Bruins
The Bruins did not make a significant splash, opting so as to add depth with a handful of signings on Saturday.
Don Sweeney entered the primary day of free company with a bit of over $13 million in cap area.
The extra area from the Mike Reilly buyout and the commerce with the Blackhawks involving Taylor Corridor and Nick Foligno wasn’t sufficient to lure again Dmitry Orlov or Tyler Bertuzzi, two of Boston’s prized acquisitions ultimately yr’s commerce deadline. Even a commerce involving Linus Ullmark or Matt Grzelcyk — or each — would’ve introduced important challenges in conserving no less than certainly one of Orlov or Bertuzzi.
Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic, two of Boston’s prime RFA’s, are due for raises. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci proceed to ponder over doubtlessly returning for one more potential run at hoisting the Cup for the second time of their prolific careers.
The flat cap didn’t present any favors. However Sweeney tried to make no matter he may out of one other difficult scenario. With that in thoughts, the Boston GM went to the cut price bin to fill some wants.
The Bruins introduced a plethora of signings on the primary day of free company. Sweeney addressed the bottom-six scenario after including Morgan Geekie (two years at $2 million per season), Patrick Brown (two years, $800,000 per season), and a returning Milan Lucic (one-year, $1 million plus bonuses). Boston additionally added James van Riemsdyk (one-year, $1 million) to fill a net-front want and signed Kevin Shattenkirk (one-year, $1 million) to supply defensive depth after Orlov and Connor Clifton departed for Carolina and Buffalo, respectively.
The Bruins additionally introduced two-way contracts for forwards Jayson Menga, Anthony Richard, and Luke Toporoski and defenseman Parker Wotherspoon.
The busiest day of the NHL low season is within the books. However the Bruins nonetheless have loads of work forward between now and the beginning of coaching camp.
However for now, listed here are a number of takeaways from Saturday’s free company frenzy.
With no room for splashes, Sweeney opts for depth.
The Bruins’ cap scenario compelled Orlov to look elsewhere. In the end, the now-former Bruin signed a two-year take care of Carolina with an annual $7.75 million cap hit.
Bertuzzi hadn’t signed by the point Sweeney spoke to the media at Warrior Ice Enviornment. However Boston’s GM confirmed they had been out of the Bertuzzi sweepstakes.
With out wage flexibility, the Bruins wanted to fill their vacancies with out straining their assets to re-sign their certified RFAs, together with Swayman, Frederic and Jakub Lauko, whereas additionally offering sufficient area for Bergeron and or Krejci in the event that they determine to return.
As at the moment constructed, the Bruins aren’t as deep as final season.
Lucic, van Riemsdyk, Brown, Shattenkirk, and Geekie aren’t essentially upgrades from the deep core Sweeney constructed final yr.
At 24, Geekie gives probably the most upside of Saturday’s signees after a productive two-year stint as a bottom-six anchor, tallying 50 factors over 142 video games with the Kraken. He may discover himself in an elevated position after averaging practically 11 minutes of time on ice throughout his 4 NHL seasons.
Lucic helped usher in a brand new period of Bruins hockey throughout his first stint from 2007-15. van Riemsdyk developed right into a bonafide top-six energy ahead throughout the 2010s with Philadelphia and Toronto. Shattenkirk grew right into a stable, two-way defenseman throughout his St. Louis tenure. All three arrive in Boston with their prime years behind them.
Certainly, the Bruins will doubtless encounter some rising pains. However they’ll have a number of extra veterans to assist ease their transitional interval as a few of Boston’s pipeline, together with Mason Loheri, Fabian Lysell, John Beecher, Marc McLaughlin, and Georgii Merkulov, try to determine a footing with the massive membership both in a possible full-time position or callup obligation.
“I don’t suppose you ever really feel comfy with the place you sit in July,” Sweeney mentioned to reporters in Brighton. “You may have lots of if, ands, or buts, however with the congestion of {the marketplace} because it pertains to the cap and the place we had been, I believe we did lots of the issues that we got down to do in addressing the depth total of our membership… Now we have loads of alternative for youthful youngsters to return in and take their place in the event that they earn it, however we’ve additionally complemented the group with gamers we felt we wanted to fill some holes and handle some wants.”
