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Ullmark traded, Swayman extended, Elias Lindholm signed: A dream offseason

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Ullmark traded, Swayman extended, Elias Lindholm signed: A dream offseason


The last time Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney had available cash, he spent big. Ahead of the 2021-22 season, the Bruins invested just under $25 million in Taylor Hall, Linus Ullmark, Nick Foligno, Erik Haula, Derek Forbort, Mike Reilly and Tomas Nosek.

A similar shopping spree could be coming. In fact, the Bruins could have nearly the same amount of money if Sweeney can execute his No. 1 summer priority.

Here’s how a dream offseason would unfold:

1. Ullmark is traded. Acquiring Martin Necas from the Carolina Hurricanes would be a big step in reinforcing the offense. But it’s unlikely the Bruins would have the additional assets required to make the deal happen.

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But clearing Ullmark’s $5 million average annual value and receiving futures in return would be a satisfactory conclusion. Perhaps the New Jersey Devils, who have expressed interest in trading the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, would be a landing spot for the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner.

This would clear the way for Jeremy Swayman to be the No. 1 goalie in 2024-25 and Brandon Bussi to be the backup.


Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark seem to have enjoyed their time together, but a split is necessary. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

2. Swayman signs a long-term extension. This is the goal for both parties. Swayman likes being a Bruin. The team has a good trove of data following the playoffs to determine that Swayman, 25, is capable of ace performance. It is a far more productive outcome than Swayman signing an offer sheet.

On Aug. 16, 2021, Juuse Saros signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Nashville Predators. Saros was 26 years old. He had 155 games of NHL experience and a career .920 save percentage. Swayman has 144 NHL appearances and a .920 save percentage.

Using the Saros deal as a baseline, we’ll project a five-year, $30 million contract for Swayman. It gives him security but also a chance at another score. The Bruins get five years of relative certainty in net.

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3. Jake DeBrusk re-signs. Surprise, surprise! Both sides have a change of heart after months of inaction. DeBrusk realizes he’s happy in Boston and comes off his price. The Bruins acknowledge they need his top-six presence and improve their offer. The settlement: five years, $25 million.

4. Elias Lindholm signs. The right-shot center did not make much of an impact with the Vancouver Canucks. As such, his price dips on the open market. The Bruins are more than happy to take advantage.

The 29-year-old is not a line-driving center. But he gives the Bruins another Charlie Coyle-like pivot who can impact play at both ends. Lindholm slots in as the No. 2 center behind Pavel Zacha, moving Coyle back to the third line.

The deal: seven years, $56 million.

5. Tyler Bertuzzi signs. It was a good fit the first time around. It should be just as good on Bertuzzi’s second spin. This time, the Bruins offer the greasy left-shot wing the term he wanted the first time. The 29-year-old, who sparred with Marchand during Round 1, is delighted to rejoin his fellow irritant — and perhaps even ride on his line.

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The deal: four years, $19 million.


Is it time for a Brad Marchand-Tyler Bertuzzi reunion tour? (Claus Andersen / Getty Images)

6. Brad Marchand signs an extension. There is no rush to re-sign the captain. Marchand is under contract for one more season.

But by giving him a new deal, the Bruins put Marchand at ease. There’s risk in signing Marchand, 36, to a multi-year extension. But the Bruins are confident that Marchand’s commitment to training reduces the risk of injury.

As for the left wing, a new contract optimizes his push not just to peak for the Bruins but also to compete for a Canadian roster spot in the 2026 Olympics. It would please Marchand to no end to play on an all-Nova Scotia line with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

The contract: two years, $10 million.

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7. Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov hit the gym hard. Perhaps the biggest reason Poitras cut his rookie season short was that undergoing shoulder surgery in February would set him up for a full training load in the summer. The right-shot center takes advantage of the timing and puts on the muscle needed to turn lost puck battles into wins.

Ditto for Lysell and Merkulov. By becoming stronger on the puck, all three put themselves in line for full-time NHL duty in 2024-25. The Bruins need their skill and cost efficiency on the varsity.

(Top photo of Tyler Bertuzzi and Brad Marchand: Jim Rassol / USA Today)



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What a World Cup ‘fan zone’ is and what Boston fans can expect in 2026

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What a World Cup ‘fan zone’ is and what Boston fans can expect in 2026


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The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.

Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.

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Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>

“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.

Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?

Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?

The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.

“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.

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The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.

Activities at the fan zone

Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:

  • Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
  • Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
  • Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
  • Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.

How to go to the fan zone

While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.

“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.

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Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core?

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Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core?


The Boston Bruins increasingly relied on a new wave of young players in the 2025-26 season. Their speed and energy became an intrinsic part of the team’s structure, complementing a more experienced core. Boston entered the offseason on May 2 after a 4-1 loss to Buffalo in Game 6 of the first round. Despite this, […] The post Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core? appeared first on The Lead.



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Updating Red Sox’s Playoff Chances: Numbers Never Lie | NESN

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Updating Red Sox’s Playoff Chances: Numbers Never Lie | NESN


So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.

Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.

Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.

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“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.

“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.

“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.

So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”

More MLB: Red Sox Legend Backs ‘Worried’ John Henry

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