The Toronto Maple Leafs dismissed general manager Brad Treliving this week, a move that underscores the organization’s need for sweeping change at the top. More than anything, the club needs an experienced hockey mind in the President of Hockey Operations role — whether they actually go that route remains to be seen. Rogers, the owners of MLSE appear far more focused on the Toronto Blue Jays, something MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelly hinted at.
That hasn’t stopped the Toronto media from diving headfirst into GM speculation. Names like Blues GM Doug Armstrong and former NHLer Chris Pronger have already surfaced, and now Bruins assistant GM Jamie Langenbrunner has been added to the conversation. I wouldn’t rule out Bruins assistant GM — and Providence GM — Evan Gold either.
What really caught Bruins fans’ attention during Pelley’s media availability was his emphatic stance that the Maple Leafs will not tank — a question he said he found outright offensive. That declaration matters in Boston, of course, because the Bruins own Toronto’s first‑round pick this year, unless it lands in the top five.
But should anyone take that at face value? If this were Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs — or any executive in the league — the answer would sound exactly the same, so take it with the usual grain of salt. Even if the Leafs wanted to tank, who’s actually running it? Two assistant general managers are steering the ship with their own futures uncertain. The head coach knows he’s likely out the door once the season ends or a new GM arrives. And players don’t tank — they’re playing for contracts, roles, and careers.
So, if a tank were on the table, who exactly is supposed to execute it and how?
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Frank Seravalli is reporting that Evan Gold is a candidate for the vacant General Manger spot with the Nashville Predators.
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In an interview with The Athletic, William Nylander essentially said he’d stay in Toronto for a retool — but not for a full-scale rebuild.
“Unless it was a full rebuild and we were going to get rid of everybody, then it’s a different story. Then you take that conversation then. But just to do a retool or whatever, I don’t even know, but I mean, I still want to be here, yeah.”
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The Vegas Golden Knights relieved head coach Bruce Cassidy of his duties, and he won’t be on the market for long. The Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are already being floated as potential landing spots. The move also sparked immediate flashbacks to the Lou Lamoriello era.
Cassidy won’t be out of work for long. Three teams have already surfaced as potential landing spots: the Vancouver Canucks, the Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto.
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I’m genuinely surprised Marco Sturm isn’t getting more traction as a legitimate Jack Adams candidate for NHL Coach of the Year. While Lindy Ruff leading the resurgence in Buffalo understandably draws headlines, it’s baffling that Jon Cooper in Tampa is generating more buzz than Sturm. This is the same media corps that predicted the Bruins would miss the playoffs entirely — and they’re sitting comfortably inside the league’s top ten.
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Speaking of awards season, despite what a small but loud corner of the fanbase insists, Jeremy Swayman is absolutely going to receive Vezina consideration. He may not take home the trophy, but he’s built a resume worthy of a finalist. David Pastrnak will almost certainly show up on some Hart ballots as well, though cracking the finalist tier — let alone winning — feels like a long shot. There’s also a growing segment of media who believe Swayman, not Pastrnak, has been the Bruins’ true MVP this year. And while Charlie McAvoy deserves to be in the Norris conversation, his point totals simply don’t stack up against the league’s top-producing blueliners, which all but eliminates his chances of winning.
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Earlier this week, I posted on X about a topic most people seemed to agree with — though a vocal minority took issue, likely because they didn’t read it closely. My point was simple: if an NHL team has no intention of signing one of its pending college free agents, why should that player be forced to wait until August 15 to sign elsewhere? The key phrase here is: If an NHL team has no intention of signing.
The NHL made the right call when it standardized how long teams can hold the rights to drafted players. Remember when CHL prospects expired after two years while everyone else had four? Today, college players still face an August 15 deadline, while all other unsigned prospects hit the market on June 1. The problem is that by mid‑August, most NHL and AHL roster spots are already spoken for, leaving college players scrambling for opportunities long after teams have finished their summer business.
That setup works fine for high‑end prospects, but how many true impact players actually hit the market on August 15? Take Oskar Jellvik as an example. His college career is finished, and he’s now looking to turn pro. If the Bruins were to tell him they have no plans to sign him, why should he be forced to wait until mid‑August just to find a job — even at the AHL level? It’s time for the NHL to take the next step and standardize that signing date across the board.
