The Boston Bruins’ front office is going to have its hands full this offseason. The 2024 NHL Draft is just a month away, and then it’ll be straight into Free Agent Frenzy — and the B’s are looking at nine unrestricted free agents and another three RFAs on July 1.
Although Jake DeBrusk’s future in Massachusetts has taken centre stage as of late, it’ll be interesting to see if Don Sweeney can find money for any of the other eight UFAs: Pat Maroon, Danton Heinen, Jayson Megna, James van Riemsdyk, Derek Forbort, Matt Grzelcyk, Kevin Shattenkirk and Milan Lucic.
Although a few of those players are more likely to stick around in Boston than others, Sweeney and the front office will also be looking to improve the roster on the free agent market as well. And according to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, there are five pending UFAs that the team could realistically target this July.
That list is led by three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane, and also includes former Bruin Tyler Bertuzzi, as well as Anthony Duclair, Jonathan Marchessault and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Multiple of the five players listed have connections in Boston. Kane was being targeted by the team since before he signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings last season. Bertuzzi discussed an extension with the Bruins after playing with the club in 2023, but nothing materialized. As well, Tarasenko played under Jim Montgomery when the latter was an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22, per Shinzawa.
Although Duclair and Marchessault don’t have the same connections to Beantown, both proven goal scorers will be a great addition to whatever team they end up signing with in free agency.
All five of Kane, Bertuzzi, Tarasenko, Duclair and Marchessault would undoubtedly improve the Bruins in 2024-25 — and potentially beyond. But Sweeney made it clear the organization doesn’t have the resources to swing for the fences on July 1.
Bruins likely out on Reinhart, Stamkos, Guentzel, says Shinzawa
Sweeney told Shinzawa last week that the team woud be unlikely to sign the top three free agents available: Florida Panthers’ Sam Reinhart, Carolina Hurricanes’ Jake Guentzel and Tampa Bay Lightning captain and two-time Stanley Cup champion Steven Stamkos.
“I have to be able to find some players that can come in and provide secondary scoring for us at key opportune times,” the general manager admitted last week, per Shinzawa.
So, it probably won’t be a superstar putting pen to paper with the Bruins come July 1. It does make sense considering the price tag on each of the three forwards, and the term each of them will command on the open market.
“Sam Reinhart scored 57 goals during the regular season. Only Auston Matthews (69) had more,” wrote Shinzawa last week. “Jake Guentzel scored 30 goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes. It was the fourth time the left wing reached the 30-goal threshold. Steven Stamkos scored 40 goals. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain has scored 40 or more seven times.”
All three players are going to get paid handsomely, and that’s especially true with the salary cap set to increase by $4 million. And although it doesn’t look like any will join the Bruins, there are a few other intriguing options that Sweeney and the front office will target on July 1.
It’ll be interesting to see just how much different this roster looks come training camp.
