Boston’s Future on the Block: Lohrei Trade Talk Exposes Front Office Confusion
If there wasn’t chatter about the Boston Bruins potentially trading defenseman Mason Lohrei, there probably is now. After NHL insider Elliotte Friedman brought up the young blueliner in his recent written 32 Thoughts column, there is chatter that the Bruins might be ready to move on.
Friedman wrote:
“I don’t know that there’s anything going on trade-wise with Mason Lohrei. But I do know that when a talented, young player like him sits four games in a row, others call and ask what’s up.”
Lohrei has struggled defensively this season, but remains an interesting offensive player. He has recorded six points in 11 games, but his inconsistent play has led Bruins coach Marco Sturm to scratch him in the last four matchups.
The Bruins have won all four games.
While Sturm stresses the move is a “reset” to help Lohrei improve and catch a breath — which can often be a good idea for a young player — , trade speculation is growing. Friedman wonders if other teams are inquiring about the young blueliner.
It would be an interesting decision if the Bruins were open to the idea, especially considering they’re mandate should be to get younger and build for the future. Trading Lohrei would be a move that points the team in an opposite direction. That is, unless they traded him for a player of the same age and at roughly the same point in his career.
Having said that, Friedman did not say that he’s heard any trade rumblings. In 2024-25, Lohrei set career highs with five goals, 28 assists, and 33 points. It appears he will sit for his fifth straight game on Thursday night.
Pavel Zacha saves Bruins with overtime winner against Ottawa
Pavel Zacha scored with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to propel the Boston Bruins past the visiting Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Thursday night.
Zacha stuffed home a loose rebound in front of the crease after Charlie McAvoy's hard net drive for the deciding goal, sending Boston to its fifth consecutive win and avenging a 7-2 loss to its Atlantic Division rival on Oct. 27.
Sean Kuraly and Morgan Geekie also scored, Andrew Peeke had two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 20 saves for the Bruins.
Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist to lead Ottawa, which has gone four straight without a regulation win (1-1-2). Michael Amadio also scored his third goal in four games.
Senators goalie Linus Ullmark stopped 22 shots.
Boston led 25-22 in shots on goal. Neither side scored on the power play.
Boston forward Johnny Beecher was not on the bench to start the second period and did not return due to an upper-body injury.
Boston held a 9-2 shot advantage in the first, but trailed the game 1-0 after Amadio rushed down the right wing and buried Shane Pinto's pass in transition for the opening tally at the 5:42 mark. The goal came on Ottawa's first shot.
Geekie brought the visitors even just 1:22 into a physical middle frame. After Peeke's drive from the right circle clanked off the far post, Geekie slotted the carom into the net for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Kuraly gave the Bruins their first lead with 3:57 left in the second, taking Tanner Jeannot's perfect centering pass and burying a wrist shot while alone in the slot.
The visitors knotted the score with 8:08 left in regulation. Just as an Ottawa power play expired, Giroux slid down the left wing circle to sneak a shot through traffic and past Korpisalo.
Ullmark made one of his biggest stops inside the final five minutes, using his pad to deny Henri Jokiharju's open wrist shot from close range.
Earlier in the 3-on-3 session, Korpisalo went post-to-post to take a shot away from Pinto. David Pastrnak's odd-man chance with Geekie drew a slash with 41.9 seconds left, but the Boston power play was negated off the ensuing faceoff with Geekie taking a penalty.
BREAKING: J.J. McCarthy’s Locker Room Speech Sparks Controversy
J.J. McCarthy passionately nodded his head, not blinking as he listened to his head coach's speech. As the Minnesota Vikings' second-year quarterback made his way in front of his excited teammates, he clapped his hands together and let out a roar.
In the video, Kevin O'Connell stressed what it took for McCarthy to get back on the field and how much the team is in his corner. McCarthy, who'd been out for six weeks with an ankle injury, had just helped the Vikings to a 27-24 win over the NFC North rival Detroit Lions. He explained his focus as the moment went viral, with some fans accusing him of putting on a show.
"I feel like I do (change on game day)," McCarthy said on Wednesday. "There's definitely a level of a switch that gets flipped. I call him 'Nine.' Nine comes out and I gotta understand, 'Okay, he can't be at his peak performance throughout three and a half hours, so how do I find little ways on the sideline?' You know, get back to my breath, get back to my visualization that could kinda maintain that intense, competitive stamina throughout the whole game. But, yeah, it's just the pure will of determination to get the job done."
McCarthy went 14 for 25 for 143 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the victory. It marked the second win of his career, with the previous being in September at the Chicago Bears. He was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, taken after Caleb Williams (No. 1, Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (No. 2, Washington Commanders) and Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8, Atlanta Falcons).
