Bruins
With over $21 million available in cap space this summer, the Bruins have the means to add an impact player or two in free agency.
At the risk of stoking the flames down in Foxborough, Don Sweeney and the Bruins have “cash to burn” this summer.
An overachieving Bruins roster patched together with bargain-bin signings should receive a significant boost over the offseason, especially with Boston entering free agency with over $21 million in cap space (per CapFriendly).
If they find a taker for Linus Ullmark, the Bruins could have $26 million in spending power.
But which players should they target?
With the July 1 free-agent feeding frenzy nearly upon us, here’s a look at some intriguing targets for the Bruins — sorted out based on specific needs within Boston’s depth chart:
A top-six center
Far and away the most glaring vacancy on Boston’s roster, the Bruins are in desperate need of another impact forward to slot in down the middle.
Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, and Morgan Geekie all exceeded expectations and thrived in elevated roles last season. But Zacha and Coyle combined for just two playoff goals over 13 games this spring.
Another established centerman would not only inject more scoring punch to the Bruins’ lineup, it’d have a positive domino effect across the rest of the roster — either pushing Zacha to the wing or Coyle potentially down to the third line, where he could further exploit matchups and drive play.
Elias Lindholm
The case can be made that the 29-year-old Lindholm is more of an elite second-line center than a franchise pivot.
But on the Bruins, he’d instantly be their best option down the middle — and make the rest of the lineup better by pushing good players into roles better suited to their skill sets.
Even with a down season offensively between Calgary and Vancouver (44 points over 75 games), Lindholm elevated his game in the playoffs (10 points in 13 games), while his two-way prowess (second in voting for 2021-22 Selke Trophy) and faceoff skills (56.4 percent this season) would be welcomed in Boston.
He may not be the player who lit the lamp 42 times in Calgary in 2021-22, but Lindholm has three seasons of 60+ points on his resume and could be in line for similar production if he’s stapled to David Pastrnak’s hip on the top line.
If the Bruins are prioritizing a big fish on the free-agent market, Lindholm checks plenty of boxes.
Chandler Stephenson
Exceeding expectations has been Stephenson’s M.O. since arriving in Vegas in December 2019. A bottom-six contributor in Washington during its 2018 Cup run, Stephenson developed into a top-six fixture with the Golden Knights, posting three straight 50-plus-point campaigns — including a career-best 65 points in 2022-23.
Stephenson might not be a elite 2C when measured against other top-six pivots in the NHL, but it’s hard to argue against his steady production in Vegas to go along with a high motor. He scored 20 points in 22 games for Vegas during the Knights’ 2023 Cup campaign.
Sean Monahan
If the Bruins come up short in the bidding for both Lindholm and Stephenson, Monahan could be a solid contingency plan if Boston is adamant about adding another center into the equation.
After surpassing 60 points four times in his first six seasons, Monahan struggled to find his footing for a stretch in Calgary and Montreal. But the 29-year-old did rebound this past year — posting 59 points between the Habs and Jets. Monahan, much like Stephenson, could slot in as a 2C when needed, but he’s not necessarily going to be the conduit that drives play in the role.
A proven goal-scorer
Jim Montgomery said it best after Boston’s season ended in Game 6 against the Panthers.
“You can’t win every game 2-1,” Boston’s exasperated bench boss declared.
The Bruins, who ranked 14th in the NHL in goals per game during the regular season, actually held a 60-41 edge in high-danger scoring chances against the Panthers during 5-on-5 play this postseason.
But Montgomery’s emphasis on quality over quantity as far as shot selection doesn’t exactly resonate when Boston keeps on firing blanks and can’t convert on their looks from Grade-A ice. Here are a few potential 20-plus goal scorers Boston could target, especially if Jake DeBrusk exits in free agency.
Sam Reinhart
If the Bruins are looking to put their money where they mouth is when it comes to adding firepower up front, you can’t get any better than a winger coming off of 57-goal campaign. The 28-year-old winger is a devastating player in Grade-A ice, especially while operating from the bumper on the power player. Add in his strong defensive metrics, and Reinart is a player that could command $10 million per year on the market.
Reinhart would bolster Boston’s forward corps, but signing him would likely take the Bruins out of the running for a pivot like Lindholm. And while Reinhart is a safe bet for 35+ goals on most teams, swapping in Zacha and Coyle in place of Sasha Barkov would certainly hinder some of Reinahrt’s production.
Steven Stamkos
If the Lightning — who further strained their limited cap space by taking back Ryan McDonagh and his $6.75 million cap hit — are really willing to let Stamkos walk, the Bruins should be one of the first teams on the phone to try and add the longtime Bolts captain.
Even though the 34-year-old forward is better suited on the wing than at center at this stage of his career, he’s still a proven sniper coming off a 40-goal, 81-point season. Beyond his scoring touch, Stamkos’ veteran leadership would be welcomed on a Bruins team looking to put itself over the top this summer.
