NHL free agency: Bruins trade for Zacha, sign 5 depth players

The start of NHL free agency is officially upon us — and even with some limited cap room, the Bruins could be poised to make a few key moves once teams can begin signing players on the open market.

"Financially, from a cap perspective, we're tight,” Don Sweeney said on Monday. “And so are several other teams. The difference is that we have a full roster, minus the injured players that will start on the sidelines. So we've got the bulk of our roster in place. I'm certainly trying to look to make some changes to our roster that may or may not happen, but I'm going to explore that, have been exploring it. 

“And we're going to address some of the areas of the depth the organization needs. So we'll be active over the next couple of days. But I wouldn't say that, unless barring a major trade of some sort, that we're going to be as active as we were last year in filling a number of holes.” 

Of course, even if the B’s aren't in a position to net some top-flight UFA targets, the start of free agency should provide some clarity on the futures of both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. 

We’ll have more in-depth pieces throughout the day as more tangible news related to Boston gets announced, but we’ll also include live updates here on what should be (and frankly, already is) a wild day across the NHL.

LIVE UPDATES

4:26:

At this point, it looks like AJ Greer could be a potential fourth-line candidate for this team in 2022-23.

“Our group did a lot of work," Sweeney said. "Obviously, we’re welcoming A.J. and Dan Renouf, Connor Carrick and Lettieri and Keith Kinkaid to our group as well. We worked hard to look at the depth of our organization and address the areas we felt we could benefit from. In A.J.’s case, had a heck of a year offensively. I think he understands, in talking with him today, doing our background work on him — I think he understands himself a lot better as to what type of player he is and how to be successful. And hopefully that translates — I mean, from the skating and a speed standpoint, getting on pucks and being an aggressive mindset with his size — it’s an attractive quality for us to add to our group. Monty was excited about going through the coaching process and how he envisioned the bottom part of our lineup looking like. I think it was an area that we tried to identify and A.J. was a guy that we feel had some upside there.”

4:11: Don Sweeney was expected to speak to the media at 4 p.m. - but now it's being pushed back to approximately 5 p.m.

2:51: Burakovsky to Seattle. 5 year deal.

2:44: Just some silly money being thrown around right now. 

2:37: You know, maybe it's a good thing that the Bruins don't have a ton of cap room. Columbus handing Gudbranson a 4-year, $16 million contract is WILD. 

2:28: David Perron heads to the Red Wings.

2:26: Philly's odd offseason continues. They add a scrapper in Nic Deslauriers. Flyers should be tough to play against, but are they good enough?

2:17: Acciari goes to St. Louis. Great value at $1.25. Might just be going there to finally confront Craig Berube.

2:07: Mason Marchnment is off to Dallas. Stars paying him $4.5 million per year. B's weren't going to meet an asking price like that.

1:59: Tampa Bay trying to lock down its roster for the foreseeable future. Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak all secure 8-year contract extensions.

1:58: The goalie carousel continues. Looks like Keumper is landing in Washington.

1:06: Braintree's Adam Gaudette heads to the Maple Leafs for a one-year deal for $750,000.

1:05: Frank Vatrano heads to Anaheim on a three-year deal for $3.65 million AAV.

12:58: Bruins sign AJ Greer to a two-year deal with a reported cap hit around $750,000. Former BU product who has logged close to 50 games at NHL level. Was very productive in the AHL last season with Utica (52 points in 53 games).

12:57: The Rangers have their new backup goalie in Jaroslav Halak. 1 year deal.

12:51: Colin White heading to Florida on a cheap, one-year deal. Hanover, MA native. 

12:44: Athanasiou and Domi to the Blackhawks. I guess you still need to a field a team full of NHL players, at the end of the day. 

12:42: Seems like Josh Brown is also heading out, with the defenseman heading to Arizona. Not really surprising. 

12:32: Another Atlantic team is getting better. Copp signs with Detroit for 5 years, $5.6 million AAV.

12:24: Sheesh - Rangers sign Trocheck for 7 years.

12:19: Lazar to Vancouver. Looks like the BC resident wanted to head home.

12:06: Toronto's goalie corps next season (Murray/Samsonov) ... is suspect.

12:01: Claude Giroux off to Ottawa. He's going back home.

12:00: NHL free agency has begun. 

11:55: Our story on the Zacha deal is live on the site, for those looking.

11:25: After moving on from DeAngelo, seems like the Hurricanes are looking to pry Brent Burns out of Carolina.

11:08: We'll see what other shoes are set to drop, but Manson is apparently sticking in Colorado.

11:01: That's something.

10:27: As for other reported signings on the docket:

Jack Campbell to EDM

Darcy Kuemper to WSH

10:22: Meanwhile, are the Flames ... gonna blow things up?

10:17: Meanwhile ... the Senators continue to get better and better.

10:15: Seems like another top UFA center is set to head off the market before free agency starts — as Vincent Trocheck might be heading to the Rangers.