Atlantic Notes: Senators Coaching Staff, Canadiens, Forbort
2024/06/atlantic-notes-senators-coaching-staff-canadiens-forbort.htmlBoston Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort is reportedly headed to the free agent market on July 1st (as per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period). … Forbort will have suitors in free agency, particularly from teams that are looking for a depth defenseman who isn’t afraid to engage the opponent physically.
Maple Leafs Notes: Lambert, Edmundson, Lyubushkin
2024/06/maple-leafs-notes-lambert-edmundson-lyubushkin.htmlHe had a decent showing in postseason play, averaging 18:40 in their seven-game loss to the Bruins while adding an assist and a -1 rating. … The Leafs appear less likely to retain another depth defenseman, Ilya Lyubushkin, with Pagnotta reporting extension discussions haven't started with free agency less than a month away.
Central Notes: Rantanen, Capuano, Hakanpaa, O’Connor
2024/06/central-notes-rantanen-capuano-hakanpaa-oconnor.htmlA new deal won’t come cheap either, shares Corey Masisak of The Denver Post, who compared Rantanen’s extension talks to David Pastrnak, who signed an eight-year, $90MM contract with the Boston Bruins in March of 2023. … The Stars will be eager for Hakanpaa's return, should it come this postseason, as they sort through questionable defense depth from Nils Lundkvist, Derrick Pouliot, and Lian Bichsel.
Notable Moves From The NCAA Transfer Window
2024/05/notable-moves-from-the-ncaa-transfer-window.htmlWood will now move to a Minnesota lineup coming off the loss of top-line forward and team captain Jaxon Nelson, who signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. … Shai and Behrens, both winners of the 2022 National Championship, have since signed their entry-level contracts in the NHL, leaving two massive holes atop the team's depth chart.
Florida Panthers Make Lineup Changes
2024/05/florida-panthers-make-lineup-changes.htmlRelied upon by Florida as a physically involved player, Cousins has only administered three hits during the Eastern Conference Finals after totaling 14 in the team's series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. … On the other hand, Lorentz had primarily been relied upon as a depth piece for the Panthers this season in case of injury.
Bruins Looking To Add A Top Center In Free Agency
2024/05/bruins-looking-to-add-a-top-center-in-free-agency.htmlThe Boston Bruins will be revisiting their need for a new top centerman this off-season, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman sharing on the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast that they could target either Elias Lindholm or Chandler Stephenson should either enter the open market. … Each could rival a cap hit above $5MM, making it tricky to retain all three while still rounding out their depth.
Offseason Checklist: Pittsburgh Penguins
2024/05/offseason-checklist-pittsburgh-penguins-4.htmlOutside of former Penguins, one winger that Pittsburgh could target would be Jake DeBrusk of the Boston Bruins. … Add/Replace Depth Scoring
Ondrej Kase Drawing NHL Interest
2024/05/ondrej-kase-drawing-nhl-interest.htmlThey limited him to just three showings with the Bruins in 2020-21 as well. … In desperate need of a reset after essentially a completely lost season with Carolina, Kase signed a one-year contract with the Czech Extraliga's HC Litvinov to play with his younger brother, former Flyers depth piece David Kase.
Bruins Unlikely To Retain Pending UFA Defensemen
2024/05/bruins-unlikely-to-retain-pending-ufa-defensemen.htmlThe Bruins' elimination in six games at the hands of the Panthers in the second round can hardly be called surprising. … Wotherspoon, meanwhile, also played a larger-than-expected role in the regular season after being signed for AHL depth last summer.
Offseason Checklist: New Jersey Devils
2024/05/offseason-checklist-new-jersey-devils-4.htmlThe Bruins may move on from 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark in order to re-sign the younger Jeremy Swayman, but he has a modified no-trade clause and has expressed his desire to stay in Beantown as he enters the final season of his contract. … But a consistent middle-six winger to bump Lazar to a fourth-line role and provide insurance if Holtz continues to struggle is a clear vacancy on their depth chart.
Bruins Notes: DeBrusk, Pastrnak, Grzelcyk, Maroon
2024/05/bruins-notes-debrusk-pastrnak-grzelcyk-maroon.htmlPending free agent Jake DeBrusk didn’t speak much to his future with the Boston Bruins during exit interviews, except to tell Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic that he thought an extension would have been done by now (Twitter link). … That deal, DeBrusk’s signing, and the wealth of depth options Boston will mull through could quickly eat up their $20.1MM in cap space.
East Notes: Jarvis, Byram, Shattenkirk
2024/05/eastern-notes-jarvis-byram-shattenkirk.htmlBoston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk expressed his desires to play again next season to reporters on Sunday, shares Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic (Twitter link). … He's now played for four different teams over the last six seasons and could be set to increase that number this summer, with no shortage of teams looking for cheap and reliable defensive depth.
Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark Hoping To Return
2024/05/bruins-jeremy-swayman-linus-ullmark-hoping-to-return.htmlThe Boston Bruins are bringing a close to their season with exit interviews on Sunday. … And while two great goaltenders is a great problem to have, it's also preventing Boston from tapping into their great depth chart.
Bruins Recall Brandon Bussi, Patrick Brown, Jayson Megna
2024/05/bruins-recall-brandon-bussi-patrick-brown-jayson-megna.htmlThe Boston Bruins have recalled three players ahead of Game 5 against the Florida Panthers, including forwards Patrick Brown and Jayson Megna, and goaltender Brandon Bussi. … The pair will add stout depth to a Bruins team that played Game 4 without captain Brad Marchand.
