PHOTO CREDITS: (nhl.com)

By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj

Following Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins announced that General Manager Don Sweeney has re-signed forward Oskar Steen to a two-year, one-way contract worth $800,000 per season.

Steen, 24, has played in 19 games for the Boston Bruins in 2021-2022, posting two goals and four assists for six points in that time. He’s largely been insurance for forward depth when there have been injuries and has slotted well on the fourth line or even third line when needed. In those 19 games, Steen has amassed 29 hits for an average of 8.39 hits/60 (8th on the Bruins).

Analytically, Steen has an xGF/60 of 2.34 and an xGA/60 of 1.98 for a 54.19 GF%. He has been on the ice for 109 shots for and only 89 against, always something of positive value for a bottom-six forward. In relatively all advanced stats, his positives outweigh the negatives. He’s a player who brings some extra physicalness along the boards and on the forecheck while having some speed and offensive upside that can make him a sneaky threat in a fourth-line role. Having him locked up for another two years provides some additional depth to the organization which is never a bad thing.

Steen has spent the majority of his 21-22 campaign with the AHL’s Providence Bruins where he has put up a solid 15-16-31 stat sheet in 41 games this season – good for sixth on the P-Bruins in points and third in goals. He has already broken his previous point total record in the AHL (23 points in 2019-20) and is currently on pace for just shy of 40 points per eliteprospects.com.

The Karlstad, Sweden native was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (165th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.