Believe it or not, the final month of the 2024-25 NHL regular season has arrived, and for the Boston Bruins, instead of fighting for a playoff spot, they’re finishing out the season with no chance of making the Eastern Conference playoffs. It’s a rare position for the team at this stage of the year, and it’s clear that after the season ends, the front office will be busy making decisions.
How general manager Don Sweeney decides to shake things up remains uncertain, but there will certainly be roster changes, as is customary every offseason. As the Bruins continue their five-game road trip on the West Coast, here are three players who are likely in their final month with the team and won’t be part of the 2025-26 roster.
Parker Wortherspoon
The Bruins will be looking to make changes across all positions, and on defense, Parker Wortherspoon is one player likely skating his final games with the team. While he’s filled in decently as a seventh defenseman, injuries to key players like Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm have given him more playing time, and it’s clear he won’t be re-signed.
The 27-year-old has struggled this season, posting a goal, five assists, and a minus-7 rating in 43 games. His performance has been a step back from last season, where he recorded eight assists and a plus-6 rating in 41 games. With no immediate prospects in the AHL ready to step up, Sweeney will likely need to look to free agency or trade options to replace Wortherspoon.
Patrick Brown
The Bruins’ bottom-six forward group has several players who may not be part of the team’s future, and Patrick Brown is one of them. The veteran has spent time in both Boston and Providence this season but hasn’t provided much value at the NHL level.
Currently, with just one assist in nine games, Brown hasn’t contributed significantly to the team’s efforts. If the Bruins are looking to tank for a better draft pick, he might be someone they continue to ice, but his lack of impact over the past two seasons suggests he won’t be a part of the team next season.
Vinni Lettieri
Another bottom-six forward, Vinni Lettieri is set to become a free agent at season’s end and is likely playing his last month as a Bruin. After spending the 2022-23 season with the Minnesota Wild and being traded back to Boston last summer, Lettieri has played in 15 games this season, contributing two goals and three points.
While he plays with intensity and can be tough to play against, Lettieri is another forward who is blocking younger players from getting a chance. The Bruins need to move in a different direction with their bottom-six forwards, and Lettieri is one player who won’t be returning for the 2025-26 season.
Changes are inevitable this offseason, and several current Bruins players will likely find themselves elsewhere by the time the 2025-26 season begins. Whether through free agency or trades, this offseason promises to be filled with significant moves as the team looks to build for the future.
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