Anton Khudobin headlines list of Bruins in-house free agency candidates

The Bruins are scheduled to meet with free agent John Tavares this week, their second swing at a big addition after missing out on Ilya Kovalchuk. Tavares will come with a hefty price, but it's an opportunity the Bruins have to take at bolstering their top-six rotation. They may not be the favorites to sign the elite center, but getting a meeting is a good start.

If the Bruins do miss out on Tavares, there are other options on the market that were detailed here Monday.

The Bruins also have a handful of in-house free agency candidates they are meeting with. The list starts with Anton Khudobin, the Bruins backup goaltender who is yet to reach an agreement that will keep him in Boston.


Anton Khudobin
2017-18 salary: $1.2 million
The skinny: The Bruins backup goaltender seemed like an obvious choice to be back – a contract the team would have liked to handle sooner rather than later. Now, though, it’s not as certain he’ll be back as free agency approaches. Khudobin is likely seeking a raise after a strong season, the question is whether the two sides can come to an amicable agreement. Good goaltending can’t be taken for granted, and the Bruins had a solid duo last season.

Riley Nash
2017-18 salary: $900,000
The skinny: Nash is due a significant pay bump after having a career-best 41 points as the team’s third-line center. He’s a good teammate on top of it, which made him a good fit in the Bruins room. Nash also killed penalties, something that’s not always easy to replace. A source told BSJ over the weekend that the Bruins have had “consistent, healthy” communications with Nash and that a return has not been ruled out. It’d make no sense for Nash not to test the open market where he’ll likely see his best offer, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a compromise.

Rick Nash
2017-18 salary: $7.8 million
The skinny: Nash finished out terms on his monster deal, one he originally signed with the Blue Jackets before he was traded to the Rangers. By the time he arrived in Boston he was perceived as a rental piece, but it didn’t work out as the Bruins came up short in the second round. They paid the price by sitting out the first round without a pick. Nash only played 11 regular-season games – a somewhat incomplete tenure. He’s still deciding whether he wants to return at this stage of his career. The ball is ultimately in Nash’s hands, but it’s plausible he’ll be back if the terms are a friendly compromise for the opportunity to win the Cup.

Sean Kuraly
2017-18 salary: $925,000
The skinny: Kuraly is the Bruins only other restricted free agent after they agreed to a deal last week with Matt Grzelcyk. Sweeney said a deal with Kuraly is expected to come soon. Kuraly, who’s arbitration eligible in two years, emerged as a key piece of the team’s bottom-six rotation. He skated with great energy, was bumped to the third line in the playoffs, and could remain there this season.

Tim Schaller
2017-18 salary: $775,000
The skinny: The 27-year-old Schaller had his best season with the Bruins when he scored 12 goals and 10 assists. He played in all 82 games and was a dependable presence on the fourth line. Other teams certainly will inquire for his services, but a slight salary bump on a two-year deal would likely keep him here.

Tommy Wingels
2017-18 salary: $750,000
The skinny: Acquired at the trade deadline, the 30-year-old Wingels provided good veteran depth on the fourth line. He was a steady on the presence on the fourth line and could be back for a small cost.

Nick Holden
2017-18 salary: $1.65 million
The skinny: Another deadline acquisition, Holden provided depth for the Bruins defense. He didn’t play too much in the playoffs after 18 games with the Bruins but helped them out during the regular season. It helps to have players like Holden around for insurance, but it’d seem that would have to come at less than last year’s price.