NHL Notebook: Who could the Bruins target in free agency?

The busiest week on the NHL’s calendar is set to reach its culmination when the free agent market opens at noon on Saturday.

The Bruins have remained fairly busy themselves, even after cleaning up at the NHL Awards and sitting idly by for a good portion of the draft in Nashville.

Boston offloaded Taylor Hall’s $6 million cap hit and Nick Foligno’s rights in a Monday trade with the Chicago, before completing an under-the-radar deal with the Devils. Between the two transactions, the B’s acquired three right-shot defensemen in Ian Mitchell, Reilly Walsh and Alec Regula, who could be in the mix for a roster spot next season with Connor Clifton set to depart via the open market. 

Don Sweeney also appeared to be in hot pursuit of a first-round draft pick, which the Bruins have lacked for two straight seasons and will once again go without in 2024. Elliotte Friedman reported on the latest “32 Thoughts” podcast that Boston requested a last-second interview with center Oliver Moore (USNTDP), who eventually went 19th overall to the Blackhawks.

Obviously, no trade came to fruition for the Bruins, who went on with all five of their selections as planned, selecting three potential centers as well as a wing and a defenseman. 

As expected, the Bruins also bought out the final year of Mike Reilly’s contract, saving them $2,666,666 against the cap this season.

Now with the departures of Hall and apparently Tyler Bertuzzi, as well as the uncertainty surrounding Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, there are holes to fill in the forward group as things currently stand. 

The Bruins' current depth chart includes a potential top line of Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-Jake DeBrusk. There's Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak on the second line with a gaping hole at left wing. For argument's sake, Trent Frederic re-signs and slots in at 3C, leaving A.J. Greer as the other loan bottom-six forward. Jakub Lauko is a safe bet to take over wing duties in the bottom six, perhaps at 3LW. There are still holes at 3RW, 4C and 4RW (maybe 4LW, too, if you don't feel Greer is an everyday player). There are internal options to fill out those depth roles, too, but Boston may still find itself in need of reinforcements. 

Meanwhile, the B's are pretty set on defense. Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy lead a deep blue line, followed by Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort, Jakob Zboril and the three right-handers acquired this week. Boston may not need to make a signing for anything other than depth. Perhaps a still-possible Grzlecyk or Forbort trade changes things. 

Sweeney now has just over $13.6 million in cap space to play with on July 1. He'll surely be bargain-hunting. There is room to re-sign restricted free agents, like Frederic and Jeremy Swayman, in addition to scouring the lower end of the market.

"I think the one thing that we’re going to have a tougher time unless I make a subsequent move, would be to chase the upper end of the marketplace," he told reporters after Day 2 of the draft. "Both from a term and dollars standpoint, I think that’s the simplest way I can describe it, but we are going to find some guys that can slot in and bring a boost to our hockey club in different ways."

Aside from some obvious options like Bertuzzi and Garnet Hathaway, here's who could be on Boston's radar (before everything changes):

FORWARDS

Kailer Yamamoto: Could be an excellent option to fill one of the holes in the middle six after being traded away by Edmonton to Detroit, who bought him out of the final year of his $3.1 million AAV. The former first-rounder in 2017 had 10 goals and 25 points in 58 games for the Oilers last season, a dip from his 20 goals and 41 points in 2021-22. For being only 5-foot-8, 153 pounds, the 24-year-old plays above his size with 191 hits across 139 games the last two seasons. The Oilers had a 52.6 percent expected goals rate with Yamamoto on at 5-on-5 last season, the best rate of any of his full seasons as an NHLer. Did not play power play in Edmonton, but killed penalties. AFP Analytics projects a two-year deal worth approximately $1.60 million per season. Certainly worth a look for a useful, young player. The much-bigger Morgan Geekie (6-foot-3, 200 pounds; projected two years with a $1.81 million cap hit) very much fits this mold as well with a little more versatility at both wing and center. He should also be on the radar.

Miles Wood: With NHL teams in search of speed, size and snarl on the wing, the former Boston College Eagle and New Jersey Devil could be an option for the Bruins. Bouncing back from hip surgery in 2021-22, Wood had 13 goals and 27 points in 76 games with the Devils last season, which is largely what he's been at his peak: a physical third-liner capable of consistently hitting the teens in goals. He did not kill penalties but played a secondary role on the power play in New Jersey. With his play style, the 27-year-old has all the makings of a potential fan-favorite in Boston. AFP projects him to land a $2.6 million cap hit over two seasons. Fellow ex-Devils teammate Nathan Bastian (26 years old; projected two years, $1.61 million per) would bring the same skating and heaviness in a fourth-line role. 

