With the Boston Bruins heading into an offseason of cap troubles, carrying a $4.5m bonus overage from the Bergeron and Krejci contracts will be an anchor holding them back. There is no doubt that Don Sweeney will have to get creative and make some moves this Summer. But not all moves need to be a trade. Could Boston be in the market for a Buyout?
The last time the Bruins utilized a buyout was Jimmy Hayes in 2017 and Dennis Seidenberg in 2016.
With the NHL Salary Cap reportedly only going up about $1m this Summer, the Bruins are projected to have $4.9m to spend with 6-7 forwards and a goalie to sign. The question then becomes, what do the Bruins do to make the money work? We have all heard the trade options by now, but here is a buyout option, Mike Reilly.
If the Bruins were to buyout Reilly, they would gain over $2.6m on the cap for next season while losing approx. $1.3m in the 2024-25 season. While that may make you think twice at first, you must consider all projections say the NHL Salary Cap will rise anywhere from $5-10m next offseason. Quite an astounding number, and it may make NHL GMs feel a little bolder this Summer.
In my opinion, if the Bruins aren’t able to trade Reilly away with a late-round pick, they should buy him out regardless of trading away any significant roster players. Reilly was playing in the AHL for a significant portion of the season, do him the favor of letting him sign with an NHL club and save yourself the $2.6m.
