bruins general manager Don Sweeney faces a pivotal stretch, and the decisions in front of him are anything but straightforward. With his responsibilities for assembling Team Canada now wrapped, he can finally exhale—settling in to watch the Olympic Games while turning his attention back to the complex choices awaiting him in Boston.
There will be no shortage of downtime for Sweeney—or for the rest of the general managers who made the trip to Milano‑Cortina. But that quiet stretch doubles as an opportunity: a chance to compare notes, gauge the market, and gather intel on what might be available ahead of the trade deadline, as well as what rival executives are seeking.
The Bruins are in the market for a right‑shot defenseman who can move the puck and stabilize a struggling penalty kill. The challenge, of course, is that half the league is hunting for the same profile. What sets Sweeney apart is the flexibility he’d gain if he lands one—because acquiring the right fit could leave him with potentially two internal options he’d be comfortable moving to address other roster needs.
With Jonathan Aspirot emerging, Jordan Harris back in the mix, and the possibility of adding a coveted right‑shot defenseman, the path toward moving on from Andrew Peeke — a pending unrestricted free agent — is becoming increasingly clear. In fact, given the shifting depth chart, it’s starting to look like the most straightforward decision available to Boston’s front office.
That naturally leads to the question of how the Bruins should handle Henri Jokiharju, who remains under contract for two more seasons at a manageable $3 million cap hit. Moving him would take a real bite out of Boston’s defensive depth, yet it’s a scenario the front office may have to weigh—especially with a seller’s market poised to drive up prices and spark league‑wide overpayments.
It’s a rare position for Boston, one in which the Bruins can realistically operate as both a buyer and a seller. But any move they make has to involve a player with term—short‑term rentals simply don’t fit the mandate.
The real dilemma lies up front. And to be blunt, this is where Sweeney needs to sit down with his leadership group for an honest, unvarnished conversation about where they see this team heading. But he also can’t allow sentiment to cloud the decisions that ultimately shape the roster. His responsibility is to do what’s best for the organization — even when those choices aren’t easy.
And that brings us to Viktor Arvidsson.
Arvidsson, a pending unrestricted free agent with a full no‑movement clause, has been a vital piece of Boston’s second line. Moving him may not sit well in the room, but the reality is clear: contenders gearing up for a playoff push would pay a premium for his services at the deadline. And they’d certainly offer far more than the 2027 fifth‑round pick Boston used to acquire him.
If the Bruins move Arvidsson, the return has to be a young player with upside. Boston already holds as many as nine picks in the upcoming draft and doesn’t need to stockpile more. And if they can flip Peeke for a 2027 draft pick, they’ll have effectively replenished that draft class as well. Coincidently, the Bruins traded a 2027 third round pick for Peeke.
There’s a segment of the fan base calling for Pavel Zacha to be moved, banking on the significant return he’d command. But dealing him would send a clear — and potentially damaging — message to the room about the organization’s belief in its core. From a team‑building standpoint, it would be a misstep of major consequence.
Zacha has one year remaining on his deal at a highly team‑friendly $4.75 million cap hit. And the moment Boston moves him, they’re right back in the market searching for a player who does exactly what he does — a task that would be nearly impossible at that price point. There’s also no one in Providence remotely positioned to fill that role.
Fans can be enamored with the idea of creating more cap space — in this case, additional cap space — but the question becomes: what are you paying the replacement? The Bruins already project to have more than $17 million available next season with nearly a full roster in place. The need to carve out even more isn’t nearly as pressing as some believe.
And what would a round of fantasy trade proposals be without mentioning Joonas Korpisalo? Since calling him out here a month ago, Korpisalo has elevated his play, and has earned a few wins for the Bruins, and even earned a spot as an Olympic replacement for Team Finland. His stock hasn’t been this high in quite some time — and it may never be higher than it is right now.
Here’s the issue as it stands: when the Bruins return from the break, the schedule tightens considerably, and they’re going to need Korpisalo — performing at exactly the level he’s shown recently — to secure a playoff berth. Handing that responsibility to Michael DiPietro, as strong as he’s been in the AHL over the past two seasons, would be a gamble Boston can’t afford right now.
This is something you can revisit in the summer — and who knows, his value may climb even higher by then.
Dom - Hockey 