Bruins free agency live coverage: Boston brings back Kuraly

The Bruins have just under $13 million in cap space.

 

It’s already been a busy offseason for Don Sweeney and the Bruins, with the Original Six franchise bolstering their prospect pool in the NHL Draft and re-upping in-house skaters like Morgan Geekie, Henri Jokiharju, and Mason Lohrei. 

But with Boston still operating with a projected $12.7 million in cap space, the Bruins will have an opportunity to add to their roster on Tuesday with the start of NHL free agency set to get underway.

Even with several top targets already re-signing with their respective clubs before July 1, there could be some value unearthed across the free-agent market, while Sweeney also stressed that Boston could re-assess trade opportunities once things begin to ramp up this summer. 

“We had a couple of those things that we looked at,” Sweeney said Saturday. “Maybe they they come to bear over the next day or so as well. And we’ll foray into free agency if we haven’t filled those holes via trade, so the quality of it — again, you won’t know which players are leaving their current environments.

“Some guys sign today and tomorrow and the following day, right up until the free agency period begins. And so ultimately, you try to forecast whose available and what players would be leaving their current environments.”

Follow along with us as we cover all of the twists and turns of NHL free agency — which will officially begin at 12 p.m.

We’ll have regular updates, as well as scouting reports on whoever Boston ends up bringing in on Tuesday.

LIVE COVERAGE

7:00: This quote will ultimately hold plenty of weight when the time comes to grade out this upcoming Bruins season.

4:50: Barring a major change, it looks as though the Bruins are done for the day when it comes to bolstering their roster.

Bolster might not be the right word.

3:27: New Hampshire native was a productive player in the AHL ranks last season.

2:52: A one-way contract for Blumel. Bruins are hoping that scoring translates at the next level. They’re going to need it.

2:25: Sean Kuraly is a familiar face in Boston, as the fourth-line forward spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Bruins — establishing himself as an impact fourth-line forward with a penchant for scoring timely goals in the postseason.

The 32-year-old forward spent the last four seasons with the Blue Jackets — scoring 40 goals and 85 points over those four seasons. Kuraly could be a useful addition to a Bruins PK that took on water this past season.

Eyssimont is another fourth-line option for the Bruins who both puts pucks on net and finishes his hits. He scored nine goals and 16 points over 77 games this past season while logging 110 hits.

2:17: Bruins loading up on some depth forwards, including old friend Sean Kuraly.

Details below:

2:00: More on Tanner Jeannot:

1:47: Bruins adding a local product in Haverhill’s Jordan Harris. Left-shot D who could be the seventh option on Boston’s depth chart.

1:30: Former Bruins blueliner heads to Pittsburgh.

1:09:The Bruins just signed Tanner Jeannot to a 5-year contract. A very physical winger, but man — that’s a lot of term (and money).

12:35: One of the top free-agent targets are now off the board.

12:30: More updates on Arvidsson.

12:22: Looks like the Bruins are banking on some upside with a young winger in Blumel. The 25-year-old Czech forward led the AHL this past season with 39 goals over 67 games with the Texas Stars.

Has just two goals in 14 career NHL games , so we’ll see what the Bruins can draw out of him.

12:00: Free agency is officially underway.

11:50: By taking on Arvidsson’s contract, the Bruins have a little under $9 million in cap space.

11:33: According to Friedman, it’s a 2027 fifth-round pick for Arvidsson.

11:28: Seems like it’s just draft capital for now on Arvidsson.

11:20: Arvidsson, 32, has one year left on his deal with a $4 million cap hit. Scored 15 goals and 27 points this past year with Edmonton, but does have five 20-goal seasons on his resume.

Might be more of a third-line winger at this point, although that remains to be seen on a pretty light Boston forward grouping.

11:15: Interesting. Given how desperate the Oilers are for goaltending, one has to wonder if Korpisalo would be a target here.

10:51: Offer sheets are always an intriguing offseason play for several teams, including the Bruins. But with so many teams still flush with cap space, it seems like multiple organizations are poised to match any offer presented to them.

10:02: Fair to say, the current crop of free agents is … not great. With Mitch Marner going to Vegas in a sign-and-trade and other players like Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and others all re-signing, there aren’t a lot of high-end options available beyond Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers. 

If the Bruins are looking for an impact player, it might have to come via trade. 

9:30: Greetings from Warrior! Plenty going on today, starting with Day 2 of Development Camp. Our first Dev Camp notebook dropped last night — focusing in on Will Zellers and Vashek Blanar.