Latest mock draft has Bruins making 2 first-round selections after trading top-6 forward
The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is fast approaching and soon Bruins will know how Boston uses its No. 7 pick.
The Bruins have been connected to Brady Martin, Jake O'Brien and Roger McQueen in mock drafts. The Athletic had Boston taking O'Brien in its latest mock at No. 7, but the outlet also had the Original Six franchise trading back into the first round.
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Here's the proposed trade:
Vancouver Canucks trade No. 15 pick and forward Nils Höglander to Boston for center Pavel Zacha and forward Marat Khusnutdinov.
The Bruins would then use the No. 15 pick to draft Jackson Smith, a left-shot defenseman.
'Smith's all-around upside as a defenseman makes him a valuable prospect with time to grow behind Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Mason Lohrei,' Fluto Shinzawa wrote. 'There is no rush for Smith to turn pro.'
While Shinzawa noted the Bruins are 'wary of dealing Zacha,' the chance to get the No. 15 pick is a 'critical opportunity to add to a thin prospect pool.'
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Zacha has been versatile for Boston since joining the organization in 2022, playing both center and wing when needed. He's also developed strong chemistry with David Pastrnak.
Thomas Drance, Canucks reporter for The Athletic, believes the trade works out for both teams because Vancouver is 'all-in' on being Stanley Cup contenders in the 2025-26 season and 'needs size and productivity from the middle of the forward group more than anything.'
'Landing Zacha addresses the Canucks' need for a 'top two line center,' and at a reasonable price, with term, cap-wise,' Drance wrote. 'This is a deal that permits Vancouver to focus its resources on adding a legitimate top-of-the-lineup goal threat to try to replace what the club lost when it dealt J.T. Miller (and may lose more of in the likely event that Brock Boeser signs elsewhere in free agency).'
It's unclear how the Bruins will utilize their seventh pick or if they will make trades to make multiple picks in Round 1. During Marco Sturm's introductory press conference on Tuesday morning, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney left the door open on potentially trading the pick.
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'We've been an aggressive organization, whether or not you want to point out fault in regard to trying to win and accomplish the ultimate goal. That's what we're here for,' Sweeney said. 'So we will use the draft capital and try and improve our hockey club this year and moving forward in every capacity possible. It might be making the selection, but it won't mean that we aren't having conversations that say, 'How do we improve our hockey club today and moving forward.''
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