There’s still time before qualifying offers are due on June 29, but rest assured the internal debates over who to keep and who to cut loose are already well underway. And just to add a little intrigue, teams get a one‑day window on June 30 to speak with other clubs’ restricted free agents — though they can’t actually sign an offer sheet until noon on July 1.
Let’s be clear about one thing right out of the gate: there’s no real threat of another team swooping in with an offer sheet for any of the Bruins’ restricted free agents.
With the forecasting out of the way, it’s time to dig into the Bruins’ restricted free agents — their qualifying offers, and what the organization’s intentions might be as the deadline approaches.
Much to the chagrin of many fans, Lukas Reichel has already signed.
Jordan Harris – defenseman – qualifying offer: $866,250 – Arbitration eligible – Requires waivers
An early‑season injury, followed by a string of healthy scratches, limited Harris to just eight regular‑season games and a single playoff appearance. While his regular‑season minutes were serviceable, that lone postseason showing left plenty to be desired.
A lot hinges on what Don Sweeney can accomplish this offseason — and on whether the Bruins believe Frederic Brunet is ready for regular NHL duty or even a seventh‑defenseman role. At his qualifying offer or at the league minimum ($850,000), Harris remains a perfectly reasonable depth option if the club chooses to keep him in the mix.
Harris is eligible for player elected salary arbitration however, I don’t see that as an option for him because of the season he just had.
Matthew Poitras – center – qualifying offer: $813,750 – Not eligible for arbitration – Requires waivers
Whether the Bruins plan to give him a legitimate shot at an NHL roster spot or use him as a trade chip, qualifying Poitras is a no‑brainer. He still carries real value around the league, and failing to qualify him would rank among the worst cases of roster mismanagement in recent memory.
Poitras went to Providence and checked every box the organization put in front of him. He’s one of the most dedicated workers in the system, and few can match the effort he brings to trying to carve out an NHL career. There’s some risk if he doesn’t make the Boston roster — he’ll require waivers to be sent back down — but the greater risk by far would be failing to qualify him.
Poitras is not eligible for salary arbitration.
Riley Duran – center/right wing – qualifying offer: $813,750 – Arbitration eligible – Waiver exempt
Don’t mistake Duran for a point producer — he’s never profiled as that type of player, even dating back to his college days. What he does bring is a relentless motor, an effective forecheck, and the ability to tilt the ice in the right direction. And in his two NHL appearances, he showed those same traits without hesitation.
Barring a wave of injuries, there’s no realistic path for Duran to crack the NHL roster in the near term. But Boston still needs to ice a competitive AHL lineup, and with his energy, forechecking, and reliability, he’d be an ideal fit in Providence. He’s also waiver‑exempt — not that waivers would be much of a concern — making the decision to bring him back a straightforward one.
Duran is eligible for arbitration, but not a realistic path for him to take.
Alexis Gendron – center/RW – Qualifying offer: $813,750 – Not eligible for arbitration – Waivers exempt
Gendron arrived at the trade deadline and managed just ten regular‑season games and one playoff appearance in Providence. He’s been a reliable goal scorer at every level he’s played, but the limited runway after the deal didn’t give him much time to adjust to the Bruins’ system.
If the Bruins bring him back, he’s ticketed for Providence, not Boston. But at just 22, it’s in everyone’s best interest to give him at least another year to see whether there’s something to build on. The downside is minimal — essentially just a contract slot — and the Bruins have more than enough flexibility to accommodate that.
With no arbitration eligibility and being waiver exempt, this should be an easy two-way deal to get done.
Max Wanner – Defense – Qualifying offer: $813,750 – Not eligible for arbitration – Waivers exempt
Right‑side defense remains a clear organizational need at every level, which makes it fair to question why the Bruins would consider walking away from Wanner. He was limited to just 29 games in Providence this season, plus three more in Maine, leaving only a small sample to evaluate.
With Dylan MacKinnon now signed to an AHL deal, it naturally raises the question of what the Bruins envision for Wanner. He has the size, mobility, and physical edge the organization covets, but at this stage, it’s hard to feel strongly one way or the other. If they decide to bring him back, the logic is easy enough to understand.
Simon Zajicek – Goaltender – Qualifying offer: $813,750 – Arbitration eligible – Waivers exempt
Zajicek spent a significant stretch on the sidelines due to injury, and while his workload was sheltered, he looked the part when he took the net. The real question now is whether he showed enough to suggest there’s meaningful upside to build on.
I’m not sure of that answer — but Mike Dunham almost certainly is. The bigger complication is that Boston needs clarity on its NHL goaltending plan before anything else. Is one of Michael DiPietro or Joonas Korpisalo on the move? Is one destined for Providence? And where does Max Lundgren fit — backing up in Providence or heading to Maine? Until those pieces fall into place, it’s hard to chart a path for Zajicek.
Based on his small sample size, I want to see more of Zajicek.
Luke Cavallin – Goaltender – Qualifying offer: $813,750 – Arbitration eligible – Waivers Exempt
Cavallin was outstanding for Maine during their ECHL playoff run, and he more than held his own in Providence when called up in the wake of Zajicek’s injuries.
The same questions that apply to Zajicek apply here as well. Cavallin would no doubt prefer an AHL job over another year in the ECHL, but it’s hard to see that opportunity materializing within this organization. This feels like one of those situations where allowing the player to explore better options elsewhere might be the most sensible path for both sides.
Fabian Lysell – Right wing – Qualifying offer: $874,125 – Not eligible for arbitration – Requires waivers
I saved everyone’s favorite prospect until the end!
The reality is I’m not even convinced Lysell wants to return — and he may decide a fresh start in another organization is the best path forward. But if the Bruins tender a qualifying offer, they retain his rights and his mobility becomes limited. He could sit back and hope for an offer sheet to materialize, but if he’s unsigned past December 1, he’s ineligible to play for the rest of the season. The window is tight, and the leverage tilts heavily away from him.
If it were up to me, I’d bring him back for one more kick at the can. Throughout his time in the organization, Lysell has never had a coach who truly let him lean into his strengths — at least not until word surfaced that the Bruins were bringing in Matt McIlvane as an assistant. If those two can find any traction together, it would speak volumes about how the Bruins have handled prospect development for decades. That alone makes a return worth pursuing for me, but maybe not the organization.
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