After sending Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to Chicago last week, many fans had hoped that Tyler Bertuzzi signing in Boston would be the end result. I had my doubts that I also wrote about, and ultimately, Bertuzzi ends up in Toronto. Many fans have been up in arms about that, desperate for a Bertuzzi-like player to sign in Boston long-term. But now that we have seen what Sweeney has done with that money, should we complain?
Related Article: Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno Traded to Chicago Blackhawks
Milan Lucic
Contract: One-year, $1m AAV
Milan Lucic, 35, returning to the Boston Bruins has got to be the best thing we’ve heard all offseason so far. After Lucic was traded out of Boston in 2015, he spent the next eight seasons playing in Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary. He has been on a slow decline throughout the last five seasons and has found himself in a bottom-six role late in his career.
While Lucic will likely play on the Bruins bottom six, he is still expected to put up 20 points in a season and could see time on the Bruins second powerplay unit. I qualify every 10 points to be worth $1m AAV; that math seems to come close in MOST scenarios around the league. You’re likely bound for success if you can get a few players that outperform that average.
While the Lucic signing is covered with nostalgia leading into a centennial season, Lucic can bring toughness, grit, and potentially enough offensive production to be a “bargain” contract. One other thought that has crossed my mind…Is Lucic signing in Boston Don Sweeney’s way of chumming the water for a Bergeron and Krejci return?
Morgan Geekie
Contract: Two-year, $2m AAV
Morgan Geekie, 24, signing with the Boston Bruins is the most intriguing signing of the Summer for a Bruins fan. He has averaged 25 points over the last two seasons with the Seattle Kraken and has 4 points in 13 playoff games this past season. Geekie is a former third round draft pick that just hasn’t blossomed yet. He plays RW and C, a position of need for Boston, but can he impact the Bruin lineup as a center? Don Sweeney even alluded to it during his press conference, and they are hoping Geekie will outperform expectations. This feels very similar to the Pavel Zacha trade last year. Bring in a young and talented player and hope that he can play well with your core.
I would expect Geekie to play on the Bruins third line, likely as a wing, to start the season. However, it’s been reported by Eliotte Friedman that the Bruins offered Geekie an elevated position as part of his signing there. That leads me to believe he will start on the second line, either as a wing or center, if Bergeron or Krejci aren’t returning.
It will be an interesting fit for Geekie, who has the talent, but has yet to blossom. Realistically, he is 24 and has plenty of time to develop. With a Bruins team that could be on a rebuild or retool, they have the time to invest in him.
James van Riemsdyk
Contract: One-year – $1m AAV
JVR, 34, is a name that most Bruins fans are familiar with, spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Flyers or Toronto Maple Leafs. At his peak, he was a 60 point player in the NHL, known for his net-front presence on the powerplay. Over the last few seasons with the Flyers, JVR’s stats have started to decline, albeit on an abysmal Flyers team. With a one-year deal at $1m, this contract should look great at the end of the season.
With a natural fit in the Bruins middle-six, I would expect JVR to get some looks on the Bruins top powerplay unit. Getting 40 points with the Bruins should be the minimum, in my opinion.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Contract: One-year – $1.05m AAV
Shattenkirk, 34, has been linked to the Bruins multiple times throughout his career, and the time finally comes for him to wear the spoked B. While in the tail end of his career, Shattenkirk has been a serviceable defenseman and can still run a powerplay. Coming in at just over a million, this contract has the potential to be a bargain. The question remains, will he struggle to crack the lineup much like Mike Reilly did?
This signing is odd to me, especially after buying out Reilly and Zboril, ready to take another step in development. Obviously, if McAvoy, Lindholm, or Grzelcyk were to go down with an injury, Shattenkirk is the perfect fit to replace them for a short time. Time will tell on this signing, but short-term and short money is hard to shake a finger at.
Patrick Brown
Contract: Two-year – 800k AAV
Brown, 31, should be considered as Tomas Nosek 2.0 for the Bruins. A depth, veteran center that can be plugged into difficult roles. Being signed for two years makes me believe he will be a regular in the lineup this season, but I guess you never know. With the cheap dollar sign on this contract and the fact that Brown has been able to tally 20-30 points per season, this could work out to be a great contract for Boston.
Jayson Megna
Contract: One-year – 775k AAV
Megna, 33, is a player signing that just doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. With a Bruins team looking to get younger and transition to the next group, bringing in a veteran with less-than-ideal stat lines just doesn’t make sense. Eight points in 41 games with a -19 is just rough.
Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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