The Boston Bruins are coming off one of their worst outings of the season. The 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Ottawa Senators seems to signal the club might be getting ready to punt on the season.
If and when the Bruins are ready to sell off pieces, the return could be significant. In particular, the Bruins could take advantage of desperate rivals looking to prolong their window of contention.
One such rival is the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are looking to add depth down the middle. With the club reportedly shopping Pavel Zacha, there could be an opportunity for Boston to fleece the Panthers in a trade.
Here’s a look at what this potential trade idea could look like:
Panthers get:
Pavel Zacha, F
Bruins get:
2026 second-round pick
2028 first-round pick
Evan Rodrigues, F
Matvei Shuravin, D
The Bruins could land as many as four pieces for the Zacha, given the Panthers’ need to shore up their depth down the middle.
Boston could easily pluck one of the Panthers’ second-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Panthers have their own second-rounder and the one belonging to the Washington Capitals. So, it would be somewhat of a toss-up as to which one would be better.
Since the Panthers don’t have first-round picks in 2026 or 2027, the Bruins could land the Cats’ 2028 first-rounder. That could be an interesting pick as the Panthers may not be contenders by then. So, that pick could end up looking better than anticipated.
Bruins Get Solid Veteran in Return
The Panthers may have to dispense with a highly coveted veteran piece, Evan Rodrigues. Rodrigues proved to be a valuable piece over the last two postseasons. Last spring, in particular, Rodrigues showed the skillset he brings to the table in all situations.
The Bruins could use such a solid veteran presence to complement the relatively thin forward group the team has in the middle six. However, Rodrigues could also play a meaningful role in the top six, depending on the team’s needs.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Panthers would need to make room to fit Zacha’s cap hit. So, moving Rodrigues’ $3 million cap hit would clear up just enough space to fit Zacha into the mix.
Boston Gets Intriguing Defensive Prospects in Package for Zacha
One of the pieces the Bruins can push for is the Panthers’ best prospect. One of the most intriguing names is 19-year-old Russian blueliner Matvei Shuvarin. The Panthers took Shuvarin 97th overall in 2024. Considering the lack of high-end prospects in the Panthers’ pipeline, Shuvarin is one prospect the Panthers are excited about.
Panthers GM Bill Zito described him as a player who is “good at everything.” That situation could make him a highly valuable piece for the Bruins, especially if they go down the rebuild path.
Shuvarin is not currently under contract and playing in Russia. His arrival could come within the next season or two. But Shuvarin is only 19. So, there’s plenty of time for the Bruins to get the youngster signed and into the fold.
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