The Boston Bruins are heading toward a transition this season. Last year’s trade deadline fire sale set the tone for the turnover the club will be experiencing in the coming years.
Part of that transition involves landing franchise cornerstones to build the next phase of contending teams. So, what better player to help build the Bruins’ next generation of contending lineups than impending UFA Kirill Kaprizov?
Kaprizov is heading into the final year of his current contract. That situation has led to a tense environment in which the Minnesota Wild aren’t certain to re-sign their star player.
So, if the Wild cannot re-sign Kaprizov, would they be willing to trade him? It’s a possibility, especially for the right sort of return. So, here’s an idea of what the Bruins could give up to land the Russian sniper:
Bruins get:
Kirill Kaprizov, F
Wild get:
Casey Mittelstadt, F
Fabian Lysell, F
2026 first-round pick
2027 first-round pick
The price the Bruins would have to pay is substantial. The most evident piece is Mittelstadt. He’s a native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. So, including him in the trade would be a sort of homecoming for the player and team.
Also, Fabian Lysell has been high on other teams’ radars, most notably, the Edmonton Oilers. The Bruins would have to give up a top prospect just to make the deal work. Another prospect who could head the other way might be Matthew Poitras, or potentially blue liner Frederic Brunet.
As for the two first-rounders, the Bruins have two in each of the next two drafts. So, moving the Maple Leafs’ pick in 2026 and the Florida Panthers’ in 2027 wouldn’t be a huge loss.
Bruins Could Pursue Kaprizov in Free Agency Instead
Another path the Bruins could take is pursuing Kaprizov in free agency. After all, why give up multiple futures when the club could just sign him next summer?
While that’s a valid point, there is some risk to it. First of all, there’s no guarantee the Wild wouldn’t trade Kaprizov to another club. The Wild could panic and move Kaprizov to whatever club is willing to pay up.
That scenario would make it virtually impossible for the Bruins to land Kaprizov. Moreover, waiting may only drive up Kaprizov’s price tag. Suppose that Kaprizov wins a major award like the Rocket Richard or the Art Ross?
That situation could tack on a few more dollars to Kaprizov’s contract. But even if the Bruins don’t care about the price tag, there’s also another powerful reason for the trade. If the Bruins re-sign Kaprizov, they’ll be able to extend him to an eight-year deal.
Signing him via free agency would limit the contract to seven years. There’s some urgency in that regard as the next CBA will limit contracts from eight to seven years, and free-agent deals from seven to six.
So, there’s some logic to trading for Kaprizov and extending him to eight seasons while still possible.
Kaprizov Could Be Cornerstone Piece for Boston
The Bruins already have two cornerstone pieces in David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. Add Jeremy Swayman to the mix, and the Bruins have the makings of a fantastic core.
Now, throw in someone like Kirill Kaprizov, and the Bruins could be one of the most talented teams in the NHL.
Yes, depth matters greatly in the NHL. But it’s undeniable that having two brilliant forwards in Kaprizov and Pastrnak would elevate the Bruins to another level in the uber-competitive Atlantic Division.
Landing Kaprizov via trade may be somewhat of a pipe dream. But if there’s any team that has the wherewithal to pull off such a massive trade, it’s the Boston Bruins.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bruins Trade Idea Lands Impending UFA Superstar appeared first on Heavy Sports.