By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter/X @TCalauttis
The Olympics are over, the roster freeze has ended, and NHL teams are officially open for business. The Trade Deadline is just nine days away, and Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has some tough decisions to make on how he’ll address his roster needs.
The big question will be whether the Black and Gold decide to move on from pending free agents like Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke, but one major consideration is how they could bolster their lineup for a playoff push. There are plenty of areas the Bruins could address, but there’s no question the team’s biggest area of need is right-shot defenseman.
Earlier this season, Boston came close to upgrading their blueline when they almost acquired Calgary Flames veteran blueliner Rasmus Andersson. That trade ended up falling through, leaving Sweeney and the Bruins still searching for someone to slot in behind Charlie McAvoy on the right side.
With the deadline creeping closer, I took a look at eight potential defenseman the Bruins could target to strengthen their right-handed defensive depth. Here’s who they could try to acquire:
Mackenzie Weegar
Team: Calgary Flames
Age: 32
Stats: 3-17-20 in 56 games
Contract: $6.25 million x 5 years
Weegar is almost everything the Boston Bruins could want in a top-four defenseman. He’s been Calgary’s number one since he arrived in 2022, has averaged 42 points per season over the last five years, and plays a solid, reliable defensive game. He contributes to both the power play and penalty kill and has done so for most of his career.
At 6’0 and 206 lbs, Weegar, like Andersson, would immediately upgrade Boston’s blue line for this season and beyond. He should help the struggling penalty kill, add offensive support from the back-end, and strengthen even-strength defense.
The big questions with Weegar are age, contract, and price. He turned 32 in January and is under contract for five more seasons at $6.25 million per season. Given the amount of team control on his deal, the Flames will be looking for a hefty package to ship him out of town. Combine that with the fact that he’ll be 37 by the time his contract ends, and it’s clear the Bruins would be taking on some risk by making this trade.
A deal like this raises the same questions as the Andersson trade talks: Is it worth it for Boston to trade future assets to upgrade its present-day roster? Weegar will undoubtedly cost a first-round pick, a high-level prospect, and more. If he can maintain his current level of play for the next five-ish seasons, that deal may be worth it. If his play slips, it could be a disaster.
To me, he’s the most interesting name on this list, given all the factors that are at play in his scenario.
Justin Faulk
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 33
Stats: 11-19-30 in 57 games
Contract: $6.25 million x 1 year
Justin Faulk, moreso than anyone else on this list, has been connected to the Boston Bruins (via NHL Insider Jimmy Murphy of RG Media) throughout the course of this season. Faulk profiles as a puck-moving, offensive defenseman who has consistently posted 30+ points per season. Over the past few seasons, he’s become a steadier, more reliable penalty killer, but his defensive game (in my opinion) has always left something to be desired.
Faulk seems like a quintessential trade deadline consolation prize for a contending team that missed out on a bigger fish. He’s the best of what’s been made available on a relatively thin market, better than what some teams currently have, but not good enough to move the needle.
Like Weegar, Faulk’s age, contract, and asking price should be the three factors that scare Sweeney & Co. away from any potential trade. According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the St. Louis Blues are looking for a Rasmus Andersson-type return for the soon-to-be 34-year-old defenseman. This means Boston could have to deal significant draft and prospect capital for an aging defenseman that isn’t signed past this season.
Don’t get me wrong, Faulk would be an upgrade over the current bottom two right-side defenseman (Peeke and Mason Lohrei as of the last game before the Olympic break), but wouldn’t be playing a major role in the organization’s future. If the Bruins were on the verge of a Stanley Cup and needed something to put them over the top, I’d consider it, but for where they are in their retool, it’d be wise to stay away from Faulk.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 31
Stats: 1-5-6 in 19 games
Contract: $5.1 million x 2 years
Rasmus Ristolainen fits the current identity of the Boston Bruins better than any other defenseman on this list. He’s a towering 6’4, 208 lbs, and plays the type of snarled and gritty game that perfectly complements this season’s piss and vinegar squad. He’s a hard-nosed, defense-first defenseman who punishes forecheckers and isn’t shy about playing the body.
