Saturday: The Bruins have made the PTO official with a release on their site this morning. Boston visits the Philadelphia Flyers this evening for their first preseason contest, but it doesn’t appear Stralman will draw in, as he wasn’t skating at practice this morning, details The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa.
Friday: The Bruins have made a late addition to their training camp roster, signing veteran defenseman Anton Stralman to a professional tryout agreement, per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
Stralman had been lingering on the market as an unrestricted free agent to this point, and while some speculated that retirement could be a possibility for the 36-year-old Stralman communicated a clear desire to continue his career.
In Boston, Stralman will vie for a chance to reinforce a blueline that will be without two crucial players at the start of the regular season. Both Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk are expected to remain unavailable by the time the Bruins take on the Capitals on October 12th. This could give Stralman a leg up as he competes for a role on the Bruins’ defense, as the team could prefer to have Stralman, who has nearly 1,000 games of NHL experience, in their lineup rather than less experienced in-house options such as Jakub Zboril or Jack Ahcan.
Stralman isn’t the quality top-four blueliner he once was, but on a talent-poor Arizona Coyotes team last season Stralman scored a healthy 23 points in 74 games and played more than 21 minutes per night. In a more limited role in Boston, he could find success.
For Stralman, this PTO signing leaves him less secure in his future than a regular NHL contract would, but he nonetheless has a strong opportunity in front of him to earn NHL time.
The Bruins are a good team who also, at least on paper, look to have room for him to win a spot on their blueline. If Stralman can have a good camp and show up well in the preseason, he could see himself wearing Bruins colors for longer than just the preseason.
Stralman was a stalwart for the Yotes last year. Wish he had been extended here. He will help the Bruins.
No he won’t.
Stralman also played a great leadership role for the many young LH defensemen — Moser, Dineen, Capobianco and Kolyachonock — that the Coyotes rotated between Tucson and the NHL. He also helped fellow RHD Mayo, who played well with Ghost on the top line.
If he shows up and does well, that makes a good amount of defensive talent available from the Bruins when healthy. They can get by with a group that looks like:
Lindholm-Carlo
Zboril-Stralman
Forbort-Reilly
Clifton
They’re going to look even better when healthy:
Lindholm-McAvoy
Grzelcyk-Carlo
Zboril-Stralman
Depth: Reilly, Forbort, Clifton
May see a surprise deal from this group like Grzelcyk or Carlo instead of Reilly or Clifton. Personally, I think they could acquire maybe a 2nd rounder for Grzelcyk if Zboril looks capable of handling second pair minutes.
Also, you heard it here first but if Mast looks good in training camp too he could end up replacing Carlo down the road as another potential cap casualty. Probably a next summer move though.
I’m intrigued with moving Carlo because I think he would net at least a first rounder plus free up space to maybe make a move at a top-tier centerman if one ends up on the market and one or both Krejci/Bergy retire as anticipated. Only would do this if Mast looks good though.
Didn’t even consider Lohrei may need a spot too for next year. There are so many potential moving parts to this roster it’s going to be fun to watch.
Trade Carlo +Studnicka + 3rd for Horvat
Don’t type so much. Be more concise.
Yes, you’ve certainly added a ton of value to this conversation.
Lohrei will probably be in Providence for a year.
I’d make that trade minus the third for Schmaltz with Arizona, or add Debrusk and Reilly plus a first for Chychrun and Schmaltz.
It’s crazy how much of a potential domino effect this one PTO signing may have moving forward.
No it isn’t.
Bruins writer Ty Anderson reported that two days ago, why give the credit to LeBrun?
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