By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Boston Bruins continue to be a rollercoaster of a National Hockey League team this season. While the Bruins did defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 last night at TD Garden, the Golden Knights scored three goals in the third period to make it a nail-biter, but a win is a win.
With a 29-20-2 record and currently holding onto a playoff spot by three points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins can be a team that either goes aggressive or sells some players they don’t need at the trade deadline. Recently, Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz named two forwards on Boston’s roster to keep an eye on: Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson
Two days ago, Gretz wrote an article titled “Every Team’s Top Bargaining Chip to Use at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.” Gretz named Mittelstadt or Arvidsson for the Bruins’ top bargaining chip.
Gretz began by saying that there’s been no more “Jekyll and Hyde team” in the NHL this season than the Bruins. Gretz asked a key question about the Bruins: What kind of team are they? Also, on how it depends on which two-week stretch you’re watching them.
Gretz also mentioned how the Bruins can be in a hybrid buy-sell situation at the trade deadline and do a little of both. That is where Gretz pointed out how Mittelstadt or Arvidsson could be the team’s best trade chips. Based on the play this season from both forwards, contracts, age, and the team’s record, it makes sense how Boston could buy or sell either Mittelstadt or Arvidsson.
Starting with Mittelstadt, this season has seen some positives. In 41 games played, Mittelstadt is tied for seventh on the Bruins with 23 points, but for a player making $5.75 million per year, his production may not be there as the Bruins had hoped for. Mittelstadt has one year remaining on his contract. That is where the Bruins could use Mittelstadt to try to trade him to dump some salary. Trading Mittelstadt could also be an idea that the Bruins could try to trade for a better player. Mittelstadt could also draw interest from teams, and that is where the Bruins could get a draft pick, prospect, or both in exchange for the 27-year-old.
For Arvidsson, his 25 points are sixth on the Bruins’ roster. Like Mittelstadt, Arvidsson has missed time and has played 39 games this season. Arvidsson is on an expiring contract with a $4 million salary at 32 years old. Like Mittelstadt, the Bruins could trade Arvidsson for a better player, or trade him to get a draft pick, prospect, or both in exchange for him, when there’s no guarantee he will return to Boston when the season’s done.
While holding onto a playoff spot and owning four first-round draft picks over the next two years, the Bruins are in a good position to build for the future. However, the Bruins can’t overpay at the trade deadline based on how this season has gone with inconsistency. The Bruins were in trade rumors for Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, but he was traded to Vegas instead.
With missing out on Andersson, the Bruins may want to pursue another big trade target. Two of which could be forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, based on the team having the worst record in the Central Division. If the Bruins want to trade for either Thomas or Kyrou, that is where the Bruins could package both Mittelstadt and Arvidsson, along with other assets, for one of the St. Louis players. Some other players the Bruins could try to trade for could be Artemi Panarin, Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Zach Whitecloud, and Connor Murphy.
This season has been a surprisingly good one for the Bruins, but the team is still in need to improve the roster. Mittelstadt and Arvidsson will be names to keep an eye on when the trade deadline draws closer, but it can help the Bruins make a playoff push or build for the future.
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