There was no shortage of eye rolling last July 1 when Don Sweeney went bargain basement shopping for low term, low money veteran free agents with his Boston Bruins feeling the pinch of the NHL salary cap.
Many looked at as a series of desperation moves to keep things afloat with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retiring, particularly after the B’s also needed to sell of Taylor Hall at a discount for a couple of blue line spare parts. But nearly all those low fanfare transactions have played an integral role in the Boston Bruins continue to roll as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season and that was the case again in Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
James van Riemsdyk posted his first three-point game as a member of the Bruins, is fourth on the team in scoring and is on pace for 16 goals and 57 points along with 11 power-play goals. It is exactly the role he was brought in to play on a one-year, $1-million deal that will go down as one of the NHL’s best bargains this season.
James van Riemsdyk recorded his first three-point outing in a Boston uniform to help the @NHLBruins overtake the Rangers for top spot in the League standings.#NHLStats: https://t.co/M3bpZmUWWl pic.twitter.com/0XQFfw3mfr
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 3, 2024
“It’s always nice to contribute in a game like this and keep the team in the winning ways,” said van Riemsdyk, who was coming off being a healthy scratch against Detroit. “Obviously we want to keep building our game, but it’s nice to chip in and even nicer to get the win.”
Kevin Shattenkirk scored his fourth goal in the last 13 games and is on pace for 11 goals and 25 points, his first double-digit goal season in more than five years dating back to his best days with the St. Louis Blues.
The key for Shattenkirk’s Boston breakthrough was a conversation he had with Jim Montgomery the last time that the Bruins were in Columbus. Since then, Shattenkirk has been playing more aggressively within the Montgomery offensive system and giving Boston some much-needed complimentary offense from the back end.
“I go back to that meeting I had with [Jim Montgomery] the last time we were here [in Columbus],” said Shattenkirk. “It was a good way to push me and make me realize that I could play more aggressively. That’s what they want from me, and it’s been going well.
“I think it was more of a habit thing. Especially the last three years when you’re playing on a team [in Anaheim] that’s defending a lot, you’re not used to jumping up in the rush and having those opportunities in the game. We obviously have a great group here that ends plays quickly and creates offense, so I think it was a good reminder to build those good habits back again and get it all back in my game.”
Danton Heinen scored the third-period insurance goal and is on pace for double-digit goals as well in a performance where his third line with Trent Frederic and JVR produced three goals in a game where some of Boston’s best players didn’t have their A-game at the end of a post-holiday road trip.
“I like how connected they were. Their weak-side wing was slashing, and their puck support was excellent,” said Montgomery, of the new-look third line. “Not only did they have good rush opportunities, but their O-zone play and getting to the net. Their habits and details were excellent.”
None of this even mentioned Morgan Geekie, who was the only player to sign a two-year contract with the Bruins on NHL free agency frenzy day and has settled into a blue-collar forward role at a top-6 level. He’s on a pace for 14 goals and 32 points this season but has been on an upswing offensively as he’s gained in confidence at a new locale with his second and third effort-style playing with high skill players around him.
It remains to be seen where Geekie is going to fit in once Matt Poitras returns from Sweden and the World Junior tournament, but nearly all of Boston’s free agent gambles have turned into solid returns.
Obviously, the wide net approach of free agent bargain signings didn’t all work out given that the Milan Lucic situation, and Patrick Brown still hasn’t really contributed much beyond providing some gritty forward depth. But credit where it’s due that Boston Bruins management hit on a number of those bargain free agent signings where they clearly did their homework about good fits for the Black and Gold roster.
“We’re a competitive group, we expect to be competitive, now we’ve got to stay healthy, keep moving forward, and keep getting better,” said Don Sweeney a few weeks ago in early December. “As I said, you know, we've introduced some young players, so there's going to be some growing pains with each and every one of them, new bodies, when you think about where JVR, [James van Riemsdyk] Shatty, [Kevin Shattenkirk] and Geeks, [Morgan Geekie] and what they've came in and provided for our hockey club, leadership and production in different roles.
“We're not comfortable, you’re never comfortable in this business, but we're proud of the group and how they've done so far, and we’ve got to continue to move forward.”
It feels like it’s become a time-honored tradition for puck prognosticators and fans alike to undersell the Bruins decision makers, and underestimate just how good the winning culture and how solid the long-term plan is that’s in place. It certainly didn’t feel like the Bruins didn’t hit a home run on July 1 and they really didn’t with the under-the-radar signings that filled up the B’s transaction sheet.
Sometimes, though, the big splash trade or July 1 signing doesn’t pan out as expected with examples like a past-his-prime David Backes in Boston’s recent past to keep in mind.
But what Sweeney and Co. did do was give this Bruins team exactly what they needed at the NHL level that’s provided them with just enough depth, just enough offense and just enough experience to keep the Black and Gold train rolling this year.