With the Boston Bruins performing far below expectations this past season, general manager Don Sweeney blew up the team's roster at the trade deadline. Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Trent Frederic, and Charlie Coyle were among the players that Sweeney traded to spark a new era in Bruins hockey.
When looking at the trades the Bruins made at this past deadline, it is clear that Sweeney deserves some serious props for the Coyle one, in particular.
The Bruins traded Coyle and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Casey Mittelstadt, prospect William Zellers, and a 2025 second-round pick. This return already looks like it could end up being a real win for the Bruins, so let's dive into why.
Bruins Get Potential Top-Six Forward In Mittelstadt
Mittelstadt's start with the Bruins was underwhelming, as he had four goals, two assists, and a minus-17 rating in 18 games. While he struggled to kick off his Bruins tenure, he certainly has the potential to turn things around next season with a clean slate.
While Mittelstadt finished this season with 15 goals and 40 points in 81 games split between the Avalanche and Bruins, he has shown in the past that he can produce like a true top-six forward. During the 2023-24 season split between the Buffalo Sabres and Avalanche, he had 18 goals and 57 points in 80 games. This was after he scored 15 goals and set career highs with 44 assists and 59 points in 82 games with Buffalo in 2022-23.
If Mittelstadt gets his offensive totals back up to his previous recent seasons, he will be a solid top-six forward for the Bruins. When noting that he is just 26 years old, the possibility of him bouncing back is there.
Bruins Land Exciting Prospect In Zellers
Bringing in Zellers has the potential to be a big win for the Bruins. The 19-year-old winger simply dominated the United States Hockey League (USHL) this past season, leading the league with 44 goals and recording 71 points in 52 games with the Green Bay Gamblers. Due to his incredible play, Zellers was named USHL Player of the Year and USHL Forward of the Year. He was also named to the All-USHL First Team.
It is no secret that the Bruins need more skilled scoring forwards, and Zellers has the potential to become just that for them later down the road. His play at the USHL level has been incredibly encouraging, and he will now look to translate it over to the collegiate level next season with the University of North Dakota.
Bruins Use Second-Rounder To Land Intriguing Defenseman In Pettersson
The Bruins used the second-round pick they received from Colorado to select defenseman Liam Pettersson. The 6-foot-2, left-shot defenseman has shown promise early on in his career overseas, and he could end up being a nice addition to the Bruins' blueline later down the road because of it.
Pettersson certainly has some offensive skill, as he recorded six goals and 21 points in 39 games with Vaxjo Lakers' junior team in 2024-25. He also played in five Swedish Hockey League (SHL) games with Vaxjo HC, and should see more time with them next season.
Pettersson will be a bit of a project for the Bruins, but the young defenseman has solid upside and should be able to become an NHL-caliber defenseman in the future.
Avalanche Have Already Traded Coyle
This trade has only aged even better for the Bruins, as Coyle's time in Colorado has already come to an end. Last month, the Avalanche traded Coyle and forward Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. With this, the Bruins got far more for Coyle than the Avalanche did, which is a nice bonus.
One of the Avalanche's top objectives of the off-season was to clear up their cap space, and they did just that by moving on Coyle's $5.25 million cap hit until the end of next season. He should now be a solid addition to a Blue Jackets team that is looking to take that next step and become a legitimate playoff team again. When looking at Columbus' roster, he should slot nicely as their new third-line center.
Coyle recorded two goals and 11 assists in 19 regular-season games for the Avalanche after being traded by the Bruins. He then had a tough post-season for Colorado, scoring just one goal and recording a minus-4 rating in seven games.
Overall, while Coyle was a very good Bruin during his best days with the club, it is hard not to like this trade for Boston. They landed some interesting players who have the potential to benefit them in the long run, and it will be interesting to see if they can do just that from here.
