In a 2024-25 development that seems like it came straight from the Twilight Zone, the Boston Bruins are rumoured to be selling at the trade deadline. They’re two points out of a playoff race in the Eastern Conference that’s as wide open as it gets, but their overall record of 28-26-8 hasn’t inspired a lot of hope that this team will be able to go on a meaningful run this postseason. Thus, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has hinted that the team will be looking to sell off some pieces at the deadline and indicated that the team has at least had conversations about how to move forward with players like longtime star Brad Marchand.
Although no Toronto Maple Leafs fan will admit it, the thought of adding the pesky Bruin to their roster at the deadline is surreal, especially after hearing how highly Marchand spoke of Mitch Marner when the two were teammates at the 4 Nations Face-Off. But I’ll save you some time. Quote me on this right now: I’ll write about how I was wrong if it plays out this way, but there is zero chance the Bruins will trade Marchand to the Leafs at the deadline. Divisional trades are already few and far between, let alone mid-season, and asking the Bruins to trade a core piece of their franchise to one of their most heated rivals is the equivalent of the Montreal Canadiens trying to swing a deal for William Nylander at the deadline.
All of this being said, a Leafs/Bruins trade is not impossible. It may have been 14 years since the two teams swung a deal, but it’s not impossible. After all, the Leafs acquired Tomas Plekanec from the Montreal Canadiens back in 2017-18. Plekanec wasn’t to the Habs what Marchand is to the Bruins in terms of ability at the time of the trade, but he was still a foundational piece of their team for well over a decade. And, funnily enough, the Leafs are in the market for a Plekanec type of addition this week. While it’s all but certain that Marchand won’t be dangled as a trade piece, especially not in front of the Leafs, let’s examine both teams and see if there’s any possibility for a deal to be made here.
What does Boston have?
To me, the most appealing name on the Bruins roster who could be available is Trent Frederic. Boston’s first-round pick in 2016 is currently in his fifth full NHL season, and while it’s fair to say that he hasn’t become the top-six mainstay they were hoping for, he’s still proven to be a valuable bottom-six forward who can keep his head above water in the top six. His numbers in 2024-25 aren’t inspiring, with only eight goals and 17 points in 55 games, but it’s extremely possible that this is just an effect of playing for a bad team. You would have thought Jake McCabe was one of the worst defencemen in the league based on some reactions when they traded him, and two years later, he’s one-half of one of the best shutdown pairs in the league.
With 18 and 17 goals in his last two seasons, respectively, it’s fair to say that Frederic has more to bring than what he’s offered up this year. Pair that with the fact that he’s big, standing at 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, and plays with a mean streak that opponents dread facing, and he really does seem like a match made in heaven. He’s second on the Bruins in hits this season with 155, which would put him first on the Leafs in that category, and he plays up the middle. The primary knock is that he’s a pending unrestricted free agent, but with a cap hit of only $2.3 million and the possibility of Fraser Minten being ready for bottom-six duties next season, it probably works out better for the Leafs that way.
There’s also Justin Brazeau, which would make for a funny story, considering he started his career with the Maple Leafs. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound winger has ten goals and 20 points in 56 games this season, but if the Leafs pull off a trade for their former prospect, it would have to be a secondary add, considering their need lies up the middle.
On defence, it’s fair to suggest that someone like Andrew Peeke could be of interest, considering he’s a physical, defence-first, and right-handed, and he also has term on his deal. Still, the fact that he has more than a year left likely gives the Bruins all the more reason to charge them a premium, so I’d expect the Leafs to address that issue elsewhere.
What does Toronto have?
Simply put, they have Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, a bunch of C-level prospects, and a first-round pick next season. You can forget about them parting with Cowan or Minten for any pending UFA unless it’s somebody like Mikko Rantanen. So, if there’s a deal to be made here, a mix of some of those C-level prospects and some mid-round picks are probably the foundation of the return. Think names like Roni Hirvonen, Ryan Tverberg, or one of their goaltending prospects between Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov.
They also have a number of NHL forwards who are ‘on the cusp’ and have been floated in trade proposals previously, including Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. But with some extremely strong play ahead of Friday’s deadline, it’s entirely possible that Treliving is reconsidering dangling those players. Robertson specifically has turned up the heat offensively lately, playing an instrumental part in the Maple Leafs’ comeback win against the Bruins last week, and if there’s a world where he can combine his relentless work ethic with his dangerous shot on a consistent basis, it’s clear Treliving would prefer to keep that in-house. But the deadline isn’t always fair to everybody, so he’ll have to seriously consider all of his options.
Is it possible?
Short answer, yes, but I wouldn’t expect it. The trade market has been extremely quiet following the Rantanen deal, mostly because there are so many teams who are still in the playoff hunt, so sellers are apprehensive about getting rid of their trade pieces without a good return. Combine this with the fact that the Leafs are a division rival of the Bruins, and it wouldn’t at all be out of the question to see Sweeney charge them a first-round pick for somebody like Frederic. And, if there’s a world where the Leafs are trading a first-round pick for an upgrade in the middle six, they’d certainly prefer it to be for somebody with term, to the effect of Brayden Schenn in St. Louis or Scott Laughton in Philadelphia.
That being said, the deadline is all about keeping people on the toes, and who knows? Maybe Sweeney will ease up on the price a little bit and turn his attention from maxing out his value on his UFAs to just getting anything for them, assuming the alternative is having them walk in free agency. So, who knows? It’s happened before, and both teams have the pieces to make it happen again.
Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!