Fireworks were planned, but like many Massachusetts municipalities lacking the budget or community support, so was the National Hockey League’s annual free-agent feeding frenzy effectively canceled for 2025.
When it became apparent that highly sought-after Vancouver Canucks RW Brock Boeser and other free-agent, top-six forwards would not be hitting the open market after 11th-hour contract extensions or trades, the Boston Bruins put Plan B in place and spent to the NHL’s salary cap on a busy mixture of journeyman skill, toughness and depth (see below).
Riley Tufte stays with the Bruins.
In other words, only Part 1 of reinventing the Boston Bruins, the part that General Manager Don Sweeney could control, took place according to the team’s vision as explained after the March 7 trade deadline. On March 7th, Sweeney told Boston media that a strong seller’s market allowed the Bruins to deal away not only free agents such as Brad Marchand, Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau (for draft picks and/or prospects) but also players with contract term such as Brandon Carlo and Charlie Coyle, all because management considered it a reasonable goal to restore the lineup today and be a better team in 2025-26.
The question remains: better than 2023-24 when the Bruins as previously constituted spent most of the season in the Presidents Trophy chase and won a playoff round or just better than the “everything that could go wrong went wrong and then some” Bruins of 2024-25?
Based on what didn’t happen – a big catch – today’s lack of pop is eerily reminiscent of what former GM Mike O’Connell went through in 2005 when the NHL came back from its lockout winter with the promised salary cap but also with a game-changing, 24% salary rollback that allowed targeted big-name players to stay with their teams in the new salary-cap world. When O’Connell went shopping, the cupboards were not stocked with star power at red-tag prices, and because the Bruins complied with the commissioner’s suggested lockout strategy, high-end NHLers like Sergei Gonchar, Michael Nylander, Mike Knuble, Sean O’Donnell, Dan McGillis, Brian Rolston, Martin Lapointe, etc. had left Boston for greener pastures.
Two decades later, emptying out the dressing room was once again a gamble but one the Bruins’ brass felt worth the exploration because, as the 2024-25 debacle unfolded with crippling injuries to Hampus Lindholm and, later, Charlie McAvoy, management considered it time to stop trying to keep surfing the 2011 wave and reset the roster.
After the 2005-06 season sank into the abyss, O’Connell never got a do-over, having been replaced that summer by Peter Chiarelli. What will the future hold for Sweeney a decade into his tenure? No way is this a one-year program. Too many variables, too many up-and-down players being asked to be only up, too many x-factors.
Even if Jeremy Swayman plays 50-plus starts like he did in posting a shutout to backbone Team USA to its first World Championship since the ice age, and even if Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm stays healthy this time around, what will the Bruins be once beyond a top line of David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie?
In addressing the media following today’s flurry of bottom-six signings, Sweeney emphasized a restoration of team culture energized by the internal competition created by his July 1 acquisitions of (journeyman) skill, toughness and depth.
Skill: Boston traded a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to Edmonton for 32-year-old, left-shooting right winger Viktor Arvidsson, who comes to the Bruins with one year remaining on his current contract. Assuming for the sake of the argument that new coach Marco Sturm opens the 2025-26 season with Lindholm centering Geekie and Pastrnak – the trio finished the 2024-25 season on a hot streak – Arvidsson will add savvy to the powerplay and get next dibs at RW where he would presumably complete a second line with Pavel Zacha on LW and Casey Mittelstadt at center. If all three play to their potential… and, if not…
Toughness: Boston signed journeyman enforcer Tanner Jeannot to a five-year deal at $3.4 million per. The best way to view the signing is in the microcosm of Sweeney’s overall plan but with specific application to the loss of Frederic. After a 24-goal campaign, Jeannot’s career started out with comparisons to Tom Wilson, but he hasn’t scored that many goals over the last three years combined and his already modest ice time has trended downward. It’s a beefy overpayment and beefy term for a 28-year-old whose eight fights in 2024-25 ranked him among the NHL’s 10 busiest combatants. Jeannot will take some bouts off Mark Kastelic’s fight card, which is important. After a 7th Player-level start, Kastelic was injured in a nasty encounter with Tampa Bay defenseman Emil Lilleberg, hitting his head in the collision and on the ice. He spent the majority of the season battling concussion symptoms and was never able to sustain a comeback to the lineup. Despite missing 21 games, Kastelic finished the season tied for second in the NHL with 10 fights. In addition to allowing Kastelic to focus on playing his position, Jeannot will create operating room for other, less-aggressive or younger forwards.
