Boston Bruins Have Another Piece of the 2026 NHL Draft Puzzle in Place
The Boston Bruins, looking to fortify their already impressive draft haul for the 2026 NHL Draft, made another move on Friday. The team traded forward Jeffrey Viel to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Viel, who appeared in just 10 of Boston's 48 games this season, had become expendable due to depth players like Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves stepping into greater roles. The hard-nosed forward, known for his physical play, is expected to see more minutes with the Ducks.
The Bruins now boast nine picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: two first-round selections, a second-round pick, a third-round pick, three fourth-round picks, a sixth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick. With this trade, Boston solidifies their position as one of the teams to watch in the upcoming draft.
The addition of Viel is seen as a temporary solution for the Bruins' depth needs up front. The team has already made other roster moves, including adding defenseman Billy Sweezey on an emergency basis, to bolster their blue line ahead of a quick two-game road trip against Chicago and Dallas.
With this move, the Bruins continue to build towards their goal of competing in the NHL postseason. Their strong draft position will undoubtedly be a key factor in determining their chances for success this season and beyond.
The Boston Bruins, looking to fortify their already impressive draft haul for the 2026 NHL Draft, made another move on Friday. The team traded forward Jeffrey Viel to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Viel, who appeared in just 10 of Boston's 48 games this season, had become expendable due to depth players like Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves stepping into greater roles. The hard-nosed forward, known for his physical play, is expected to see more minutes with the Ducks.
The Bruins now boast nine picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: two first-round selections, a second-round pick, a third-round pick, three fourth-round picks, a sixth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick. With this trade, Boston solidifies their position as one of the teams to watch in the upcoming draft.
The addition of Viel is seen as a temporary solution for the Bruins' depth needs up front. The team has already made other roster moves, including adding defenseman Billy Sweezey on an emergency basis, to bolster their blue line ahead of a quick two-game road trip against Chicago and Dallas.
With this move, the Bruins continue to build towards their goal of competing in the NHL postseason. Their strong draft position will undoubtedly be a key factor in determining their chances for success this season and beyond.
Still got that solid core of players on the team though 
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So many people are hyping up their draft picks but lets see how they play out in real life 
9 picks now?? that's like, a lot! will they actually use 'em all or just trade some away? and what's up with this Billy Sweezey dude? is he like a superhero or something? 
. Nine picks? That's insane! It's like they're trying to create a generational talent or something. I love how they're focusing on depth, too – it's all about being prepared for the playoffs and having those clutch guys who can step up when it matters most 
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. The trade for Jeffrey Viel might not have been the most glamorous one, but it's all about finding those hidden gems and building towards the future 
. The Bruins are definitely looking like a team to beat in the NHL right now! 
. Nine picks is a lot, especially with two first-rounders - that's some serious ammo for them to draft whatever talent they need to make a run at the playoffs this year and next. And let's be real, having that depth up front doesn't hurt either... it's not like they're gonna give away their future prospects in trades for some temporary fix 
. I mean, I get it, teams gotta make moves to stay competitive, but sometimes you wonder if they're just setting themselves up for a bigger haul down the line 
. The thing is, if Boston can make that case and actually deliver on those picks... man, they could be looking at a pretty bright future 
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think the bruins are just trying to clear space for other guys to shine 
gotta watch how they play out
. This trade might seem minor, but it's all part of the bigger picture. The Bruins are building towards something big, and every piece counts. 
they're already building a solid foundation for the future, it's gonna be awesome to see them compete for the cups 
jeffrey viel might not have gotten much playing time this season but he's still a physical player who can make an impact, hopefully it works out for him with the ducks 
They're basically saying they don't think he'll make an impact in the long run. Like, what happened? Did something change about him or his role with the team? 
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. They're basically just giving away future draft picks that they can use to pick players who might actually make a difference on the team. I mean, Viel is getting sent to Anaheim for a 4th round pick? 
? Does it make sense that they would get rid of Viel just because some other players stepped into more roles? Wouldn't they still need him for the remainder of the season? Or is this like a plan all along to clear out space on their roster?