Ristolainen’s stock has increased exponentially since his Finnish squad earned a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The hulking defender posted 0-3-3 while skating 19:45 in his six Olympic contests. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider the fact that Ristolainen was frequently utilized as Finland’s number three defenseman, logging heavy minutes against elite competition.
The former Buffalo Sabre is interesting because he’s undergone a relative renaissance in his career. Advanced analytics (via Hockeystats.com) indicate that he’s become a reliable even-strength defenseman since the 2023 campaign, and this season, his penalty-killing has improved. It’s fair to say that Ristolainen, at this point in his career, would be an upgrade over Andrew Peeke.
According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, the Flyers have made Ristolainen available, and the Bruins have shown interest. The report states that Philadelphia is seeking a package similar to the Brandon Carlo trade, which should scare Boston away from a potential deal.
However, if the price comes down and the bronze medalist can be had for closer to a second or third-round pick, maybe this is a move Sweeney can stomach. It could improve the roster now while keeping an eye on the future.
Zach Whitecloud
Team: Calgary Flames
Age: 29
Stats: 2-8-10 in 55 games
Contract: $2.75 million x 3 years
I’ve mentioned the Rasmus Andersson deal plenty of times in this article; now it’s time to acknowledge one of the pieces he was traded for. Zach Whitecloud is a 29-year-old defensive defenseman who spent the majority of his career with the Vegas Golden Knights and even won a cup with them in 2023. Over the course of his tenure in Vegas, Whitecloud spent the majority of his time manning the team’s third defensive pairing while skating over 17 minutes a night and contributing between 10 and 20 points.
One area where the North Dakota native could provide a serious boost to the current Bruins roster is on the penalty kill. In his five and a half seasons with the Golden Knights, Whitecloud has consistently averaged over a minute of short-handed time on ice per game and was a top-four defenseman in penalty kill deployment in four of those seasons.
Since being traded to a Calgary team that’s currently fourth-worst in the league, Whitecloud has 0-3-3 and is a +1 in eight games. Given his lack of offensive production but consistently strong defensive play, the former undrafted free agent could act as Boston’s best deadline target when you consider age, cost, and value. He won’t fetch a first-rounder, and could be had for a second or third, depending on demand.
The one issue that has to be pointed out with Whitecloud is his health. He’s played more than 70 games in a season only once, and he’s failed to reach 60 games three times in the past. It’s definitely an issue to consider, but if the Bruins are looking for a defensive fix that can be part of the present and the future, Whitecloud could be that guy.
Connor Murphy
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 32
Stats: 4-8-12 in 57 Games
Contract: $4.4 million x 1 year
Connor Murphy has quietly been one of the NHL’s most consistent defensemen while playing for Chicago over the past 10 seasons. The 6’4, 212lbs defender has been one of the few bright spots for a Blackhawks franchise that’s spent far too long in rebuild mode.
Despite playing on a basement-dwelling team, Murphy’s defensive metrics have always been particularly impressive. According to Hockeystats.com, his even-strength defensive WAR has never dipped below 54 percent, and he’s consistently defended at a 75 to 94 percent rate over the past nine seasons. Factor in the majority of that time being spent on one of Chicago’s top two pairs, and it makes those numbers even more encouraging. In a lot of ways, Murphy would be the absolutely perfect upgrade on the right side of Boston’s defense.
The only problem is his age. The Dublin, Ohio native is turning 33 this month and will need a new contract after this season. I don’t think the Bruins would have to part with much in terms of assets to acquire Murphy, but the question remains: Is it worth trading parting with draft/prospect capital for a player that won’t be part of your long-term future?
If you had a crystal ball and told me Murphy could be an effective defender until he’s 38, I’d be willing to move a third-round pick and prospect for him. Unfortunately, trades don’t work that way, and there might just be too much risk involved in this one.
