There are a lot of decisions looming for Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and the front office. Some of those decisions will be sooner rather than later, including roster decisions with second-year head coach Marco Sturm, but other decisions could be looming, and they are some rather big ones.
Two of them will revolve around pending free agents following the 2026-27 season: Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittlestadt. How do both fit into future plans in Boston? Are they seen as part of the core going forward? Zacha seems like someone that Boston would love to get an extension done with, but at what cost? As is the case with each contract from here on out, with a rising cap will be just how far teams are willing to go.
If things don't go well and the Black and Gold are falling out of playoff contention in March around the trade deadline, both players are candidates to be moved. Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report listed 10 pending free agents who could be moved this season, and to nobody's surprise, both Zacha and Mittlestadt were on the list.
Bleacher Report has Bruins fans bracing for disaster with two top-six forwards
Look, both Zacha and Mittlestadt have been the subject of trade rumors for well over a year now. This is nothing new. However, the Bruins surprised a lot of people last season by making the playoffs, which allowed Sweeney to not send out any players at the trade deadline. However, that could all change this season, according to Yerdon, if things don't go well.
"A lot of how this season goes will determine what happens with a couple of the Boston Bruins top free agents-to-be and in Pavel Zacha's case, he could be in high demand if the Bruins fall out of contention,'' wrote Yerdon.
There is no doubt that between Zacha and Mittlestadt, Zacha would command the most interest. He would also get Sweeney the biggest return. However, if you're the Black and Gold, you're not trading away a top-six center, which is a dire position for the organization, without getting a return that makes it worth it.
"Mittelstadt's skill is still very good. He possesses incredible hands and scoring instincts and a quick offensive mind. As he enters the final year of his contract with the Bruins, whether his future is meant to remain in Boston or to go elsewhere that his offense can better shine remains to be seen, but if the Bruins struggle this season, the chances of Mittelstadt going elsewhere in a trade would rise,'' Yerdon wrote.
If we're being honest, the odds are higher for Zacha to get retained than for Mittlestadt. Let's be honest, Mittlestadt hasn't really produced enough to live up to the AAV that the Colorado Avalanche gave him. There was a reason why they moved him. Sure, he had a good season in 2025-26, but is he the type of player, like Morgan Geekie, who can prove doubters wrong and have a career season?
If things go off the rails this season for the Bruins, and they could, there are going to be some tough trade deadline decisions unless Zacha is locked up before then. Expect that to be a storyline as the season goes along.
Add us as a preferred source on Google