The Boston Bruins will have to decide what to do with players who have contracts expiring and those who are leaving other clubs and might be available to them in the NHL Free Agency, which begins on July 1.
The players with expiring contracts and their respective importance to the organization were taken into consideration when we listed the top 10 most significant Boston Bruins free agents earlier this month.
This time, we’ll discuss ten free players who Boston could find appealing from other clubs. The Bruins’ top three needs are a left-shot defenseman, a top-six forward (or two), and maybe a backup goaltender for Jeremy Swayman. These are not listed in any particular order.
Every day until the start of free agency, a new name will be featured.
Today, we go back to the front and examine Elias Lindholm and Brenden Dillon.
Is a reunion in the works one year after the drama of Tyler Bertuzzi’s free agency destination during the previous offseason?
Arriving in Boston around the 2023 Trade Deadline from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a first- and fourth-round pick, Bertuzzi’s brash on-ice persona and offensive output immediately won over Boston supporters, adding even more depth to the record-breaking 65-win Bruins of 2022–23.
Bertuzzi (five goals, five assists) and Brad Marchand shared the club scoring lead in the playoffs despite Boston’s surprise loss to the Florida Panthers in the first round the previous season. Simultaneously, he played a significant role in the Bruins’ team-wide turnover problems, which in the end helped Florida rally from a 3-1 deficit in the series.
There was a shared desire to reach an agreement on a new deal when free agency rolled around, but the Bruins were ultimately unable to satisfy Bertuzzi’s expectations and had to bolster their squad with cheap additions like Morgan Geekie, James van Riemsdyk, and finally Danton Heinen. In the meanwhile, Bertuzzi signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs after failing to find a long-term partner.
After a year, Bertuzzi did not have the finest season, but he did record his third career 20 goals and 20 assists. The Bruins could try to smooth things out with Bertuzzi since they will have more salary money to deal with this summer and Jake DeBrusk’s Boston tenure appears to be coming to an end.
This season, the Bruins managed to function without him just fine, but his output in his little time in Boston is remarkable. His 16 points in 21 games during the regular season equates to 68 points across the season’s 82 games. Only David Pastrnak (110) had more on the 2023–24 Bruins, with Marchand coming in closest at 67. Bertuzzi’s scoring rate with Toronto last season was obviously lower than that, but his experience in Boston makes him a compelling choice.
A four-year deal of $21.1 million is what AFPAnalytics anticipates, which would be a substantial investment. But with DeBrusk about to go, the Bruins could be forced to choose “the Devil they know” given the unpredictability of the free agency market.