Tomas Tatar: While we're talking about former Devils, Tatar could be an option to fill out the hole at wing in the top six. The 32-year-old is coming off his sixth 20-goal season in the league, putting up 20-28--48 in all 82 games with New Jersey. He's consistently been a good-enough producer in the middle six, even if he may sometimes leave folks wondering why he doesn't produce more. His possession numbers are strong, and even though he plays a decent amount on the power play, practically all of his production comes at 5-on-5. The Devils also had a 62.79 percent expected goals rate with Tatar on at 5-on-5 last season. AFP projects him to land a three-year deal with a $3.37 AAV. The Slovak is a fine complimentary scorer. 

Matt Duchene: Duchene is a really intriguing option here, especially if neither Bergeron nor Krejci are back. The center was cut loose from the remainder of his deal by Nashville, even after a 22-goal, 56-point season, a drop-off from his 43 goals and 43 points the previous year. The 32-year-old is streaky but is effective on the rush, thanks in part to his speed. He doesn't have the same defensive acumen we've come to expect from Bruins centers, ranking in the ninth percentile for defense even strength, according to JFresh Hockey. Still, he's also won over 52 percent of his face-offs for 10 straight seasons. If it becomes more clear that neither Bergeron nor Krejci return, Duchene would make for a decent option in the top six. AFP Analytics projects him to sign a three-year deal with a $3.77 million AAV. There’s some risk attached here, but the return could definitely be worthwhile for Boston, who could find itself in a bidding war. 

Milan Lucic: All signs point to the Bruins targeting Lucic once the market officially opens. It both does and does not make sense. First, it fills the Foligno role on the fourth line. Lucic would bring a physical, veteran presence to the fourth line. His work on the forecheck, net-front ability and yes, toughness, would help open space for younger players finding their way like Marc McLaughlin and John Beecher. The downside is Lucic’s age. He’s absolutely slowed down, which would be counterintuitive to the speed the Bruins should try to incorporate in the bottom six. He’s coming off of a career-low 19 points in 77 games, and played a sheltered defensive role in Calgary, unlike Foligno. The 35-year-old does not kill penalties. AFP Analytics projects Lucic to sign a one-year, $775,000 deal, which would be fine. 

Blake Wheeler: If Lucic can rejoin the band, then might as well throw Wheeler's hat in the ring. Reports are that Wheeler would prefer the East Coast for his next destination as well. While the Bruins would absolutely be better off looking elsewhere for reinforcements on the right wing in the middle six, let's at least entertain this idea. The 37-year-old had 17 goals and 55 points last season in Winnipeg. Hardly the player he was, but still had a solid penchant as a playmaker nonetheless. He has not been a good defensive player as he's gone deeper into his 30s. His projection is two years, $3 million per season. Not sure it's worth another retread.

DEFENSE

Oliver Ekman-Larsson: These two sides have been linked to each other for years, and after Ekman-Larsson's buyout in Vancouver, speculation swirled once again. Ekman-Larsson would be a target if the Bruins were to make a trade involving Grzelcyk or perhaps Forbort. The 32-year-old could see a career revival on a deep blue line and in a system friendly to puck-movers in Boston after a wildly up-and-down run in Vancouver. A matchup-dependent role at 5-on-5 and time on the power play would best suit him, but if the Bruins find themselves in need of a stopgap on the second pair, he might be worth the risk on a one-year flier. I'm not sure I see him landing a three-year deal as AFP suggests (at $3.33 million per season).

Caleb Jones: Jones would also make sense if Boston needs to fill a spot on the left side. The younger brother of Seth Jones, the 26-year-old's possession numbers were a little rough, but anyone else's would if they played second-pair minutes in Chicago last season. Still, he managed to finish in the 75th percentile for wins above replacement (WAR), per JFresh Hockey, and the 71st percentile for even strength defense. Decent physicality with 193 hits in 124 games the last two seasons. He's projected to land a two-year deal with a $2.52 million cap hit. Could see his next deal coming in at a little under that, too.  

Krejci could be entertaining Czech return

Czech reporter Zdenek Janda tweeted that Krejci is still undecided about his future. Still, there appear to be options on the table for Krejci, according to Janda, who wrote that next year's IIHF World Championships being held in Prague is attractive for the center. 

Krejci is also apparently considering a midseason return, if he does come back, perhaps around the holidays. He hasn't ruled out playing in another league, either.

It's an interesting development from Krejci's side of things. He said at breakup day that if he came back, it would only be with Boston, but obviously things can change and it's possible he changed his mind, as is his right. If you were to have asked me which of Krejci or Bergeron were definitely done, though, I would have answered Krejci. 

Still, it's hard to not see the appeal of wanting to play the World Championships at home. Playing in the Czech league in 2021-22 was clearly important to him.