Bruins add former Connor McDavid weapon in hopes of helping out David Pastrnak and Marco Sturm

The Boston Bruins are looking to send a message: last season was a fluke. Vying to turn the tide in the 2025-26 NHL campaign, the Spoked B has started the free agency period with a low-risk, high-reward trade for one of Connor McDavid‘s former teammates. Hope in Boston remains such an acquisition can bolster Marco Sturm’s roster and help out David Pastrnak and company.

The NHL is now cruising through frenetic minutes. The free agency opened on Tuesday morning and the phones haven’t stopped ringing anywhere in the continent. Every team is looking to make a move that will be remembered for generations, and those aren’t only the ones involving household names,

Now, Boston has set the tone. Sturm, Pastrnak, and the team need all the help they can get to compete in the Atlantic Division next season. In order to do so, they have traded for a former Edmonton Oilers, who will play in the Eastern Conference for the first time.

After losing in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, McDavid and the Oilers acknowledged that changes had to be made. Moreover, they needed to clear some cap space after securing Evan Bouchard to a long-term deal. Therefore, moving on from forward Viktor Arvidsson made a lot of sense—even if it pained them to part with a key contributor.

Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Edmonton Oilers eyes the puck during the second period in Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 27, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

According to reporter Conor Ryan, the Bruins only gave up a 2027 fifth round pick to acquire Arvidsson. The 32-year-old is expected in Boston shortly to acclimatize to the Beantown and get familiar with the team’s facilities.

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Contract

Arvidsson is joining the Bruins ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. This will be the final year of the two-year, $8M extension he had signed with the Oilers prior to the past campaign. Whether Boston will hand the veteran a new deal or let him play on a contract year remains to be seen.

Arvidsson’s current contract has an annual cap hit of $4M and it includes a no-movement clause. In order for the trade between Boston and Edmonton to go through, the former Oiler had to waive his NMC.

Stats

Pastrnak and the Bruins are getting an exciting veteran who can fill in almost any line and produce. The 32-year-old has appeared 613 games while recording 389 points.

He can score at a similar rate as he can assist and his career stats reflect that. The former fourth-round pick in 2014 has tallied 194 goals and 195 assists so far in his career. Barring a disaster or a serious injury, Arvidsson should record his 200th goal and assist while donning the Bruins’ colors.