By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
October can not come soon enough as Bruins fans await the start of the 2023-24 season and with the team out of the Playoffs picture, off-season activities can be a tad quiet. While not much is being reported regarding contract extensions (as of yet), there is some news quietly trickling out involving the organization.
In case you missed it, here are some recent announcements that you may have overlooked (including a new addition to the Bruins family).
Nashville Bound
Continuing along with the team’s nominations, it was announced back on May 24th, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney was named a finalist for the 2023 NHL General Manager of the Year Award. The NHL General Managers select the winner through a poll and the winner will be announced at the upcoming NHL Awards in Nashville on June 26th.
Sweeney previously won the award during the 2018-19 season. The Bruins set NHL history this year and several moves made by Sweeney resulted in the B’s posting a 65-12-5 record and winning the President’s Trophy, an award annually given to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season.
Beginning with the hiring of new head coach Jim Montgomery in 2022, Sweeney set the wheels in motion. Montgomery now holds the record for most wins by a coach in his first year with a team.
New Jersey Devils forward Pavel Zacha was acquired via a trade in exchange for Erik Haula. He later signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the team. The 26-year-old posted a career-high record of 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points.
In January 2023, Zacha signed a signed a four-year contract extension after playing 42 games with the Bruins. The 6-foot-4, 199-pound forward was awarded NESN’s 7th Player Award, given annually to the Bruin who exceeded fan expectations.
Sweeney also re-signed Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to one-year contracts. In February the team acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Craig Smith, a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2025 second-round draft pick, and a 2024 third-round draft pick.
In another move that greatly benefitted the team, the Bruins acquired forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2024 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected) and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. In an impressive showing that unfortunately ended abruptly, both sides are reportedly working on a contract that will result in Bertuzzi staying in Boston.
And finally, in March 2023 Sweeney re-signed forward David Pastrnak to an eight-year contract extension through the 2030-31 season with an annual NHL cap hit of $11.25 million. The 26-year-old Czech right-winger led the Bruins in goals (61), assists (52), and points (113) and was one of just two players in the NHL to score more than 60 goals this season.
Time To Get Fit
From June 9th until Sunday, June 11, The Boston Bruins Foundation will once again host the BFit Heroes Cup Hockey Tournament, presented by National Grid. The weekend-long event brings together firefighters, police officers, EMS, and military members to raise funds and awareness for the charities they choose to fundraise.
With a goal of raising $500,000, the tournament will be held at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Bruins alumni Mik Mottau, Andrew Raycroft, and P.J. Stock will join the teams throughout the event.
Boston Bruins Player Development Coordinator and former player Adam McQuaid will serve as the opening ceremonies speaker while Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly performs the national anthem.
The tournament will feature 102 teams made up of over 1,600 first responders and military members. Sunday will feature the top four teams from each division with the winner of each division receiving a cash prize that will be added to their donation to a charity of their choice.
And Some Happy News
Bruins superstar David Pastrnak and longtime girlfriend Rebecca Rohlsson recently announced the birth of their baby girl Freya Ivy Pastrnak. The right-winger shared the exciting news on his Instagram.
The birth comes just shy of two years since the tragic loss of their first child, a son named Viggo Rohl Pastrnak, who passed away on June 23, 2021, six days after he was born.
The superstar excitedly boasted: “We’ve dreamt about this moment for long time and I couldn’t be more proud of my two beautiful girls. I can’t wait to watch you be the best mamma to our little nugget.”
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