JUST-IN: Bruins Trade Pitch Gets $45.5 Million Power Play Specialist in Blockbuster Deal

JUST-IN: Bruins Trade Pitch Gets $45.5 Million Power Play Specialist in Blockbuster Deal

Just two years after setting a franchise and NHL record with 135 points in a season, the Boston Bruins fell out of playoff contention entirely. The historic Original Six franchise, which has six Stanley Cup titles to its name, managed only 33 wins and 76 points.

This underwhelming season triggered major organizational changes. Prior to the season, longtime captain Patrice Bergeron retired at age 39, concluding a 19-year career spent entirely in Boston. Head coach Jim Montgomery was dismissed just 20 games into the campaign, and the trade deadline brought a significant roster shakeup.

The Bruins made seven trades leading up to and on deadline day, parting ways with several key veterans, including longtime standout Brad Marchand, a 10-time All-Star who had been with the team since 2009. Forwards Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, and Justin Brazeau were also dealt, along with defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Proposed Trade Targets Power Play Struggles

While the Bruins have multiple areas needing improvement, their power play was a glaring weakness in the 2024–25 season. They converted only 15.22% of their man-advantage chances—ranking 29th out of 32 teams—and scored just 35 power play goals, among the lowest in the league.

“The Bruins’ power play has been flat-out terrible,” wrote Fansided’s Scott Roche. “The stats are bad, and the eye test might be even worse.”

To address this issue, a proposed trade would send veteran center Pavel Zacha, talented rookie winger Fabian Lysell, and a 2026 first-round draft pick to the New York Rangers—another Original Six team and a regional rival. In return, Boston would acquire left winger Chris Kreider.

Homecoming for Kreider After 13 Years in New York

The move would be something of a homecoming for Kreider who has spent his entire 13-year career in New York, but who hails from Boxford, Massachusetts, a suburb about a half-hour north of Boston. The 34-year-old Kreider also played his college hockey at Boston College.

Rangers to place Chris Kreider on IR, recall Brett Berard | YardbarkerChris Kreider

More importantly, Kreider is a power play goal-scoring specialist. In 2021-2022 he led the NHL in power play goals with 26. He also tallied a league-leading 11 game-winning goals that year.

“Kreider would bring power play help,” Roche wrote. “There is no question about the talent he has and the ability to score goals in all situations. In 2021-22, he scored 52 goals and he followed that up with 36 a year later and 39 last season. In 845 career regular-season games, he has 315 goals and he has proven that he’s an excellent goal-scorer and he would move right up to the top of the Bruins roster as goal-scoring threats