There are 25 regular season games in a tumultuous Boston Bruins season where the team has a slim chance to make the postseason. With seven games remaining until the trade deadline, decisions have to be made regarding players without a contract next season. Throughout the organization, the Bruins have 14 restricted free agents. Here is a look at all 14 and a prediction on where they might play during the 2025-26 season:
Forwards
Morgan Geekie, Oliver Wahlstrom, John Beecher, Marc McLaughlin, John Farinacci, Jaxon Nelson, Georgi Merkulov, Trevor Kuntar
Geekie has had two solid seasons with Boston after signing a two-year, $ 4 million contract with the team on July 1, 2023. The 26-year-old winger has found a home on the top line with David Pastrnak and has developed some chemistry. The question will be whether the team will seek some value in trade or re-sign the 2017 third-round draft pick, who has 17 goals and six goals in his last ten games. The guess here is that Geekie will sign a new three-year deal with Boston, but his name should bounce around prominently around the league before March 7.
Wahlstrom was claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders when the Bruins were searching for offensive depth in the forward group. Since joining the Bruins, the South Portland, Maine native has collected one goal and one assist in 15 games. The 24-year-old has played more than 44 games just once in his career and has yet to find a consistent scoring touch. Look for the Bruins to pass on offering Wahlstrom a new deal.
Beecher is a 2019 first-round draft pick who has tremendous skating ability and the size that the Bruins covet. But throughout his hockey career, a lack of finish has hindered his potential, and his ceiling seems to be a fourth-line NHL player at best. The Bruins like Beecher’s skill set, and because he is a first-round selection, the thought is that Beecher signs a one-year, “prove it” bridge deal with the club this offseason.
McLaughlin has had an interesting career with the Bruins. When he plays on the NHL team, McLaughlin seems to produce. That production does not seem to happen as frequently on the AHL club. The 26-year-old has six goals in 26 games overall for Boston and is good insurance when the Bruins need a quick recall. The bet here is that McLaughlin signs another one-year contract to stay close to his Billerica, Massachusetts, home and spend another season in Providence.
Farinacci is a solid two-way center who has had a good season with Providence in the AHL, with six goals and 19 assists in 41 games. The 23-year-old has yet to receive a call-up to Boston. Farinacci was a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2019 and has the potential to be a bottom-six center in the NHL at some point. Look for Boston to keep Farinacci for at least another year to see his development through.
Nelson was signed in April of 2024 out of the University of Minnesota and has one goal and three assists in 26 total games with Providence. Nelson turns 25 years old in March and has seen limited ice time with the AHL club. It might be time for the Bruins to move on from Nelson and let him find a new home for the 2025-26 season.
Merkulov is becoming a puzzling situation for the Bruins. Last season, the 24-year-old had 30 goals and was one of the better players in the AHL. This season, the center has 40 points in 42 games in Providence. However, when called up to the Bruins, Merkulov has yet to find his game or adequate ice time. In seven total games with Boston, Merkulov has one assist while he continues to wait for his next chance. One would think that Merkulov would be frustrated at his lack of opportunity to this point. The Bruins still have control with his restricted status, but Merkulov may be included in a deadline deal. The bold prediction here is that the Bruins trade Trent Frederic, and Merkulov gets his chance for the remainder of the season.
Kuntar is a spark plug, an energy player who is hard to play against on the bottom six for Providence. But like the others before him, offensive production comes sparingly, as Kuntar has collected two goals and five assists in 34 games with Providence this season. If the Bruins move on from the likes of Cole Koepke, Riley Tufte, John Beecher, and others, Kuntar might get a chance next season in Boston. The gut feeling is that Kuntar signs a one-year deal with Boston in the offseason.
Defensemen
Mason Lohrei, Ian Mitchell, Michael Callahan, Drew Bavaro
Lohrei has had an up-and-down sophomore season with Boston. There have been flashes of brilliance offensively and many breakdowns defensively. As Lohrei continues to grow, hopefully, his defense will become adequate to be a solid second-pair defenseman. The 24-year-old is still an important player as the Bruins try to transition back to a Stanley Cup contender. The Bruins will re-sign Lohrei. The only question is the term and average annual value of the new contract.
Mitchell is a 26-year-old defenseman with NHL experience. However, when the Bruins needed some defensive help when injuries to Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy occurred, the Bruins went with Michael Callahan and Jordan Oesterle to fill the void. Mitchell has three goals and 18 assists in 39 games with Providence this season, and it is unclear if the 2017 second-round draft pick remains in Boston’s plans. Mitchell could be an addition in a trade before the deadline.
Callahan received his first call-up to Boston since being acquired by the Bruins three years ago. In eight games, Callahan contributed zero points and was a minus-2. The 25-year-old has a goal and five assists in 35 games with Providence and is a good insurance policy if injuries occur again. Look for the Bruins to extend Callahan with another one-year deal.
Bavaro was signed out of Notre Dame and played seven games with Providence at the end of last season. In 17 games this year, Bavaro has three assists. The 24-year-old also played two games in Maine with the ECHL Mariners and scored a goal. The Bruins might keep Bavaro as a minor leaguer who can contribute in Providence and Maine again next season.
Goaltenders
Michael DiPietro, Brandon Bussi
DiPietro has had a sparking season with Providence and received a quick call-up but did not get into a game with Boston. The AHL All-Star is 16-6-4 on the season with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. The 25-year-old netminder was acquired in a trade involving former Bruins’ prospect Jack Studnicka and has paid dividends since. The Bruins are set with Jeremy Swayman and backup Joonas Korpisalo, but if they can move Korpisalo and his $3 million contract, DiPietro might get an NHL look. If the Bruins do not deal DiPietro in the next few weeks, expect Boston to re-sign their talented goalie.
Bussi has been disappointing since bursting onto the scene after signing out of Western Michigan University. The 26-year-old is 9-9-1 with Providence with a .899 save percentage. A recent solid showing has seen his goals-against average slide to 2.93 on the season. Bussi is now the backup behind DiPietro, but the Bruins could bring him back for one more year to see if Bussi can find his old form. For organizational depth, expect Boston to re-sign Bussi.
Season 4. Episode 24. Franchise Altering Deadline – Bruins Benders Podcast
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