Tyler Toffoli
It remains to be seen if Stamkos even hits the market, while Reinahrt might be priced out of Boston’s range.
But if the Bruins are looking to allocate $5 million per year on a proven goal scorer, you can’t go wrong with a veteran like Toffoli with a steady track of lighting the lamp. The 32-year-old winger has eight 20-goal seasons under his belt, including a 33-tally showing last year with the Devils and Jets. If DeBrusk walks and the Bruins are looking to account for his baseline offensive production, Toffoli might be their guy.
Jonathan Marchessault
Another veteran who will likely cost a pretty penny (albeit on a shorter-team deal), Marchessault is coming off a 42-goal season in Vegas.
What he lacks in stature (5-foot-9), he makes up for with his compete on the puck and shifty play — with the Golden Knights’ all-time leading scorer winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP in 2023.
Tyler Bertuzzi
If the Bruins weren’t hamstrung by such a severe cap crunch last offseason, Bertuzzi very well could still be in black-and-gold sweater after his strong first impression in Boston during the spring of 2023.
There are concerns about Bertuzzi’s defensive capabilities and injury woes, but Bertuzzi’s snarl, playmaking capabilities at the netfront, and chemistry with Pastrnak could make him an appealing option this summer if the money is right.
Daniel Sprong
Sprong is a bit of a one-dimensional player, but the 27-year-old winger has seemingly figured things out at the NHL over the last few years thanks to a heavy shot and sound playmaking instincts.
He may not be a top-line fixture, but Sprong has averaged 19.5 goals and 44.4 points over the last two seasons, while only logging 11:44 of ice time per contest.
A burner up front
Beyond the evident need for more scoring punch up front, Cam Neely stressed that Boston’s lack of speed against a team like Florida was a glaring flaw that must be corrected.
“Obviously, this game is fast and we’re not as fast as we’d like to be,” Neely acknowledged last month, adding: “Maybe a little faster and we’d like to see a little bit more 50/50 puck battle wins. That’s an area where you have to want the puck more than the other team.”
Fleet-footed skaters capable of winning puck battles and putting opposing puck carries under duress are coveted in the postseason. While a top-six scoring threat remains a priority for the Bruins, adding more speed into the middle-six grouping would be a welcome addition for Boston if they have some cash remaining.
Anthony Duclair
Despite some initial concerns over whether his game was waning after suffering an Achilles injury in 2022, Duclair rebounded from a rough stint on a brutal Sharks team and scored 15 points in 17 games after getting dealt to the Lightning this spring.
The 28-year-old winger is one of the fastest skaters in the league and does have one 30-goal season on his resume. If he’s healthy, he’d be an ideal secondary add to Boston’s forward corps along with a signing like Toffoli.
Dakota Joshua
Joshua is the type of player that most teams value come the postseason, with the 6-foot-3, 206-pound winger possessing good wheels, PK expertise, a physical game, and a great scoring touch (18 goals in 63 games).
Joshua, who turned 28 last month, does present some risk in terms of what he could command on the open market. He’s only had one breakout season so far in his career, but his unique skillset could see him command over $3 million per year. Is he a power forward poised to take another step forward in an elevated role, or is he a Matt Beleskey?
Jordan Martinook
The Carolina Hurricanes have deployed one of the most relentless forechecking schemes in the NHL for years now, and the 31-year-old Martinook has played a large role that strategy from Rod Brind’Amour. Not only is the veteran a wrecking ball while hounding after pucks, but he’s an aggressive penalty killer who also scored 14 goals last season.
Planting Martinook as the veteran sparkplug on a fourth line alongside youngsters like Johnny Beecher and Justin Brazeau could be appealing, but Boston might opt to save some cash and fill out its checking unit with cheaper call-ups and other bargain-bin adds.
A hefty left-shot defenseman
If there’s another area for the Bruins to address, it’s the need for more snarl on the left side of their defense. A third pairing of Parker Wotherspoon and Andrew Peeke could be an option intrigue, although Wotherspoon may be better suited as a seventh D with Boston.
Brenden Dillon
The 33-year-old blueliner would be a welcome addition for the Bruins if the price is right on a new contract. He’s a 6-foot-4 physical presence who could log 17-19 minutes a night, chip in with around 20 points, but most importantly add some physicality that is missing on Boston’s blue line.
While the Bruins could dive in the bargain bin for other bruising defensemen like Joel Edmundson, Dillon is far less of a liability in his own end.
Alec Martinez
The soon-to-be 37-year-old Martinez might be nearing the end of his career, but he could be a nice value add for a team like Boston who could use some additional D-zone fortitude.
He’s not the same top-four fixture he was in Los Angeles and most of his time in Vegas, but Martinez blocks a ton of shots (409 the last two seasons), eats up D-zone reps and does plenty of the other dirty work that should free up easier minutes for the rest of his teammates.
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