What happened: Boston entered the 2026 NHL Draft holding the No. 23 overall pick but flipped it, along with a top-10-protected 2028 first-rounder, to the Utah Mammoth for left wing JJ Peterka. It marked the first time since 2023 the Bruins did not make a first-round selection. They closed the weekend with seven picks, headlined in Round 2 by Russian goaltender Yury Ivanov at No. 56.
Why it matters: Trading the pick for an established top-six winger is a win-now move: Peterka is a speedy 24-year-old with an elite shot who profiles as a consistent 30-goal threat, potentially alongside David Pastrnak. His contract runs through 2029-30 at a manageable $7.7 million cap hit, fitting both the current core and the next one. The questionable note is draft strategy, with Boston spending its most valuable remaining pick on goaltending depth despite a thin defensive prospect pool.
By the numbers: Peterka, 24, is signed through 2029-30 at a $7.7M cap hit and plays both wings. Boston gave up the No. In net, Jeremy Swayman, 27, was a Vezina Trophy finalist this past season and is under contract through 2031-32, while AHL Providence's Michael DiPietro went 34-8-1 with a .930 save percentage. The blue-line prospect pool is thin, with Frederic Brunet the lone defenseman among the top 10.
What to watch: Watch how Peterka is deployed in Boston's top six and on the power play, and whether the Bruins address their shortage of skilled defensemen before the 2026-27 season opens.