Boston and New York are exploring more than just Jean-Gabriel Pageau in NHL trade talks (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Recently reported NHL trade talks between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders have focused on more than just Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The source confirmed to RG that a recent report by Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner, which stated that the Bruins have expressed interest in Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, is accurate. However, according to this source, the trade talks between the two Eastern Conference teams — who both missed the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs — are expanding beyond Pageau.
“Much more than that. The seventh overall pick has been discussed too, and not just with the Islanders,” the source told RG.
“That’s not a surprise, but considering where some people are saying [James] Hagens has fallen to, the Islanders and Bruins make a lot of sense there.”
Long Island native and Boston College center James Hagens has dropped out of the top five in some of the latest NHL Draft rankings, including one by longtime TSN NHL Draft insider Craig Button.
“I know they [Islanders] are being creative and looking at multiple options,” the source told RG. “Why not keep the top pick, get [Matt] Schaefer and Hagens somehow? Do the Bruins want to jump to one? Of course, but I’m not sure they’re willing to offer up what that would take. I know the Bruins believe they can turn the seventh pick into a solid player for their roster this coming season. What that means as far as the Islanders’ roster is concerned, I don’t know.”
One current Islanders player that RG confirmed the Bruins have had prior interest in is restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson, who continues to be at the center of NHL trade speculation. The 25-year-old, 6-foot-4, 194-pound right-shot defenseman was a hot commodity at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but then-general manager Lou Lamoriello held onto Dobson.
RG has not been able to confirm which way the Bruins are trying to go in these trade talks with the Islanders, but as the source above — who confirmed they’re discussing their first-round pick with the Islanders — pointed out, it’s going to take a lot more than just that seventh overall pick to pry away the top pick overall, which all rankings currently say will be Schaefer.
“They would need one of their current top-six forwards or top-four defensemen in a package for that top pick,” the aforementioned source said.
Last week, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and director of amateur scouting Ryan Nadeau sent out smoke signals that the seventh overall pick was in play. RG was later able to confirm that the Bruins had indeed made it known that their first top-10 pick since drafting now–New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton ninth overall in 2011 was available.
“Based on what I’m hearing, their goal is to move up into the top five. But if they can’t do that, with the drop-off after the top five, they would like to use the seventh overall pick in a trade package that could get them a player for their lineup now,” an NHL source told RG last week.
“They think they can use those other picks to restock their system and then really draft an impact player next year in what’s a much deeper draft. That’s not to say they don’t wind up using this pick, but at this point, it’s a question mark at best.”
James Murphy
With 24 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, ESPN Boston, NESN, NHL.com, etc.) covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA and junior hockey, and more, Jimmy Murphy’s hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a wide array of hockey media personalities that have lived in and around this great game. For 22 of his 24 years as a hockey and sports reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins on a daily basis, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals. Murphy is currently a co-host, along with Pierre McGuire, on The Eye Test Podcast.
