NHL analyst Erik Beaston of 'Bleacher Report' believes the Boston Bruins need to take a swing at a Connor McDavid trade before he becomes a free agent next season. The Boston Bruins are moving along as best as they can. With Brad Marchand having been traded to the Florida Panthers in March, <a href='https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/boston-bruins/bruins-urged-trade-connor-mcdavid-oilers/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>all three of their cornerstones from the 2010s era are now gone</a>. As Boston looks to turn the page, they're looking to reload, perhaps in a big way come 2026. The Bruins' next crop of NHL superstar players could include none other than Connor McDavid as the headliner. If the Edmonton Oilers captain is made available in a trade (extremely unlikely), the Bruins should be one of the teams ready to put up a big offer, per NHL analyst Erik Beaston of 'Bleacher Report.' They still have David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy as franchise commodities, and are hoping Jeremy Swayman regains his form in net. But beyond those two, top-end talent is limited. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BruinsCLNS/status/1948488422303097007'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Although not many top names became available in 2025, the increasing salary cap might change things next offseason. Erik Beaston even proposed that the Bruins make a blockbuster trade for Connor McDavid before free agency even begins. It won't happen, but it's not impossible. The Bruins need a top-six center and there is no better option in the game than McDavid, so if Sweeney and the front office are intent on attacking the free agent market next summer at the expense of enhancing the roster this offseason, eyeing up one of the greatest of all time softens the blow of what may end up being another down year, Beaston wrote. Boston's conservative approach this summer, the five-year Tanner Jeannot contract being the highlight, suggests they're holding back cap space for a purpose. <h3>The Bruins could also be saving cap space to make a massive splash next summer</h3> Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet noted that the flexibility with which the team operates may be on purpose. If some of these guys who are supposed to be free agents next year (reach free agency), whether they get one or not, I think Boston wants to have the opportunity to take a shot at one of those guys, Friedman said. So, if you'll notice, they didn't really do much to hamstring themselves in the future. They got Arvidsson on a one-year deal. Traded for him, gave up a late-round pick, one-year deal. Aside from Jeannot, they didn't take any massive swings, Friedman said. Nevertheless, McDavid isn't being traded. The Oilers are a playoff contender, and unless he has expressed that he will not re-sign, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/nhl-insider-provides-latest-update-on-connor-mcdavid-future-with-the-edmonton-oilers' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Edmonton will not trade him</a> unless it is one of the biggest return hauls in NHL history. However, should McDavid become a free agent, the Bruins could make a move and present a massive cash offer, leaping into the new frontier with the league's best player at the front.