By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
The Boston Bruins have already had a busy off-season, bringing in forward J.J. Peterka in a trade with the Utah Mammoth, as well as defenseman Will Borgen in a deal with the New York Rangers. The team also brought back defender Connor Clifton in Free Agency, and plans to promote Michael DiPietro from the American Hockey League, having shipped Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers in a separate transaction.
However, the B’s might not be done just yet. According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Boston Bruins have been looking for another top-six forward even after acquiring Peterka. So, who could realistically be out there for the Bruins?
Chris Kreider
Chris Kreider was traded to the Anaheim Ducks this past off-season after playing parts of 14 seasons with the New York Rangers. He was a solid fit in Anaheim, scoring 22 goals in 75 games on a young Ducks team that snapped a seven-season-long playoff drought and even won a round against the Edmonton Oilers.
However, in the wake of Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet, the Ducks face some difficult cap decisions. Kreider, a native of Boxford, Massachusetts, would be a very nice complementary piece for the B’s, and given he has only one year remaining on his contract, could serve as a nice top-six stopgap while the Bruins’ top forward prospects continue to develop. At 6’3″, 231lbs, he’d also add size to a Boston top-six that could use it, especially on the wings.
Anthony Mantha
A native of Longueuil, Quebec, Mantha bounced back in a big way after a disappointing 2024-2025 season with the Calgary Flames, where he only played in 13 games after tearing his ACL. Mantha signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins last summer, where he scored a career-high 33 goals and 64 points, helping lead the Penguins to the Playoffs for the first time since 2022.
At the time of writing, Mantha is an unrestricted free agent after a quiet postseason with only one assist in six games. With the B’s holding about $4,500,000 in salary cap space, it’s possible they could land him if they’re able to move out money elsewhere.
Shane Wright
Shane Wright doesn’t have the production history that Kreider or Mantha do, but he does have more upside. The Burlington, Ontario, native was the fourth overall pick four years ago and has never really gotten going in Seattle. His production dropped this season from 44 points in 2024-25 to 27 points.
The Kraken have reportedly told Wright’s agent that they will try to find a trade for the young center. Boston could make sense for Wright, given the team’s need for center talent and the trade assets it possesses.
Alex Killorn
Similar to Kreider, Alex Killorn could be a cap casualty in Anaheim if the Ducks do match the Flyers’ offer sheet. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Killorn has typically played his best hockey in the postseason, and even at 36 years old, this season wasn’t any different. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native had nine points in 12 games for the Ducks, in addition to 33 points in 82 games in the regular season. Killorn is no longer a top-six forward; however, the B’s could probably use his veteran presence in the lineup as they continue to integrate young players.
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