Depth: Leading the way is welterweight agitator Mikey Eyssimont, whom Sweeney dubbed “a pain in the ass.” He wants him to become Boston’s pain in the ass. Expect the former Tampa Bay forward to mix and match in Boston’s crowded bottom six. Sweeney hopes internal competition will bring out a third-line player or two or three, depending on the readiness of Fraser Minten and Matt Poitras for full-time NHL roles. Returning to the organization is depth forward Sean Kuraly, originally acquired by Sweeney during his 2015 lineup upheaval featuring the trades of Dougie Hamilton and Milan Lucic. Kuraly settled in as Boston’s fourth-line center but left for his hometown Blue Jackets, a team now making aggressive changes as GM Don Waddell seeks to get Columbus back into the playoffs. Sweeney made other signings (see below) and insists those players will get fair shakes at cracking the NHL lineup.
From a philosophical standpoint, Rink Rap questions the decision to spend to the cap on a bevy of bottom-sixers and maybes, potentially forfeiting the flexibility to make a serious upgrade at the trade deadline should their goaltending and strong D core make them playoff viable come March 2026. Internal competition is always at the heart of Sweeney’s journeyman crowds testing the resolve of prospects. I agree NHL positions should not be handed out to the wannabes. The question will be was it worth going this far.
Here is the press release on the Arvidsson acquisition:
BOSTON BRUINS ACQUIRE VIKTOR ARVIDSSON FROM EDMONTON OILERS
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, July 1, that the team has acquired forward Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.
Arvidsson (AHR-vihd-suhn), 32, appeared in 67 games with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2024-25 season, recording 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. He also played in 15 games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tallying two goals and five assists for seven points. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound forward has skated in 613 career NHL games with Edmonton, Los Angeles and Nashville, totaling 194 goals and 195 assists for 389 points with a plus-43 rating. The Skelleftea, Sweden native was originally selected by Nashville in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Arvidsson was a member of Team Sweden at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. He won gold with Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, recording three goals in five tournament games. The forward also won silver at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship and 2011 U18 World Junior Championship.
#07/01/25#
Here is the press release on the Bruins’ July 1 UFA signings:
BRUINS ANNOUNCE JULY 1 TRANSACTIONS
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, July 1, the following roster transactions:
Tanner Jeannot, Forward, 5 Years, $3.4 million AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract with an annual cap hit of $3.4 million.
Jeannot (jan-OH), 28, appeared in 67 games with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2024-25 season, recording seven goals and six assists for 13 points. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound forward has skated in 294 career NHL games with Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Nashville, totaling 49 goals and 44 assists for 93 points. The Estevan, Saskatchewan native was originally signed by Nashville as a free agent in 2018.
Sean Kuraly, Forward, 2 Years, $1.85 million AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Sean Kuraly to a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.85 million.
Kuraly (kuh-RA-lee), 32, appeared in 82 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season, recording six goals and 11 assists for 17 points. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward has skated in 562 career NHL games with Columbus and Boston, totaling 64 goals and 89 assists for 153 points. The Niagara Falls, New York native was originally selected by San Jose in the fifth round (133rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Kuraly won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three points in seven tournament games.
Michael Eyssimont, Forward, 2 Years, $1.45 million AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Michael Eyssimont to a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.45 million.
Eyssimont (AY-see-mawnt), 28, appeared in 77 games with Seattle and Tampa Bay during the 2024-25 season, recording nine goals and seven assists for 16 points. The 6-foot, 191-pound forward has skated in 213 career NHL games with Seattle, Tampa Bay, San Jose and Winnipeg, totaling 25 goals and 31 assists for 56 points. The Littleton, Colorado native was originally selected by Los Angeles in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Internationally, Eyssimont has represented the United States at three IIHF World Championships (2023, 2024, 2025), winning gold at the 2025 tournament.
Matěj Blümel, Forward, 1 Year, $875,000 AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Matěj Blümel to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $875,000.
Blümel (bloo-MEHL), 25, appeared in 67 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) in 2024-25, recording 39 goals and 33 assists for 72 points. The 6-foot, 205-pound forward ranked second in points among AHL skaters and was named to the 2025 AHL First All-Star Team. He was also awarded the Willie Marshall Award as the league’s leading goal-scorer for the 2024-25 season. Blümel also played in seven NHL games with Dallas in 2024-25, tallying one goal.
