PHOTO CREDITS: (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
It has been a successful week for General Manager Don Sweeney and the rest of the Boston Bruins management staff. On Sunday, the Bruins re-signed RFA defenceman Charlie McAvoy to a three-year contract with an annual average salary (AAV) of $4.9 million and also managed to lock up the other RFA defender – Brandon Carlo – to a two-year contract worth $2.85 million per season.
Throughout the league, the Bruins are being praised for their “genius” work to re-sign both of these future franchise defensemen while keeping forward David Backes and not making any other trades to free up cap space and rightly so. I was one of the people who was convinced that Boston would be forced to ship out a body in order to make room for both players. Evidently, Sweeney knew he could sign both without making other adjustments and he proved it.
However, things might not seem so perfect after taking a further glance. In the lead-up to the signings, it was made clear that Charlie McAvoy wanted to stay in Boston for the long-term and it was clear that the organization felt the same way. In that case, many imagined that when the details of the contract would be released, it would lock up the 21-year-old for the next seven or even eight years.
Due to the fact that people assumed the length of McAvoy’s deal, it was expected for Carlo to have a shorter, bridge-type deal because of the lack of cap space available to spend on Carlo. In a perfect world, Boston would have traded David Backes and signed both Carlo and McAvoy to contracts with long terms to solidify the defensive core for years to come.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and in some cases, we have to be thankful and settle for what we do have. As we look ahead for the 2019-2020 NHL season, the Boston Bruins have a true chance to contend again for the Stanley Cup or at the very least, contend in the Eastern Conference. Regardless, it is good to keep an open mind on the future and the next half-decade for Boston could be a stressful one.
2020 Expiring Contracts:
Forwards:
- F Charlie Coyle (UFA)
- F Jake DeBrusk (RFA)
- F Karson Kuhlman (RFA)
- F Chris Wagner (UFA)
- F Joakim Nordstrom (UFA)
- F Brett Ritchie (RFA)
- F Anders Bjork (RFA)
- F Zach Senyshyn (RFA)
- F Ryan Fitzgerald (RFA)
- F Brendan Gaunce (RFA)
- F Peter Cehlarik (RFA)
Defensemen:
- D Torey Krug (UFA)
- D Kevan Miller (UFA)
- D Zdeno Chara (UFA)
- D Matt Grzelcyk (RFA)
- D Jakub Zboril (RFA)
- D Wiley Sherman (RFA)
- D Jeremy Lauzon (RFA)
Goaltenders:
- G Jaroslav Halak (UFA)
- G Daniel Vladar (RFA)
- G Maxime Legacé (UFA)
If you thought that this past off-season was hectic and stressful, just wait for the stress a year from now. The Bruins will have big-name players such as Torey Krug, Jake DeBrusk, Jaroslav Halak, and Charlie Coyle that will have an expiring contract. According to CapFriendly, the Bruins are projected to have $25,158,334 in available cap space for the 2020 offseason, so it is inevitable that players will have to be let go – whether it is in a trade or just leaving on July 1st.
However, there are a few players that I’d imagine are guaranteed to return to Boston – forward Jake DeBrusk, defenceman Matt Grzelcyk, forward Karson Kuhlman, forward Anders Bjork, defenceman Jeremy Lauzon, and forward Zach Senyshyn. The remaining players are up in the air and their performance and/or development in the 2019-20 campaign will prove their worth.
Sticking to NHL roster, Torey Krug, Kevan Miller, Zdeno Chara, Charlie Coyle, and Jaroslav Halak are the biggest pieces that are question marks for me. In regards to the captain, Zdeno Chara, his decision on whether or not he wants to continue playing hockey is still up in the air. When his current deal expires this July, he will be 43 years of age.
Kevan Miller has dealt with numerous injuries and with the rising defensive prospects, I don’t see him returning. Charlie Coyle was great in the playoffs last season, but a full year wearing the Spoked-B sweater will really show what he is worth contract-wise. Jaroslav Halak is a big piece, but same thing with Coyle, this season will show what he can demand in the negotiations. Finally, Torey Krug could be a player for trade bait, but he brings a high-level of play to Boston’s defense and it is likely that he returns.
For Chris Wagner, Joakim Nordstrom, and Brett Ritchie – I personally don’t see them re-signing with the organization mainly due to the plethora of talent in the AHL that Boston can use to fill those bottom-six roles.
2021 Expiring Contracts:
Forwards:
- F David Krejci (UFA)
- F David Backes (UFA)
- F Danton Heinen (RFA)
- F Sean Kuraly (UFA)
- F Par Lindholm (UFA)
- F Trent Frederic (RFA)
- F Cameron Hughes (RFA)
- F Anton Blidh (RFA)
- F Paul Carey (UFA)
Defensemen:
- D Brandon Carlo (RFA)
- D Steven Kampfer (UFA)
Goaltenders:
- G Tuukka Rask (UFA)
After the Bruins make some difficult decisions in the 2020 offseason, the 2021 offseason proves to be one of the biggest in a long time for the organization. Core players such as David Krejci, Brandon Carlo, and superstar goaltender Tuukka Rask have expiring deals. However, the Bruins will be free of $6 million due to David Backes’ contract and the likely departure of Steven Kampfer, Paul Carey, and Par Lindholm.
I’d imagine that Krejci and Rask take a decrease in pay when they negotiate a new deal, as both will be in their mid-30s at the end of the 2020-2021 season, (Krejci – 35, Rask – 34). That saved salary will likely be thrown right back into Brandon Carlo’s deal which will hopefully be a longer contract in comparison to the two-year deal that he recently agreed to.
It’ll also depend largely on the success of the young players like Danton Heinen, Trent Frederic, Anton Blidh, and Cameron Hughes – but I don’t see any of them earning a large deal with only Heinen in my eyes making more than $1.5 million.
2022 Expiring Contracts:
Forwards:
- F Patrice Bergeron (UFA)
- F Pavel Shen (RFA)
- F Oskar Steen (RFA)
- F Jakub Lauko (RFA)
- F Jack Studnicka (RFA)
Defensemen:
- D Charlie McAvoy (RFA)
- D Urho Vaakanainen (RFA)
- D Axel Andersson (RFA)
Goaltenders:
- G Kyle Keyser (RFA)
The list takes a dramatic decrease in the number of players and that is a result of all the short-term deals or the longer deals that are nearing the conclusion. At this point, it is nearly impossible to predict the numbers and the results, especially because of all the restricted free-agents in this class. Everyone but Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy have something big to prove if they want that NHL contract. I expect everyone to sign in this free-agent class, but who really knows.
Another thing to note is that at this point, previous players on the list could be expiring this year too due to the possibility of one or two-year deals signed as well as free-agents and acquisitions in trades.
Players Extended Past 2022:
Forwards:
- F Brad Marchand (2025-26)
- F David Pastrnak (2023-24)
Defensemen:
- D John Moore (2023-24)
- D Connor Clifton (2023-24)
With only four players signed past 2022, the Boston Bruins franchise as we know it will be completely different. Retirements, departures and arrivals are going to be surrounding the management team and for Don Sweeney, his job will be the most difficult as it ever has been. These next three years will prove how good of a General Manager he is.
A lot of this will also come down to the players. Now is the time to prove yourself for that contract – big or small. If you want to remain a member of the Boston Bruins and skate on that TD Garden ice with the historic Spoked-B on your chest, this is your moment. No pressure.
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