When the Boston Bruins were eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs it didn’t just mark the end of a season but the start of another one. Since then, the players, the management and especially the fans have all voiced that the team isn’t there yet as a strong contender, although it it’s a lot closer than it was a year ago. So how will it get better? History and having a limited number of ways make the answer pretty obvious. The draft is always a preferable way to improve, but most of the players being selected are just 18. Not only does it take years for them to develop, but few if any of the players on the current roster will still be around by the time they’re ready to play at the highest level. Free agency can always be used but for the best players one has to outbid the competition and the salary cap comes into play. More often than not it’s used to fill holes in the lineup or land a certain type of player (like a right-handed shooting defenseman).…