Bruins Sign Max Jones, Jordan Oesterle, Three Others

The Bruins have signed winger Max Jones in free agency, the team announced. It’s a two-year deal, per Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub. He’ll earn $1MM per season, Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reports. Jones became a UFA after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ducks yesterday. Additionally, Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub reports they’re signing veteran depth defender Jordan Oesterle to a two-year, two-way deal.

Boston later announced they’ve also signed forward Riley Tufte to a one-year contract.. They’ve also signed 28-year-old right-shot defenseman Billy Sweezey to a two-year, two-way deal with a $775K cap hit, per PuckPedia. Anderson also reports they’re signing former Lightning forward Cole Koepke to a two-way deal.

Jones showed some flashes of being an impactful power forward with Anaheim but struggled with injuries and consistency.  The 26-year-old played in 52 games last season, picking up five goals and ten assists while picking up a career-high 127 hits which wasn’t enough to earn his qualifier.  Jones will likely play a similar role with Boston as he did with the Ducks, playing an energy role in their bottom six.

Oesterle had been a full-timer on an NHL roster for six straight years before last season.  He inked a one-year deal with Calgary last summer but split the season between the Flames and AHL Wranglers.  The 32-year-old had two assists in 22 games with Calgary but was much more productive in the minors, picking up 19 points in 30 games.  Oesterle should have a chance to battle for a spot at the end of Boston’s roster in training camp but is likely ticketed for AHL Providence to start next season.

Tufte comes over after spending a year in Colorado’s system.  The 26-year-old got into five games with the Avs last season, picking up a goal and an assist.  He was one of the top scorers for the AHL Eagles, tallying 23 goals and 22 assists in 67 contests.  Standing 6’6, Tufte could get a look on Boston’s fourth line in training camp but otherwise should be in line for a big role with Providence as well.

Sweezey spent the last three seasons with Columbus, primarily playing with AHL Cleveland.  The 28-year-old got into 57 games with the Monsters last season, picking up a goal and three assists along with 73 penalty minutes and will be counted on to play a similar role on the third pairing in Providence.  Sweezey also has nine career NHL appearances under his belt, all in the 2022-23 campaign.

Koepke, meanwhile, got into nine games with the Lightning last season, picking up two assists along with 23 hits despite averaging less than seven minutes a night.  He was a capable secondary scorer at the AHL level as well, recording 20 goals and 19 assists in 53 contests.  The 26-year-old has 26 career NHL games to his credit where he has three points.  It’s expected he’ll start with Providence as well unless he lands a spot on Boston’s fourth line in the fall.