Filip Hronek is one of the top candidates to become the next captain of the Vancouver Canucks after signing an eight-year contract extension two offseasons ago â but it looks like the Boston Bruins at least considered making a massive offer for the versatile defenseman this summer.
The first episode of Season 14 of âÂÂBehind the Bâ was released on YouTube on Friday, and roughly halfway through the 21-minute video, a screen behind general manager Don Sweeney displayed a potential trade framework.
The package featured Boston's first-round selections in 2027 and 2028, along with defense prospect Liam Pettersson. Those three pieces were shown heading to the Canucks, with Hronek returning to the Bruins.
Whether the proposal was ever formally discussed with Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson remains unclear, but the footage indicates Boston at least considered the possibility.
The last few seasons have been tumultuous for the Canucks, with multiple star players being traded out of town. That exodus began with Bo Horvat and eventually included JT Miller and Quinn Hughes, among others.
After winning the Pacific Division in 2023-24 â and taking the eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers to seven games in Round 2 of the postseason â Vancouver has missed the playoffs in each of the last two years.
The Canucks were the NHL's worst club in 2025-26, and not by a small margin, winning just 25 of 82 games. The rebuild is now in full swing in British Columbia, although Hronek has expressed a desire to remain with the team after arriving in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings in March 2023.
Article Continues BelowStill, the Bruins could certainly use a player of Hronek's caliber. Since trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston has lacked another top-four, right-shot defenseman to support Charlie McAvoy. A potential Rasmus Andersson trade with the Calgary Flames fell through at last year's deadline, leaving a significant hole on the right side of the blue line.
Hronek, 28, remains in his prime after finishing with 49 points over a full 82-game slate while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time per contest. He owns a full no-movement clause through the 2027-28 season, meaning he would need to approve any trade before then.
The Canucks don't appear to have any immediate plans to move him, and it wouldn't be surprising if Hronek were named the franchise's next captain this season or next. He was also excellent for Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and has now appeared in 533 career NHL games.
It'll be interesting to see whether the Bruins continue pursuing a top-pairing defenseman â Hronek or otherwise â during the 2026-27 campaign.
Boston opens its season against the New York Rangers at TD Garden on Sept. 29.