Sweeney ‘excited’ about Swayman and Ullmark returning.
Ullmark and Swayman turned hooked up to the hip upon the previous arriving from Buffalo throughout free company two years in the past. But, Boston’s cap scenario practically broke up certainly one of hockey’s prime goaltending duos.
Barring a snag within the Swayman negotiations or accepting a possible commerce provide for Ullmark they will’t refuse, the Bruins will doubtless enter the third season of the Ullmark/Swayman tandem. And given the projected roster outlook, they may depend on their two top-tier netminders and a nonetheless stable defensive core to hold the membership by the early portion of the upcoming marketing campaign.
“We’re enthusiastic about having him and Linus,” Sweeney mentioned. “It type of solidifies, you recognize, takes away the guesswork of whether or not or not we’ve to deal with one other want, that’s for darn certain. We really feel very comfy and wish to take one other step. We wish to see each of them take one other step. That’s God’s trustworthy fact.”
The Bruins will doubtless have their goaltending tandem again for opening night time. However will Boston even have two of its prime facilities in franchise historical past after they start their one hundredth season on Oct. 11?
Krejci and Bergeron will proceed to take their time.
The Bruins managed to fill holes with out overpaying for any of Saturday’s free-agent additions. But, they’ll enter the canine days of summer season ready for affirmation from Bergeron and Krejci.
Bergeron hasn’t commented publicly about his future since breakup day.
Krejci additionally hasn’t spoken since clearing out his locker in early Could. However a report from his native Czechia hinted at Krejci doubtlessly returning to his nation halfway by the season and representing the Czechs when the IIHF holds their annual world championships in Prague subsequent spring.
After all, Sweeney would love affirmation from Bergeron and Krejci sooner fairly than later. However as soon as once more, he’ll permit the 2 with time and area to make their closing choices.
“Once more, I’ve had conversations with Patrice and David. They’ll point out with us what their timeline is,” Sweeney mentioned.
“I can neither affirm or deny both of these studies as a result of I’ve not heard from David whether or not or not he’s contemplating it. When you’re asking my private opinion, I’d be stunned if he would, you recognize, based mostly on what he went by in coming again and actually having fun with his time. He’s been fairly constant in saying that if he’s taking part in the NHL, he’s taking part in for Boston. And Patrice has been very constant saying he’s going to take on a regular basis he must make the very best determination for him and his household.”
The bonus incentive offers Bergeron and Krejci signed final season didn’t assist Boston’s cap scenario. However with the cap ceiling anticipated to extend to round $87 million in 2024-25, the Bruins wouldn’t encounter as a lot of a monetary burden if one or each return.
The place Boston’s cap scenario stands.
The Bruins have extra cap area after the primary day of free company than they did one week in the past. However the wage shedding got here at a value, with two middle-six cogs in Corridor and Bertuzzi and a top-four defenseman in Orlov departing.
Whereas Saturday’s additions didn’t precisely transfer the needle on paper, Sweeney gained some rapid and long-term wage flexibility. The Bruins at the moment have $6.2 million in cap area, based on CapFriendly
Their cap scenario stays tight. However after sitting with simply $4.9 million in cap area earlier than the Corridor commerce, Sweeney may have a bit of extra wiggle room to deliver again Bergeron and Krejci — in the event that they return — and solidify new offers for Frederic and Swayman.
If something, the Bruins improved their cap prospectus as a possible burgeoning free agent pool looms in 2024-25. Matt Grzelcyk and Jake DeBrusk enter the ultimate yr of their contracts, and each would command a good increase in the event that they determined to hit the open market.
Different intriguing potential UFAs for subsequent season embrace Auston Matthews, Steven Stamkos, Elias Lindholm, and William Nylander (to call a number of). Relying on circumstances, the Bruins may discover themselves in a super place to land a top-six cog and solidify their depth down the center for the post-Bergeron and Krejci period.
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