The NHL trade market for Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie is continuing to grow (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
As the Four Nations Face-Off tournament switches to Boston and begins its second and final week, the Boston Bruins are still trying to figure out what to do with forward Morgan Geekie.
On February 8, RG reported that the potential 2025 restricted free agent was gaining interest in the NHL trade market. According to one NHL executive source on Sunday, that interest has only grown since then.
“I’d say the market is continually growing for him,” the source told RG. “I’m hearing both playoff contenders and teams not likely to make the playoffs are interested. He’s still young enough to even intrigue teams in a rebuild or teams who want to retool and get younger doing so.”
The latter sounds a lot like the 2024-25 Boston Bruins, who continue to indicate both on and off the ice that they’re at least going to be both buyers and sellers, if not straight sellers, leading into the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline. That’s why it’s surprising that the Bruins could trade a player like the 26-year-old Geekie, who was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round (67th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. However, with Geekie exceeding expectations since being put on a line with superstar winger David Pastrnak and center Pavel Zacha, his trade value and RFA value have both increased as of late.
The Bruins signed Geekie to a two-year, $4 million ($2M AAV) contract on July 1, 2023 after the Seattle Kraken decided not to qualify him. Geekie had 17 goals and 22 assists in 76 games in his first season with the Bruins.
“I think the Bruins would still like to sign him, but they also know that depending on what their offseason plans are and may become with the cap going up, he may be out-pricing himself out of those plans,” the same source opined on Geekie who has 17 goals and 12 assists in 52 games.
“On a real contender, he’s looking like a solid middle sixer up front that can play up and down the depth chart,” the source added. “On a rebuilding team, he’s probably a top sixer and a young veteran that helps your rookies and second-year players.”
“I still wouldn’t be surprised if they extend him, but depending on what they could get now, or in the offseason before July 1, it could make more sense to move him,” the source said.
“If you could get an actual body, whether it’s a roster player or a really solid prospect, I’d do it. You’re likely not getting a first-rounder, so with this draft, I’d be looking for a player, not a pick.”
The Bruins currently have just over $2 million in salary cap space, but that will change this week or next when they’re expected to take star defenseman Hampus Lindholm off of long-term injury reserve. Per Puckpedia, that will leave them with $660,011 in salary cap space to deal with as they head into the NHL Trade Deadline. It should be noted though that, with five unrestricted free agents — including captain Brad Marchand — and four restricted free agents — including Geekie — coming off the books, they could have upwards of $25 million in salary cap space this offseason.
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.
