Boston Bruins

Bruins Trade Chips Dealing With Deadline Uncertainty

Published

4 weeks ago

February 24, 2025

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

BRIGHTON, Mass. — Don Sweeney didn’t mince his words when asked on Sunday how he will approach the NHL trade deadline. After years of making moves for the here and now, the general manager of the Boston Bruins will prioritize building toward the future.

And how could he not? The Bruins have drifted aimlessly through this season. While they’re only one point out of playoff position, they’re yet to provide the front office with any sort of indication that they’re capable of making a legitimate postseason push.

But as the decision-makers up on Level 9 look beyond this season, it’s the only thing those down at ice level can focus on.

“It’s trying to look just game by game–small segments throughout the rest of the year,” Morgan Geekie said following practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday. “Everybody loves the group we have in this room. Obviously, the results haven’t panned out the way we want them to, but we’re one point out of a playoff spot. I know everybody believes in this room how good of a team we can be when we execute, and stick to our strengths and our structure.”

Geekie is one of several players whose contracts with the Bruins will be up at the end of the season, placing him at the epicenter of the trade rumors that circulate this time of year.

MUST READ: Morgan Geekie Addresses Bruins Trade Rumors

So, too, is Trent Frederic.

The 27-year-old has struggled this season, scoring only eight goals to this point. However, his expiring contact, along with his track record as a middle-six forward who can play with a mixture of grace and grit, makes him the exact kind of player contending teams seek and are willing to pay handsomely for.

As long as Frederic is in Boston, the Bruins are his sole focus.

“I’m obviously aware of the situation of everything, being a UFA and not having a deal,” said Frederic. “I’m not oblivious to that, but I don’t think like that, and I’m not going to. If something happens, then I’ll react off of that.”

As the team captain and longest-tenured member of the Bruins, Brad Marchand has seen plenty of players come and go over the years.

“Even in your best years, guys get moved,” Marchand said. “You have no control over things like that, and you really just can’t get caught up worrying about it. That’s the biggest thing. Every team talks about it. You got to worry about what you can control and just try to stay in the moment. The team’s always going to do what they feel is best for the group and the best way they can improve the team That’s completely out of your control, so you just can’t worry about that.”

Now, though, Marchand is one of those players who may be heading out the door with his contract expiring at year’s end.

“I’ve always planned on playing here my entire career,” said Marchand. “That hasn’t changed. They’re aware of that. It’s a gift to play for this team. I take a tremendous amount of pride in it.”

While Sweeney expressed a similar desire on Sunday to keep Marchand in black and gold, he also said that the two will meet in the coming days to determine the captain’s “final outcome.”

Marchand’s fate is by far the biggest decision Sweeney has in front of him between now and the deadline on March 7, but it’s far from the only.

In the meantime, the Bruins have six games until then, and that’s all they can focus on.