Bruins/Panthers Notes: Marchand, Heinen, Bennett, Cousins
2024/05/bruins-panthers-notes-marchand-heinen-bennett-cousins.htmlOne of the big moments from Friday’s third game of the Panthers-Bruins series was the hit from Sam Bennett on Brad Marchand that caused the latter to leave the game in the second period and not return. … He had 17 goals and 19 assists in 74 games during the regular season – great value for a league minimum contract – and provided the type of depth scoring that Boston has been lacking in recent games.
Atlantic Notes: Peeke, Heinen, Bennett
2024/05/atlantic-notes-peeke-heinen-bennett.htmlBoston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke is available to return to the lineup tonight after missing the last two and a half weeks with a finger injury (via Conor Ryan of Boston.com). … Besides the boost to their depth scoring, Bennett would also add a physical element to the Panthers lineup should he return, something that Florida would certainly welcome after the theatrics of Game 2.
Maple Leafs Notes: Trades, Shanahan, Injuries
2024/05/maple-leafs-notes-trades-shanahan-injuries.htmlAfter this year's first-round loss to the Bruins, Toronto has lost eight of its nine playoff series in the Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews/William Nylander era. … The lower-body injury that kept depth winger Bobby McMann out of action was an MCL sprain sustained near the end of the season, and he would have been available to return during the second round if they made it.
Atlantic Injury Notes: Bruins, Bennett, Nylander
2024/05/atlantic-injury-notes-bruins-bennett-nylander.htmlThe Boston Bruins will get reinforcements in their upcoming series against the Florida Panthers, with general manager Don Sweeney sharing that he expects both Andrew Peeke and Danton Heinen to return from injury in the Second Round, per Conor Ryan of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). … Injuries put Boston's depth to the test in the First Round - and the fill-ins came up strong.
Bruins/Maple Leafs Notes: Matthews, McMann, Toronto Black Aces, Heinen
2024/05/bruins-maple-leafs-notes-matthews-mcmann-toronto-black-aces-heinen.htmlSwitching over to the Bruins' side, forward Danton Heinen will not be in the lineup for Game 6 due to an undisclosed injury, The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa reports. … Leafs depth forward Bobby McMann is "progressing" in his recovery from a lower-body injury that's kept him from making his playoff debut, but Keefe said today he isn't close to returning and shouldn't be expected back tonight or for a potential Game 7.
Devils Extend Shane Bowers, Sign Ryan Schmelzer
2024/04/devils-extend-shane-bowers-sign-ryan-schmelzer.htmlBowers, 24, had his signing rights picked up by the Devils in a minor-league trade with the Bruins last June and promptly inked a one-year, two-way extension ($775K/$125K) to cover the 2023-24 campaign. … The Nova Scotian is firmly organizational depth at this point of his career, and unless he works his way into Utica's top six next season and has a major offensive resurgence, he's close to peaking as an AHL fixture.
Atlantic Notes: Raddysh, Fleury, Matthews
2024/04/atlantic-notes-raddysh-fleury-matthews.htmlMatthews left last night’s game early as the Maple Leafs fell into a deep hole and now trail the Boston Bruins 3-1 in their first-round matchup. … The native of Toronto, Ontario spent nearly five seasons toiling in the AHL before emerging this season as a solid depth option for the Lightning.
Atlantic Notes: Sabres, True, Forbort, Brazeau
2024/04/atlantic-notes-sabres-true-forbort-brazeau.htmlBruins defenseman Derek Forbort and winger Justin Brazeau both skated with the team today as they work their way back from their respective injuries but aren’t expected to play on Saturday, notes Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. … The Sabres dealt from their center depth at the trade deadline, moving Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for Bowen Byram.
Bruins Recall Mason Lohrei With Andrew Peeke Out
2024/04/bruins-recall-mason-lohrei-with-andrew-peeke-out.htmlThe Boston Bruins have recalled rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei from the Providence Bruins (Twitter link). … Lohrei will instead provide exciting depth for Boston, having scored four goals and 13 points in the first 41 games of his NHL career this season.
Atlantic Notes: Lightning, Barkov, Ekman-Larsson, Thompson, Imama
2024/04/atlantic-notes-lightning-barkov-ekman-larsson-thompson-imama.htmlNotably, the return of Sergachev indicates that the top defenseman may be ready to go in Round One as the Lightning look to take on either the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers. … For the other players, although Tampa Bay would like to be as healthy as possible heading into the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, their organizational depth has helped keep the team afloat while other regular members of the lineup have missed time.
Panthers, Bill Zito Agree To Multi-Year Extension
2024/04/panthers-bill-zito-agree-to-multi-year-extension.htmlWith Paul Maurice now behind the bench after Zito opted not to make Brunette the full-time bench boss, Tkachuk played an integral role as Florida struggled through the regular season but upset their way to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, knocking off the 135-point Bruins in the first round in the process. … He made his first splash less than a month after being hired, acquiring winger Patric Hornqvist from the Penguins in exchange for depth forward Colton Sceviour and defenseman Mike Matheson, followed up by drafting Anton Lundell 12th overall in 2020 and inking future top-six fixture Carter Verhaeghe to a bargain-bin two-year, $2MM deal in free agency.