2 Forwards The Boston Bruins Need To Pursue This Offseason – Hockey Writers – Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins do not have a starting center in the organization; it’s a mistake the team tried to deal with Elias Lindholm and failed.

The Bruins have Fraser Minten and James Hagens in the lineup, but they are nowhere near where the team needs them in terms of their development, no matter how impressive they have been.

With the task of building a roster worthy of a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, general manager (GM) Don Sweeney must get some buzz from sitting GMs elsewhere.

Bruins Have Two Trade Targets in the Offseason

If they want to improve their core going forward, they only need to look to the Western Conference for improvements down the middle and left field.

After finishing in sixth place in the Pacific Division, with a record of 34-37-11, the Seattle Kraken can find more players to release and start rebuilding the roster to compete. That means getting rid of forward players who can bring a decent return on an individual basis.

Here’s who Sweeney should target to keep the rebuild stocked with talent that can bring scoring and grit to the Bruins.

Shane Wright

Shane Wright was selected fourth overall in 2022 by the Kraken and was thought to be a franchise player. However, Wright has looked awful in his first few seasons in the NHL.

In 169 games played by the Kraken, he has scored 36 goals, 42 assists, and 78 points, and has yet to confirm his dominance in the NHL. His play has been so lacking that there were trade rumors in January, but Wright stayed put as the trade deadline passed.

Wright scored 12 goals and 27 points for the Kraken this season, playing his final game on a second line flanked by Kaapo Kakko and Jani Nyman. According to Natural Stat Trick, this line played eight games together and a total of 70:51, with a Corsi-for percentage (CF%) of 52.98.

Wright’s contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, paying him an average annual salary of $886,000. The Bruins will be able to control his contract, which would be good for the team if he plays up to expectations in Boston.

What would the cost of Wright, the Kraken’s first round pick, be? Using Inside the Rink, the Bruins could move Fabian Lysell, a 2021 first-round pick, in a one-man deal.

A fake trade proposal I’ve seen online is a one-man deal that sends Shane Wright to Winnipeg and Cole Perfetti to Seattle, and both teams end up in the same situation after the trade.

Although I believe that moving someone like Cole Perfetti would be too high a price for Wright. The point of this trade would be to exchange a first round pick, giving both players a fresh start. Can Wright find a way to revive his career with the Bruins?

Jared McCann

Since Jared McCann was acquired by the Kraken from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 Expansion Draft, he has found a new home in the Pacific Northwest.

As a top-six forward the Kraken could rely on as a shooter and creator, McCann quickly punched above his weight and his $2.9 million AAV contract.

McCann is a pending free agent in 2026-27, and according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, the team is interested in offloading the former 40-goal scorer.

His production has taken off this season, but switching positions would be a good move for both the Kraken and McCann. McCann’s value has not been high due to his injuries affecting his production, but he managed to score 20 goals this season.

GM Jason Botterill may focus on finding an opponent to send McCann to, which would be a great send-off for one of the team’s best players. In 52 games this season, he scored 20 goals, 20 assists, and 40 points, and is capable of 60-70 points again. He finished the rest of the season without playing due to a physical injury.

McCann is a must-have tool for a contending team in their arsenal, and he would be a perfect fit on the left side of David Pastrnak. He played 720 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kraken, Florida Panthers, and Vancouver Canucks, and comes with an AAV of $5 million.

What can the Bruins expect to pay for McCann’s services? With such a cost-controlled contract, in previous mock trades, we’ve seen high prospects move with first-round picks attached.

See Heavy.com:

The Maple Leafs get:

Finding the Kraken:

• Easton Cowan
• Nick Robertson
• 2026 first round pick

It would be wise for Sweeney to use the power he might have in the deal by revealing his product this season as a way to control what pieces go out the door. Going by the draft above, the Bruins will probably send Lysell, Matthew Poitras, and a 2027 first-round pick to Seattle.

Kraken Has Offensive Depth The Bruins Need

The Bruins need help in the middle, and Wright may not be mature enough to be a first-line center; he may be a good fit in a second or third line center role. Wright’s two-way style of play will work for the Bruins, who need to do more to protect Jeremy Swayman, as we saw in the first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.

McCann’s value to the Bruins is in an offensive role, and as a shooter who can add more firepower to a top six, where it’s sorely lacking. As a former 40-goal scorer and playmaker, McCann could help push the Bruins deeper into the playoffs in the future, if the Bruins are brave enough to take the Kraken forward.