The Tabor, Czechia native has skated in 197 career AHL games, all with Texas, totaling 89 goals and 89 assists for 178 points with a plus-13 rating. He has also played in 13 career NHL games, all with Dallas, recording two goals. Blümel was originally selected by Edmonton in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Internationally, he has represented Czechia at two IIHF World Championships (2021, 2022). He won bronze at the 2022 tournament, recording eight points through 10 tournament games. He also played for Team Czechia at the 2019 World Junior Championship, 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship and 2017 World Hockey Under-17 Challenge.
Alex Steeves, Forward, 1 Year, $850,000 AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Alex Steeves to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $850,000.
Steeves (STEEVZ), 25, skated in 59 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2024-25,recording 36 goals and 26 assists for 52 points. The 6-foot, 196-pound forward led the Marlies in scoring, and finished second in the league for goals and tied for second in power play goals (13) leading to a 2025 AHL Second All-Star Team nomination. Steeves also played seven games with the Maple Leafs, tallying two points. The St. Paul, Minnesota native has appeared 247 career AHL games, totaling 105 goals and 111 assists for 216 points. He has also played in 14 career NHL games, tallying three points. The Saint Paul, Minnesota native was originally signed by Toronto as a free agent in 2021.
Jordan Harris, Defenseman, 1 Year, $825,000 AAV
The Bruins have agreed to terms with defenseman Jordan Harris on a one-year contract with a cap hit of $825,000.
Harris, 24, appeared in 33 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season, recording one goal and four assists for five points. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound defenseman has skated in 164 career NHL games with Columbus and Montreal, totaling nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points. Harris was a member of Team USA at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, skating in five tournament games and notching one goal. The Haverhill, Massachusetts native was originally selected by Montreal in the third round (71st overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Riley Tufte, Forward, 1 Year (2-Way), $775,000 NHL AAV
The Bruins have signed forward Riley Tufte to a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL cap hit of $775,000.
Tufte, 27, appeared in 58 games with Providence during the 2024-25 season, recording 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points. Among Providence skaters, he ranked in the top five for goals (T-1st), points (5th), power play goals (4, T-5th) and game winning goals (3, T-3rd). The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward also skated in six games with Boston in 2024-25. Tufte has appeared in 331 career AHL games with Providence, Colorado and Texas, recording 79 goals and 87 assists for 166 points. The Coon Rapids, Minnesota native was originally selected by Dallas in the first round (25th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Jonathan Aspirot, 1 Year (2-Way), $775,000 NHL AAV
The Bruins have agreed to terms with defenseman Jonathan Aspirot on a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL cap hit of $775,000.
Aspirot (AS-pihr-oh), 26, appeared in 55 games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) during the 2024-25 season, recording five goals and 24 assists for 29 points. The 6-foot, 205-pound defenseman has skated in 292 career AHL games with Calgary and Belleville, totaling 30 goals and 95 assists for 125 points. The Mascouche, Quebec native was originally signed by Ottawa as a free agent in 2020.
Luke Cavallin, Goaltender, 1 Year (Entry-Level), $775,000 NHL AAV
The Bruins have signed goaltender Luke Cavallin to a one-year entry-level contract with an NHL cap hit of $775,000.
Cavallin (CAV-uh-Lin), 24, appeared in 32 games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) during the 2024-25 season, compiling an overall record of 19-10-2 with a 2.13 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound goaltender ranked first among the ECHL in save percentage in 2024-25. Through 20 playoff games in 2024-25, he recorded a 1.53 goals against average and a .948 save percentage. Cavallin won the Kelly Cup with the Lions in 2025 and was awarded the June M. Kelly Award as the most valuable player in the playoffs. The Swindon, England native was originally signed by the Toronto Marlies as a free agent in 2022.
#07/01/25
It was noted on the eve of free agency that the Bruins addressed their right side with the three-year, $9 million signing of Henri Jokiharju. Another UFA signee not noted above because he joined the organization months ago is RW Dalton Bancroft out of Cornell. His 25th birthday is next winter (before next playoffs), so the Bruins present a land of opportunity for him as well. Bancroft is participating this week in Bruins Development Camp, which has two days remaining, concluding with scrimmages.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 