By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
The Boston Bruins announced today that both restricted free agents Kyle Keyser and Nick Wolff had signed one-year, two-way contracts to remain in the fold with the NHL organization. Per PuckPedia.com, goaltender Keyser’s one-year deal is worth a reported $750K, while Wolff’s one-year is the same at $750K.
Goaltender Kyle Keyser
Keyser will be entering his fourth professional season with the Boston Bruins organization this upcoming season. The undrafted netminder had his ups and downs during his pro developmental years since joining the B’s when he signed a three-year, entry-level deal in October of 2017. In 44 career games played for the AHL Providence Bruins, Kyle is 15-19-15 with a 2.79 goals-against-average and a .906 save percentage.
His best season was last year as a Bruins depth piece in goal when he appeared in 33 games posting a regular-season record of 11-14-11 with a 2.75 GAA and .908 Save%. Keyser recently had some bad luck with injuries, particularly concussions, to start his pro career. For those who have the chance to watch Keyser work game by game, the athleticism is still there for the developing 23-year-old netminder. In my opinion, goaltending wasn’t the end all be all last season.
Like Cassidy and the cards he was dealt at the NHL level last season, Providence Head Coach Ryan Mougenel was going through the same scenario with his inconsistent lineup. Injuries played a key factor for the Providence team, especially towards the end of the year. A youngster like Keyser and a veteran goaltender like Troy Grosenick stepped up their game as much as possible to try and lock down the last line of defense.
I don’t see Troy Grosenick returning to the Bruins organization, as I’m hearing he wants a three-year deal because his family is comfortable in the New England area, which could be why the Bruins locked up Keyser today. Next season it looks like we could see a tandem of Keyser and recently signed Brandon Bussi, who recently played in the NCAA with Western Michigan University, guiding his Mustangs close to a Frozen Four appearance.
Defenseman Nick Wolff
Wolff will be entering his third season with the Boston Bruins organization. The B’s signed the big blueliner as a free agent to a one-year entry-level deal back in March of 2020 after he left the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs after his senior year. In his last two seasons, Wolff helped his Bulldogs team to capture back-to-back NCAA National Championships.
In 56 career games for the top minor-pro affiliate of the NHL Bruins, Wolff has contributed ten assists as a rugged shutdown defenseman. Nick has also been through some injury trouble in his time in the AHL. Wolf will return to Providence and fit on a defensive blueline next season with Victor Berglund, Michael Callahan, Kai Wissman, Josiah Didier, and most likely Jack Ahcan if the restricted free agent defenseman is extended this off-season.
The 6′-5″ 229-pound defenseman is physical around the net and in the defensive zone and is a solid re-signing for a Providence club needing players of his role. I expect him to have a better year this upcoming season as a 25-year-old still chugging his way to the higher NHL level.
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