The trade deadline for the NHL was at 3 p.m. eastern time on March 7, 2025 where teams made their final decisions. The trade deadline ensures that teams are not waiting on trading their top players with ending contracts or taking too long to make a deal with other teams. When making deals, both current players, healthy scratch players, injured players and draft picks are eligible to be negotiated between franchises. The Boston Bruins had some of the most notable trades of the 2025 season that brought sadness to fans, but also some excitement for the future.
One of the most controversial decisions, made by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, was trading long-time Bruin and captain Brad Marchand. Marchand was drafted to Boston in 2006 where he was captain for the past year and a half, played 15 seasons, and won a Stanley Cup. He expressed his desire to remain a Bruin for the rest of his career, but this dream was cut short when he was officially traded to the Florida Panthers on March 7. Marchand and the Bruins were unable to agree on a reasonable contract, and additionally the Bruins are working on rebuilding their team to what it once was. This trade officially ended the legacy of the 2011 Stanley Cup team, with no players from the victorious team remaining on the Bruins. In return for the Boston captain, they received a conditional second round draft pick for 2027. This means that the draft pick could possibly become a 2028 first round pick depending on Florida’s playoff performance and Marchand’s overall appearance within the playoffs. Despite the admin being content with their decision, many fans have expressed their disappointment with the exit of their beloved captain.
In addition to Marchand, several fan favorites were also traded at the deadline. Massachusetts native, Charlie Coyle, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on the afternoon of March 7. The skilled forward played for the Bruins for six years and was a huge asset to the team during the past few playoff runs. In return for Coyle, the Bruins acquired forwards William Zellers and Casey Mittelstadt and a 2025 second round draft pick. This trade received mostly good feedback from fans with the Bruins being able to receive some younger talent.
More assets from the Bruins team in the 2022-2023 playoff run, center Trent Frederic and defenseman Brandon Carlo, were some of the many players traded at the deadline. Unlike some of the other players, Frederic was traded several days before the official deadline with his contract ending making him a free agent. He was sent to Edmonton to play for last season’s Stanley Cup runner-ups, the Oilers. The Frederic trade involved not only the Oilers, but also the New Jersey Devils, where the Bruins acquired a 2025 second round pick, defenseman Maximus Wanner and a fourth round pick for the 2026 draft. The Bruins also received positive reaction from fans when receiving a first round pick for the 2026 draft, center Fraser Minten and a fourth round pick in the 2025 draft after sending Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins sent one of their last tradable assets to the Minnesota Wild, right wing Justin Brazeau, in return for some new and old faces. Right wing Jakub Lauko, was a member of last year’s Bruins team, but was traded to the Wild in exchange for forward Vinni Lettieri. At this year’s trade deadline, the Bruins made the decision to bring back Lauko alongside forward Marat Khusnutdinov in return for Brazeau.
The 2025 trade deadline is one of the most notable for the Bruins with it bringing excitement for the future, but also some heavy hearts for long time fans. The Bruin’s management looks to develop the new talent into the team they have been working to build for the past few years. Boston was definitely one of the NHL teams that made a huge switch to their roster at the deadline, but they hope these changes will make them a tougher competitor for seasons to come.
