Boston’s a bitter city, but the Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney really poked the bear this time. The 2025 National Hockey League (NHL) trade deadline was a dumpster fire of devastation after devastation for Boston fans, like myself.
First on the chopping block was the poster-child for Massachusetts athletes, Forward Charlie Coyle in exchange for Colorado Forwards Casey Mittelstadt and William Zellers. One would think it’s about quality over quantity, but I suppose they only ask how, not how many.
Next, the Bruins picked up Defenseman Henri Jokiharju from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Forward Marc McLaughlin was sacrificed for New Jersey Devils Defenseman Daniil Misyul.
The next trade for the Bruins wasn’t the last, but it certainly was the worst. Sweeney pulled a Julius Caesar on his captain and his city by trading Captain and Forward Brad Marchand for a 2027 conditional second-round pick from the Florida Panthers.
Last to go was Defenseman Brandon Carlo for Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Fraser Minten along with a 2026 first round pick (top five protected) and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Let’s talk about loyalty. Boston fans are loyal to a fault, if it was about winning not many people in Boston would even be a Boston fan. We still root for the Patriots without Brady, don’t we?
All of these trades were probably not the best use of what little critical thinking skills Sweeney possesses, but Coyle and Marchand were by far the most devastating.
Even New Englanders who know nothing about hockey are pissed. My best friend and Massachusetts native, who barely knows what the puck is going on when watching the ice, called me after the news broke.
Just a few days before getting the same treatment as those of Henry VIII wives, Marchand said he’d retire as a Bruin.
Shoulder injuries and age aside, loyalty matters. Hockey players don’t play for the name on their back. They’re playing for the logo on the front and the community of people it represents. Hockey team managers are politicians to us fanatics and we, the fans, are their constituents.
What the hell happened to respecting those you represent?
