Rebuilding the Bruins 7 potential Bruins free-agent targets under 30
As the Bruins look to leave a woeful 2024-25 behind them, free agency will be one avenue to raise their talent level next season.
Boston is currently projected to have almost $29 million in cap space, per PuckPedia, and even after re-signing Morgan Geekie and a couple lower profile RFAs, they should have money to spend this summer.
So how will they invest?
Though CEO Charlie Jacobs said he’s hopeful the Bruins return to the playoffs next season, President Cam Neely seemed to acknowledge things could take longer with a greater goal in mind. Boston is rebuilding for the long haul.
“The biggest thing for me is I don’t want everybody just to focus on making the playoffs,” Neely said. “Yes, we do want to make the playoffs, but we have bigger goals in mind than just making the playoffs. It’s not just about getting in and getting bounced in round one. We’re here to understand that we have to build a team that’s going to compete for Stanley Cups.”
With that in mind, for these free agent targets, we’re going to focus on younger players. Yes, there are seasoned veterans like Brad Marchand (36), Matt Duchene (34) and Patrick Kane (36) out there, but those players are historically more likely to sign short-term deals to chase Stanley Cups.
That’s not Boston right now. So for the sake of this exercise, the cutoff age will be 30 years old.
Without further ado, here are seven free agent targets under 30:
Mitch Marner, RW
Age: 27
2024-25: 81 GP, 27 G, 75 A
Undoubtedly the best player with an expiring contract, Marner could help pull the Bruins back into contention far sooner than expected.
The good news is players like this don’t always make it to free agency. The bad news? Everybody in the league knows how good the Maple Leafs winger is, and a bidding war will ensue accordingly. Landing Marner is best case scenario for Boston, but it’s going to cost them.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW
Age: 29
2024-25: 69 GP, 24 G, 39 A
A model of consistency in Winnipeg, the Danish forward has scored more than 20 goals in eight straight (full) NHL seasons. He was on pace to do so in the COVID-shortened year, too. Playing on a wing opposite David Pastrnak, it’d be fascinating to see how high Ehlers could raise the bar from there.
Sam Bennett, C
Age: 28
2024-25: 76 GP, 25 G, 26 A
If Brad Marchand can go from hated to beloved in Florida, can Sam Bennett do the same in Boston? Given the talent around him with the Panthers, Bennett is a challenging evaluation, but the Bruins know firsthand how annoying the sandpapery winger can be to play against. He’d also bring a Stanley Cup ring into the locker room at TD Garden.
Brock Boeser, RW
Age: 28
2024-25: 75 GP, 25 G, 25 A
One of the NHL’s most lethal snipers when he’s on his game, Boeser could help lift a brutal Bruins power play that finished 29th in the league last season (15.2%). The 6-foot-1, 207 pound winger will likely be looking for a change of scenery after falling off with the Canucks in 2024-25.
Dante Fabbro, D
Age: 26
2024-25: 68 GP, 9 G, 17 A
With Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov under contract, defense isn’t nearly the glaring need that forward is for the Bruins, but they could still use a reliable player to round out their Top 4. Fabbro fits the bill and has a first-round pedigree.
Ryan Donato, C
Age: 29
2024-25: 80 GP, 31 G, 31 A
Yes, that Ryan Donato.
After a few productive seasons in the Western Conference, the former Harvard standout and Bruins prospect really broke out with a 31-goal season in Chicago this year. He’d never topped the 20-goal mark before. Donato might not make it to free agency — it’s telling that the Blackhawks didn’t deal him at the trade deadline — but his development has been impressive
