To say that General Manager Don Sweeney and his staff were busy on the first day of the NHL Free Agency period is an understatement. Let’s look at what was facing the team and what has transpired so far:
Both the Boston Bruins and the Providence Bruins are going to look different when the pucks drop on their respective 2023-2024 seasons.
Let’s look at who is out beginning with Providence.
OUT
Chris Wagner – signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Jack Ahcan – signed a two-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
Kai Wissmann – signed a two-year deal with Eisbaren Berlin in Germany.
Joona Koppanen – signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Vinni Lettieri – signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Josiah Didier – signed a wo-year AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins.
Samuel Asselin – was not tendered his qualifying offer.
Matt Filipe – Group 6 UFA who was not signed.
Nick Wolff – Group 6 UFA who was not signed.
Connor Carrick – UFA who was not signed.
Alex Olivier Voyer, Grant Gabriele, JD Greenway, and Jacob Wilson are all on expiring AHL deals and have yet to sign.
That’s a large amount of turnover and it is only slightly better with the big club. Who is out on the Boston roster:
Dmitry Orlov – signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes with an AAV of $7,750,000.
Garnet Hathaway – signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers with an AAV of $2,375,000.
Connor Clifton – signed a three-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres with an AAV of $3,333,333.
Tyler Bertuzzi – UFA who likely can not be retained at this point.
Tomas Nosek – UFA who won’t be retained.
Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno traded to Chicago Blackhawks.
Of course, we are awaiting the looming decisions of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci and whether Sweeney can lock up restricted free agents Jakub Lauko, Trent Frederic and Jeremy Swayman.
Sweeney did bring in a lot of bodies on day one of free agency and the days leading up to it and it remains to be seen who has a shot at the big club and who is destined for Providence. Here are the players added:
Milan Lucic – signed a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1,000,000 with $500,000 in potential bonuses.
Morgan Geekie – signed a two-year deal with an AAV of $2,000,000.
James van Riemsdyk – signed a one-year deal with an AAV of $1,000,000.
Patrick Brown – signed a two-year deal with an AAV of $800,000.
Jayson Megna – signed a one-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $775,000.
Kevin Shattenkirk – signed a one-year deal with an AAV of $1,050,000.
Parker Wotherspoon – signed a one-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $775,000.
Anthony Richard – signed a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $775,000.
Luke Toporowski – signed a two-year, two-way ELC with an AAV of $870,000. Was on an AHL deal.
Sweeney also brought in Reilly Walsh, Ian Michell and Alec Regula via trade. It should be noted that of all the signings, they can all be sent to Providence without counting towards the cap with the exception of Geekie.
How the lineups shape up is a little clearer today but there will be some movement of course. How the lines and pairings look are still up in the air.
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Dom - Hockey 