Sweeney, Bruins show commitment to in-house options to fill holes on offense

Don Sweeney and the Bruins came away from the first day of free agency having fulfilled two pressing needs.

They had been pursuing the addition of a bigger, bulkier left-shot defenseman for quite some time and they finally got one with the addition of 6-foot-2, 210-pound John Moore. Signed to a five-year deal worth $2.75 million annually, Moore projects to be a key component of the Bruins defensive makeup. The second need was a viable backup for Tuukka Rask after Anton Khudobin pursued more money elsewhere. The answer there was Jaroslav Halak. Signed to a deal of $2.75 million annually for two years, Halak was more expensive than Khudobin, but he brings nearly 500 games of pro experience.

In the next few days we’ll analyze what the addition of Moore means for the Bruins defense and how Halak was in fact the better option to Khudobin.

The big takeaway from the first day of free agency though was that when it came to other needs, such as a second-line right wing and a third-line center, Sweeney proved his commitment to the philosophy of developing and rewarding in-house prospects, a handful of young players who will get the chance to prove they can play meaningful minutes next season.

Sweeney also seemed content with more minor moves that bolstered the bottom-six rotation, such as the additions of Chris Wagner and Joakim Nordstrom.

The overall draft-and-develop philosophy is one Sweeney has been overhauling since he was named general manager at the end of the 2015 season. Sweeney and Bruce Cassidy appear on the same page, which helps reinforce what they’re trying to accomplish. When the opportunity presented itself for the Bruins to make a big leap forward, such as contending to sign John Tavares, Sweeney has been willing to take it. The move to trade a first-round pick for Rick Nash to bolster the team at the deadline is another representation.

“We certainly had a bit of a directional shift when I first took over and addressing some of the needs from the depth standpoint of the organization, and we felt we’re going to commit to the draft and development,” Sweeney said. “Sometimes, you look to accelerate when the opportunity presents itself. Sometimes that’s not necessarily the case, and I’m glad we’re in a position now that those two things align, and we’ve built some depth. Now, it’s up the players, ultimately.”

Results were better than expected last season with the emergence of youngsters Charlie McAvoy and Jake DeBrusk. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork shined at various points and the Bruins hope it continues next season as the team looks to fill out its roster.

Second-line right wing



The skinny: There may be an opportunity to bring Rick Nash back in the future, but the indication is that he’s focused on prioritizing his health. He decided to sit out the open of free agency and reportedly turned down an offer elsewhere. Nash, who only played 11 games in the regular season because of a concussion after he was acquired from the Rangers, may call it the end of his career and there’s nothing wrong with that. The Bruins were in on Ilya Kovalchuk, and maybe the career left-winger would be a plug on the right side, but who knows what would have happened. The Bruins seemed determined not to overpay for other talents, such as the five-year, $35 million Philadelphia spent for James van Riemsdyk.

Lineup options: Heinen, Bjork, and Ryan Donato are the front-runners to complete the line that currently consists of David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins can keep together their super-trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak. Perhaps they try to sprinkle the scoring depth like they did at the start of last season and put Pastrnak with Krejci, though that never quite worked last season. Donato had nine points in 12 games after he joined the team from Harvard. A natural center, Donato should be able to handle either wing position. Sweeney has mentioned that centers have a more natural ability to play either side and is a skill set he likes to build around. Bjork had a solid showing on the top line until he injured his shoulder and was lost for the season. Heinen had various turns with the top line, too, and finished his rookie season with 47 points in 77 games.

Prediction: The Bruins start the season by keeping their goal-hungry trio together and Heinen gets a shot on the second line with Krejci and DeBrusk. Donato may show an ability to play there, but for now he’s better suited on the left where he played last season. Heinen struggled at the end of the year with eight points in his final 17 games, but a clean slate may serve him well.

Third-line center

The skinny: Riley Nash was due for a pay raise after a career year and he nearly tripled his salary. Columbus gave Nash a three-year deal worth $2.75 million annually. In 76 games Nash had 41 points and was a steady center. He seemed to relish his role as a penalty killer, a role that sometimes can be hard to fill. It’s a gritty job and Nash was willing to do that. He also seemed like a good teammate who was well liked and that’s valuable. The Bruins paid him $900,000 for his services last season and obviously were not willing to match what the Blue Jackets were offering.

Lineup options: Sean Kuraly was extended a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and the Bruins have been working out a new deal for the young, energetic forward. Kuraly had 14 points in 75 games and brought great energy to the Bruins fourth-line. In the playoffs he proved capable of handling third-line duties at various points in the playoffs. After being drafted by the Sharks in 2011, Kuraly seems to have found the right fit in Boston. The Bruins added Wagner and Nordstrom Sunday, options who help solidify the bottom-six. They chose not to re-sign Tim Schaller, Kuraly’s fourth-line teammate last season. Schaller got a two-year deal with a $1.9 million AAV from the Canucks. Wagner got a two-year deal worth $1.25 million annually, while Nordstrom received $1 million per for two years. Wagner, a Walpole native, is another energy player who can fill in on the third line as well at any position. He likes to kill penalties, which the Bruins need after moving on from Riley Nash. “So, again, being target-specific on some of the needs that we had that we felt that we were potentially losing with some players, as I was going through some negotiations there, that we needed to replace,” Sweeney said. Don't forget about prospects Jacob Forsbacka Karlsson and Jack Studnicka, who will compete for the job in training camp as well. 

Prediction: Kuraly gets a multi-year deal and starts the year as the Bruins third-line center. Donato fills in on his left and David Backes on his right. That’s a skilled third line and Backes could provide a steadying veteran presence. Nordstrom and Wagner could fill out the fourth line along with Noel Acciari. Bjork could factor into the bottom-six as well or provide depth as a spare forward. Same for Heinen. If some combination of Kuraly and Wagner do not workout, however, it may reflect as a bad move letting Riley Nash walk. He was expected to command a big raise, but $2.75 million per year is not a huge ask for a player with proven success. Putting my GM hat on, I would have paid for Riley Nash. His annual salary is only $500,000 more than the combined earnings of Wagner and Nordstrom. Of course, if it works out, then there’s no complaints here.