Bruins fan survey results: Your thoughts on a Ullmark trade, DeBrusk’s decision, free agent targets, more

More than 1,000 subscribers participated in the Boston Bruins Off-season fan survey. Some questions elicited agreement. Others did not.

In the latter category, it shows that general manager Don Sweeney might have different paths toward building a better version of the Bruins for 2024-25.

What should be the Bruins’ biggest acquisition priority this offseason?

Morgan Geekie finished the playoffs as the No. 1 center next to David Pastrnak. That’s not who Geekie is. In a perfect world, Geekie is a No. 3 center. Even with Charlie Coyle.

In the meantime, Connor McDavid And Alexander Barkov do their job as premier centers without questions in the Stanley Cup Final.

So with Geekie, Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Matt Poitras and Johnny Beecher as returning centers, it’s clear that getting more help in the middle is the No. 1 task on Sweeney’s to-do list. The Bruins have the money to sign one. The question is who.

Which center would you most like the Bruins to sign in free agency?

Elias Lindholm failed to meet the expectations of the Vancouver Canucks after arriving via the Calgary Flames. Otherwise, the Canucks have already reportedly re-signed the 29-year-old.

It remains to be seen whether Lindholm can approach his career high of 82 points in 2021-22. But the straight shot center brings enough all-around play. He wouldn’t necessarily need to be a high-end offensive driver for the Bruins. Lindholm could be another all-situational center, just like Coyle and Zacha, and strengthen the Bruins’ biggest gap.

Which scoring wing would you most like the Bruins to sign in free agency?

Who will contest these 57 goals? Maybe Sam ReinhartThe explosion of is a career anomaly. His previous high was 33. Even so, Reinhart would give the Bruins a dynamic 1-2 combination at right wing behind David Pastrnak.

Reinhart is not afraid to go onto dangerous ice to score his goal. He was part of the Bruins’ fierce forecheck in the second round. The Bruins are expected to make Reinhart their second-highest paid player after Pastrnak. It would be worth the price.

Which left defenseman would you most like the Bruins to sign in free agency?

THE Carolina Hurricanes know what they are doing when it comes to defenders. So it’s a red light when they declare an important defender like the 30-year-old Brady Skjei as a player, they should let go.

Skjei averaged 21:17 per game in the regular season, second only to Brent Burns. He would be an excellent first or second pairing defenseman for the Bruins. Both Charlie McAvoy And Brandon Carlo would like to play next to the 6-foot-3, 210-pound former Ranger. It would allow Mason Lohrei to settle on the third pair and improve his defensive game.

Should the Bruins re-sign Jake DeBrusk to a four-year, $24 million contract?

The Bruins want DeBrusk to stay. It might take $6 million a year to convince him to stay. This would be a good thing for the 27-year-old. He has proven to be a good all-around winger capable of playing on both ends. DeBrusk was reliable in the playoffs.

The question, however, is how much he can score. Giving him an average annual value of $6 million, the Bruins would expect DeBrusk to put in more than 19 pucks. It’s also worth wondering when DeBrusk’s feet will slow down. It may not happen within four years.

Should the Bruins re-sign Danton Heinen to a four-year, $14.4 million contract?

Heinen has been great for the Bruins in 2023-24. But part of that impact came from its $775,000 price tag. You could argue that Heinen provided the Bruins with the best bang for their buck on the roster.

So if Heinen’s deal extends over several years to more than $3 million per year, he wouldn’t offer the same level of value that he got in his minimum wage deal . There may be no better options externally or internally. But they would be cheaper.

If a second-round pick is the best the Bruins could acquire for Linus Ullmarkshould they close the deal?

Jacob Markstrom went to the New Jersey Devils for a first-round pick in 2025. You would then think that Ullmark, who is four years younger, could choose a first-round pick in 2024 for the Bruins. But Ullmark is only signed for one more year. That would be a steep price for a team that has no guarantee of signing Ullmark to an extension.

So if a second round turns out to be the best deal, getting Ullmark’s $5 million AAV would be worth the mediocre return.

What is the highest acceptable average annual value for Jeremiah Swayman?

Swayman turned out to be the man of the playoffs. He was the Bruins’ best player.

If he earns a salary worth $8 million per year, that would make him the fifth highest-paid goaltender in the league. That’s a hefty sum for a goalie coming off a career-high 44 regular-season appearances. But so far, it looks like Swayman is a safe bet for the long term. Such products are worth paying for.

Should the Bruins re-sign Brad Marchand to an extension of several years this offseason?

Marchand is 36 years old. It is risky to recruit players of his age for extensions of several years.

But Marchand remains in exceptional condition. He believes a double hip operation in 2022 will prolong his career. He would love nothing more than to play for Canada in the 2026 Olympics. So if he agrees to a team-friendly contract, locking up the captain would give him peace of mind.

Who should be the next captain after Marchand?

McAvoy hasn’t had his best season. He was a negative possession player at five-on-five for the first time as an NHL player, according to Natural Stats Tip. This is partly due to Matt Grzelcykstruggles.

McAvoy should therefore be ready for a bounce-back year. The 26-year-old has what it takes to become one of the most complete defenders in the league. McAvoy’s talent and optimistic, outgoing personality should make him an excellent captain once Marchand’s tenure ends.

Who should be McAvoy’s partner in 2024-2025?

Lohrei finished the playoffs with a bang. He wasn’t afraid to make offensive plays and was reliable in the defensive zone. If Lohrei, 23, makes the next progression, his go-go approach, coupled with McAvoy’s do-it-all game, could make the Bruins’ No. 1 duo a dangerous combination in any situation.

This would allow Lindholm to stay with Carlo on a shutdown No. 2 pair.

How should the Bruins proceed Frederic Trent this offseason?

Frédéric has scored a career-high 18 goals in 2023-24. The 26-year-old should be motivated to improve during his contract year. There aren’t many forwards with Frédéric’s size, skating and touch. So, even if he does not receive a significant salary, Frédéric deserves to be stuck for several years.

Which prospect has the best chance of making the team in 2024-25?

Fabian Lysell is coming off an unlucky season. The right winger was limited to just one playoff game with AHL Providence following a season-ending shoulder injury. Assuming he is reinstated, the 2021 first-rounder should be in contention to compete for a job in camp. With DeBrusk on his way out and the Bruins needing help on the wing, the 21-year-old would be a good addition behind Pastrnak.

As for Georgiy Merkulovthe left center has four games of NHL experiment at Lysell’s zero. He scored 65 points in 67 games for Providence last year. It’s time for the 23-year-old to make an impression in the NHL.

(Photo by Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)