JUST-IN: Bruins Win Big As They Got a Future Star, a Starter, and a Pick Bruins GM Pulls Off Absolute Heist in Charlie Coyle Trade — Avalanche Got Fleeced

At the NHL trade deadline in March, the Boston Bruins and GM Don Sweeney found themselves in unfamiliar territory — as sellers, not buyers. Typically poised for a Stanley Cup run, this season made it clear the team wasn’t built for a deep postseason push, and Sweeney acted accordingly, parting ways with several core players.

One major move was trading captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, who now find themselves in the second round of the playoffs facing Brandon Carlo, another former Bruin who was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Charlie Coyle was also moved, landing with the Colorado Avalanche in a trade that now looks like a huge win for Boston. In exchange, the Bruins received top prospect Will Zellers, forward Casey Mittelstadt, and a second-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Zellers, recently named USHL Player of the Year after scoring 44 goals in 52 games, is set to play at the University of North Dakota. If his offensive skill translates quickly, he may not stay in college long. Mittelstadt, meanwhile, could slot into the Bruins’ lineup as early as next season, and the second-round pick adds more future value — a round where Sweeney has found success before.

Colorado, meanwhile, went all-in at the deadline — also acquiring Brock Nelson and Ryan Lindgren — but saw their hopes crushed in a Game 7 collapse against the Dallas Stars, allowing four unanswered goals in the third period. Their early playoff exit only amplifies how lopsided the Coyle trade now appears.

While no one can fault the Avalanche for making a push, it’s hard to ignore how well this deal is aging for Boston. After years of the Bruins overpaying at the deadline for little return, this trade might be one we look back on as a masterstroke by Sweeney.