Sweeney’s confidence in orchestrating a retool on the fly as opposed to a larger overhaul felt hopeful, especially given the number of players shipped out in a few days.

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By the time the trade deadline finally passed on March 7, the Bruins had executed seven trades in four days — trading lineup regulars Trent Frederic, Justin Brazeau, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, and captain Brad Marchand.

For Sweeney, that deluge of deals stood as the best path forward to replenish a barren prospect pipeline.

The subsequent plummet down the standings helped the Bruins secure a top-10 pick — landing BC center James Hagens (11 points in 11 games this season with the Eagles).

But Hagens has been far from the only promising byproduct drawn out of a season of misery.

As painful as it might have been for some Bruins fans to see Marchand hoist the Stanley Cup for rival Florida, the Bruins’ haul of picks, players, and prospects is already starting to offer plenty of promise.

Here’s a look back at a few the Bruins’ trade-deadline deals:

To Edmonton: Trent Frederic, Max Jones; To Boston: Max Wanner, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 fourth-round pick

Rather than sign pending UFA Frederic to a new long-term deal, the Bruins parted ways with the former third-line stalwart, with the top return being a 2025 second-round pick.

With that selection, the Bruins added another promising pivot in BC center Will Moore. Moore has the makings of a dependable two-way middle-six forward.

Frederic struggled to get going last season with the Oilers after returning from injury, scoring one goal and three assists during Edmonton’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers handed Frederic an eight-year, $30.8 million contract this summer, but the 27-year-old hasn’t lived up his billing as a pugnacious forward capable of delivering some scoring punch.

To Minnesota: Justin Brazeau; To Boston: Marat Khusnutdinov, Jakub Lauko, 2026 sixth-round pick

With Brazeau’s scoring production dipping last season (10 goals in 57 games), the Bruins opted to flip the pending free agent to the Wild, with the top return thus far being shifty forward Marat Khusnutdinov.

After toiling in more of a fourth-line role in Minnesota, Khusnutdinov’s speed and puck skills have allowed him to thrive in Boston.

The 23-year-old has helped the Bruins absorb the loss of No. 1 Elias Lindholm, scoring three goals and two assists over the last eight games.

Khusnutdinov will likely be bumped back down the lineup once Lindholm returns. But the Russian sure doesn’t look like a fourth-line grinder moving forward.

To Florida: Brad Marchand; To Boston: 2027 first-round pick

The Bruins likely aren’t going “win” this trade, not with Marchand playing an essential role in the Panthers’ second straight Stanley Cup title.

Ideally, the Bruins would have preferred having possession of the Panthers’ 2026 first-round pick — given that the Panthers’ record this season is relatively pedestrian.

To Colorado: Charlie Coyle, 2026 fifth-round pick; To Boston: Casey Mittelstadt, 2025 second-round pick, Will Zellers

With the win-now Avalanche desperate to add center depth behind Nathan MacKinnon, they paid a premium to acquire Brock Nelson and Coyle at the trade deadline.

Coyle did post 13 points in 17 games with Colorado during the stretch run, but he only scored one postseason goal as the Avalanche were bounced by the Stars in the first round of the playoffs. With the Avalanche in need of cap space, they traded Coyle to Columbus this summer.

While Coyle’s tenure in Colorado was short-lived, Boston took advantage of a seller’s market by adding a roster player in Mittelstadt, a 2025 second-round pick, and a promising prospect in Will Zellers.

After an underwhelming debut with Boston in 2024-25, Mittelstadt has been a solid playmaking option, posting nine points over 15 games.

Signed through the 2026-27 season at a $5.75 million cap hit, the 26-year-old could either hold court as a solid middle-six option on this team — or serve as a potential trade chip this spring.

With that 2025 second-round pick (61st overall), Boston selected left-shot defenseman Liam Pettersson, who is currently in the Swedish Hockey League’s under-20 division.

But the crown jewel of this return might be Zellers — a 2024 third-round pick who has stuffed the stat sheet over the last two years. After earning USHL Player of the Year honors in 2024-25, Zellers’s scoring touch has translated to the college ranks.

Zellers has been one of the top freshman scorers on a sixth-ranked North Dakota squad, lighting the lamp seven times and adding four assists.

To Toronto: Brandon Carlo; To Boston: Fraser Minten, 2025 fourth-round pick, 2026 conditional first-round pick

Fans banking on the Bruins getting involved in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes after that six-game skid might have to adjust their expectations.

But could the Bruins be a competitive club this season, and still secure a top-10 pick in a very deep 2026 draft?

When the Bruins sent a former top-four stalwart in Carlo to the Leafs, it looked as though Boston and Toronto were heading in opposite directions. That sentiment might have flipped just 20 games into this season.

Already hampered by the offseason departure of top playmaker Mitch Marner, Toronto’s defense and goaltending has seemingly imploded.

Anthony Stolarz (.884 save percentage) has regressed in net, Auston Matthews is banged up, and Carlo has not fit the bill as a true shutdown defenseman.

Even if the Maple Leafs do right the ship somewhat, the Bruins are still well in line to add another top prospect to their system in June, even if that first-rounder lands in the teens.

Boston also added an intriguing defenseman in Vashek Blanar with Toronto’s 2025 fourth-round pick — with the 6-foot-5-inch blue liner showcasing some of his playmaking poise during Development Camp this summer.

The trade also is paying direct dividends to this Bruins team, as 21-year-old Fraser Minten is looking the part as a middle-six stalwart.

The case can be made that a one-for-one swap of Carlo and Minten already looking like a win for the Bruins.

Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.