Filip Hronek
Team: Vancouver Canucks
Age: 28
Stats: 5-27-32 in 57 Games
Contract: $7.25 million x 7 years
Filip Hronek was another right-shot defenseman who’s stock rose exponentially following the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hronek was the top dog for Team Czechia, skating over 25 mintues a night and registering five assists in five games. He’s currently the defensive anchor for the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks, and if they ever decided to move him, he’d be a perfect fit in Boston.
Hronek is an excellent skater who excels at retrieving pucks in his own zone and quickly initiating successful breakouts. In the offensive zone, he moves fluidly with and without the puck, creating time and space to help set up him teammates for prime scoring opportunities. Besides Charlie McAvoy, Hronek would probably be the most dynamic defesneman on the Bruin blue line.
The big question here would be asking price. Hronek is still in his prime and, given the expected increase in the salary cap, has a relatively manageable contract. The problem is Vnacouver doesn’t need to move him, and may see him as one of the main pieces in their next core. That means Boston would have to part with significant assets to pry him away.
I’m a big fan of the player, but if the ask is multiple picks, a high-level prospect, and a rostered player, that price may be too steep for Sweeney. File this one under pipe dream for now.
Braden Schneider
Team: New York Rangers
Age: 24
Stats: 2-9-11 in 57 Games
Contract: $2.2 million x 1 year
Braden Schneider is a really interesting prospect given his age and upside. The New York Rangers are currently a sinking ship, and it looks like they’re about to sell anything that isn’t nailed to the ground. That includes the 6’3, 206 lbs Schneider.
The Saskatchewan native profiles as a stay-at-home defenseman who can use his size and strength to throw hits, clear the netfront, and stymie opponents as they try to establish a forecheck. The question is just how high Schneider’s ceiling is. If Schneider can be a top-four defenseman and provide a significant upgrade over Peeke and Henri Jokiharju, it’s an easy decision. Things get murkier if he’s just another bottom-pairing defender.
He has the size and frame to win battles along the boards, retrieve pucks under pressure, and clear the slot, keeping opponents away from his net. The big concern is if he’s a finished product or if there’s more to his game.
Like others on the list, Schneider’s offensive numbers don’t really bring much to the table, so the Rangers likely won’t ask for a first-round pick in return. Although he’s a former first-rounder, they may hesitate to let him go for little, but the return probably won’t meet their ideal value.
He’s a gamble worth taking. Trade a mid-round pick—he could be your number four defenseman for the next ten years. Worst case, you might overpay for a solid third-pairing guy. The only question is whether Sweeney takes the gamble.
Brandon Carlo
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 29
Stats: 0-0-5 in 34 Games
Contract: $4.1 million x 2 years
Now this would be a wild turn of events. Things haven’t been going well in Toronto this season, and the Maple Leafs are currently on the outside of the playoff structure, looking in. Chris Tanev is on injured reserve, and the team’s postseason chances continue to slip away. It may be time for the Leafs to sell off some spare parts, and wouldn’t it be nice to see a familiar face back in Boston?
Brandon Carlo has been pretty much the same guy in Toronto as he was with the Bruins. Steady, reliable, solid defense with great penalty killing numbers and not much to show offensively. As I’ve said before, I feel like that kind of defenseman is exactly what Boston needs to elevate this year’s team, and Carlo fits their timeline going forward.
At 29 (turning 30), Carlo should still have several solid years in front of him before he begins to decline. Given his lack of scoring punch, the extension he would need after next season probably wouldn’t be as expensive as others. If you could lock him in at a decent number for the next five-ish years, it gives the organization plenty of time to draft and develop more young defenseman while he plays.
Toronto will unquestionably look for a package similar to what they gave up for him last season, but teams may be wary to part with such a hefty package for a second-pairing shutdown player. My guess is the Maple Leafs recoup something around the value of a second-round pick.
Now, let me propose this: if the Bruins move Andrew Peeke and are somehow able to acquire an additional second-rounder, would you be willing to part with one of those and maybe one of your three fourth-rounders for Carlo?
It may be a bit of an overpay, and Toronto may decide to stop fielding calls from the Bruins, but a potential Carlo reunion wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Leave a Reply