Another example is Cole Chandler. Because he was drafted out of the CHL, his rights expire on June 1 — even though the window is now four years. But he’s taking the college route, so why does he fall under the June 1 deadline while other NCAA players are bound to August 15? Full admission: the NHL is looking into this, but the point stands — the system needs to be modified.
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Earlier in the week, Mark Divver tweeted hearing rumblings that Andre Gasseau is seeking NHL games — and if that doesn’t materialize, he could be eyeing free agency on August 15. Elliotte Friedman added fuel to the fire on his 32 Thoughts podcast, noting that Gasseau is not expected to sign.
Of the four Bruins prospects in this conversation — Philip Svedeback, Mason Langenbrunner, Oskar Jellvik, and Gasseau — he’s the one I believed had the strongest case for an NHL contract starting next season, even if I’m not as high on him as some evaluators are. But he’s not at the level where you justify burning a year off his entry‑level deal.
There’s still no official word from Ryan Walsh, his camp, or the Bruins regarding his plans for next season. The expectation, for now, is that Walsh could return to Cornell for his senior year, though turning pro remains an option — especially with Providence projected to need reinforcements up front. Boston, meanwhile, isn’t done on the college free‑agent front, or at least that’s the organizational hope.
This and That
A Bruins cross‑over scout was in the building for Tuesday’s Brantford–Sudbury OHL playoff matchup — a 6–5 Bulldogs win in overtime. There’s little doubt Boston is doing its homework early in the event the Toronto Maple Leafs’ pick ends up in their hands at this summer’s draft.
A year ago, Don Sweeney was making the rounds to scout players himself, but the situation is different now with the Bruins all but locked into a playoff spot. Still, if word surfaces that Sweeney is in the building for a game, it’ll give you a pretty good indication of where Boston’s scouting attention is being directed.
I’ve never claimed to be a skating expert, which is why any time I break down a player’s mechanics, I lean on a couple of professional skating coaches to give me the real read. I asked one of them for a breakdown on Marat Khusnutdinov, and after all the technical notes, she wrapped it up with: “He could be a figure skater.” That’s about as strong a compliment as you’ll hear.
Viktor Arvidsson scored twice into an empty net on Tuesday to complete a hat trick — fittingly on his daughter’s fifth birthday. And really, when you break it down, all three of his goals essentially came into an empty cage. Arvidsson was an unpopular Bruins offseason target among some fans, and were ready to part with him long before trade deadline day. Now those same fans are wondering what an extension might cost.
With the salary cap projected to rise to roughly $104 million next season, we’re about to see a new tier of contract valuations across the league. Arvidsson’s current $4 million deal accounts for 4.55% of the cap; applying that same slice to next year’s projection alone bumps his baseline to about $4.7 million. And with the cap continuing to climb beyond next season, that number likely trends even higher in Arvidsson’s favor.
Could Pavel Zacha end up as the Bruins’ fourth‑highest‑paid player behind Pastrnak, McAvoy, and Swayman? Buckle up — it’s starting to sound that way. Zacha isn’t eligible to sign an extension until July 1, and it may be in Boston’s best interest to get something done shortly after the window opens.
If you’re into analytics — or just starting to dip your toes in — take a look at Kevin McCurdy’s new tool, Line Blender. It’s one of the most intuitive, easy‑to‑navigate analytics platforms I’ve come across.
The Providence Bruins have been a juggernaut this season, but the outlook for next year comes with plenty of work. As it stands, they have two goaltenders under contract — Michael DiPietro and Max Lundgren — along with two defensemen, Loke Johansson and Ty Gallagher (on an AHL deal), and two forwards, Dans Locmelis and Ryan Tattle (also on an AHL deal). The foundation is thin, and the offseason roster build will be substantial. Frederic Brunet is under contract but most expect him to be with the big club in some capacity next season.
That could have been an ideal window for Chris Pelosi to turn pro, but he’s opted to return to Quinnipiac for his junior season. The same conversation applies to Ryan Walsh, who has yet to decide whether he’ll head back to Cornell for his senior year.
Following Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Sturm said “We didn’t respect our opponents.” Clearly the head coach was frustrated. So were fans. So was I.
On Saturday, Brent Burns joined Phil Kessel as just the second player in NHL history to skate in 1,000 consecutive games — a staggering feat of durability and longevity.
Also on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins humiliated the Florida Panthers who are now officially eliminated from playoff contention. You can cheer.
