While the Bruins have kept a low profile during this year’s free-agent frenzy, don’t expect the same laid-back approach next year. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stated on the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast that he believes the Bruins are strategically saving cap space to make a big splash in free agency next offseason.
The Bruins have made a few moves so far this summer, including a trade for veteran Viktor Arvidsson and signing winger Tanner Jeannot to a five-year deal worth $3.4MM per season. But as the team moves on from the Zdeno Chara/Patrice Bergeron/Brad Marchand era, they’ll aim to be strategic about adding pieces to a roster anchored by building blocks like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy.
“If some of these guys who are supposed to be free agents next year (reach free agency), whether they get one or not, I think Boston wants to have the opportunity to take a shot at one of those guys,” Friedman said. “So, if you’ll notice, they didn’t really do much to hamstring themselves in the future. They got Arvidsson on a one-year deal. Traded for him, gave up a late-round pick, one-year deal. Aside from Jeannot, they didn’t take any massive swings.”
While many were puzzled by the contract given to Jeannot, Friedman pointed out how competitive the market was for the physical forward. Though a five-year deal north of $3MM per year is steep for a player coming off a 13-point season, the 27-year-old has produced four 200-plus hit seasons and could take on the enforcer role currently filled by key players like defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Jeannot also fits the mold of the type of players GM Don Sweeney noted he’d like to bring in to make the Bruins harder to play against.
“Yes, it’s a five-year deal. But the number isn’t going to hurt you. Another thing I heard is that at least 10 teams were after him. I heard the competition for Jeannot was fierce. The Rangers were in it. I heard Ottawa was in it. He fit with Toronto and what Toronto likes. And there’s just not a lot of guys like him around anymore,” he said.
The biggest addition the Bruins made this offseason, Friedman noted, was selecting James Hagens with the seventh overall pick. While many believed at this time last year that Hagens was destined to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft, he slipped to seventh after producing less than expected in the NCAA. Still, Hagens game may be more NHL-ready than any of his peers in this draft class.
Does anyone even look at the Bruins cap situation before making these predictions? Bruins are currently $2.5 million under the cap and aside from the $4 million coming off for Arvidsson they have virtually all of the same commitments after next season as they do today. Unless they start dumping salaries there will be no room to take big swings at big name free agents.
The cap will go up again next season to $104.million. That gives the Bruins a little more room. Peeke’s $2.75 million comes off the books as well. They’ll also have guys like Zacha & Mittlestadt who will be on the last year of their contracts and one could be moved out for more cap space. The Bruins should have enough cap space to go after one big named free agent.
That’s the craziest thing: You look at Boston’s roster and think, “Well, that’s a mostly terrible collection of 4th-liners, they must have oodles of cap space.” Then you realize, “Oh, crap, they only have $2.5 million in cap space left! Yikes!”
By the time the Bruins are serious contenders again, Sweeney will be on the couch, Neely will be a bad memory, And Pastrnak will be on another team, If not retired.
They will have $8m come off the books next summer (not including Poitras, who they can keep around with the $2.5m current cap space), plus the $9m that every team will get. That’s enough for Eichel or another top forward who will join Pastrnak, McAvoy, the two Lindholms, Geekie, Zadorov, Jeannot, and Swayman as the core signed thru 2030. Hagens and other young players should help fill out the rest of the roster. It’s not bulletproof but it’s not bad.