{"id":781,"date":"2026-05-20T12:06:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=781"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:06:09","slug":"how-will-the-bruins-attack-the-offseason-lets-examine-ways-they-could-enhance-their-forward-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=781","title":{"rendered":"How will the Bruins attack the offseason? Let\u2019s  examine ways they could enhance their forward group."},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<div>\n<p><span><i>First in a three-part series on the Bruins\u2019 offseason <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Secondary scoring had long been a primary problem for the Bruins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Historically, a top-heavy first line accounted for the lion\u2019s share of scoring, followed by a plucky second line, and a bottom six of grinders who could bury opponents but struggled to bury their offensive opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=779\">Boston College baseball, coming off one of its best seasons ever, enters ACC Tournament with big hopes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>It was initially a concern heading into the 2025-26 season, but Marco Sturm\u2019s charges surprised. Sure, David Pastrnak (29 goals) and Morgan Geekie (39) filled the nets as expected, but others added surprising pop.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Pavel Zacha (30) and Viktor Arvidsson (25) topped the list, but the quintet of Elias Lindholm (17), Fraser Minten (17), Casey Mittelstadt (15), Marat Khusnutdinov (15), and Mark Kastelic (12) provided surprising punch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Still, more is needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>General manager Don Sweeney and his staff can attack this need internally (via development, promotions, and the draft) and\/or externally (via free agency, or a significant trade or two).<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><span>Get Starting Point<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span>A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><label>Enter Email<\/label><\/p>\n<div><button>Sign Up<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Here are a few ways the franchise can go this summer:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>1. The safety squeeze \u2014<\/b> Retaining unrestricted free agent Arvidsson to play right wing would allow Sturm to keep his second line (with Zacha in the middle and Mittelstadt on the left) intact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The trio clicked early, and was not only productive offensively but was often deployed against opponents\u2019 top lines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The 33-year-old Arvidsson at say, four years at $5.5 million per, would be mutually beneficially. Arvidsson would get some security, and the Bruins would keep a speedy, skilled puck-hunting hound who has no problem busting through to the blue ice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cHe\u2019s one of those drivers who kind of goes through to the tough areas,\u201d Sturm said at the end of the playoff run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Arvidsson has said on multiple occasions that he enjoyed his season in Boston \u2014 on and off the ice \u2014 and that feels like it will weigh heavily in his July 1 decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>2. The home run \u2014<\/b> Sign UFA Scott Laughton to plug in as the third-line center, allowing Minten to move to the top spot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Laughton (let\u2019s say, three years for $12 million total) is a smart player who is responsible in all three zones. He\u2019s also a leader and a quality penalty killer. Can\u2019t have enough of those.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=777\">As Masters Academy International gears up for its first year, here\u2019s what we can expect, now and in the future<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span><b>3. The grand slam \u2014<\/b> Swing a trade for Brady Tkachuk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Yes, the story that will never die despite myriad denials from every corner of Ontario, from Parry Sound to Owen Sound.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Tkachuk has two seasons left on a seven-year deal that pays the power forward $8.2 million per annum. If he makes it clear his days in O, Canada are up when the contract expires (see Tkachuk, Matthew, Calgary), it would behoove the Senators to maximize their return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Bruins have the capital to make a strong push for the 26-year-old Tkachuk, whose playing style closely resembles that of his pops, Keith. Boston\u2019s playoff theme was \u201cToughness is Tradition,\u201d and few players fit that description better than Tkachuk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Plop him on the top line and place a \u201cC\u201d on his sweater, and the franchise would have its face for the next decade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><b>4. Extra bases \u2014<\/b> Zacha has one year left on his deal that comes with $4.75 million cap hit. The center also is among the league leaders when it comes to trade rumors. But barring a seismic trade, Boston would be better suited to lock up the 29-year-old, who just set career highs in goals and points (65). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Zacha is a diligent 200-foot player who excels on the power play and the penalty kill. A seven-year pact for $8-$8.5 million annually seems like a nice landing spot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u22c5 While we\u2019re cutting checks, how about another seven-year agreement with Minten for $50 million total. The baby-faced pivot earned Sturm\u2019s trust early and put together an exceptional rookie season (35 points, plus-21). Minten was among Boston\u2019s best penalty killers, and he is currently starring for Team Canada at the World Championship.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u22c5 In a perfect world, James Hagens would earn a spot out of camp \u2014 say, third-line left wing \u2014 and the Bruins would stick with him through thick and thin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It was just a cup of coffee, but Hagens showed speed, skill, and smarts this spring. Opponents will test his mettle, but Hagens looked more than willing to get to the greasy areas. Anyone keeping an eye on the World Championship has surely noticed Hagens isn\u2019t afraid to stick his nose into the action. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u22c5 There\u2019s a group of five Baby B\u2019s that will push for varsity spots this fall. The Bruins would be thrilled if at least one from the cluster of Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Dans Locmelis, and Matej Blumel could thrive in Sturm\u2019s hybrid systems. If not, they could be dangled as part of a trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=775\">A man lay at the bottom of a moving escalator for 23 minutes. Would you have helped?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GM Don Sweeney can address needs internally (via development, promotions, the draft) and\/or externally (via free agency, trades).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How will the Bruins attack the offseason? Let\u2019s examine ways they could enhance their forward group. - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=781\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How will the Bruins attack the offseason? Let\u2019s examine ways they could enhance their forward group. - Boston Relocation Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GM Don Sweeney can address needs internally (via development, promotions, the draft) and\/or externally (via free agency, trades).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=781\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Boston Relocation Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-20T12:06:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=781#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/?p=781\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c08a982d5d5e7124cea9158df226037e\"},\"headline\":\"How will the Bruins attack the offseason? 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