By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins need help on the scoring front. That fact became brutally clear in their second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers, where the team failed to exceed two goals in all but Game One. The playoffs were no offensive laser show for Boston, as the team posted a meager 2.38 goals per game over their 13-game run.
To make matters worse, the future of Boston’s roster is uncertain. Veteran James van Riemsdyk will almost certainly be gone in free agency, Danton Heinen could look for a significant raise, and, most importantly, Jake DeBrusk may be on his way out the door. Losing the 2015 first-rounder would be a tough blow to an already thin forward group, making this year’s free agency crucial to the team’s future.
With all of that in mind, here are ten wingers the Boston Bruins could pursue:
Sam Reinhart
Age: 28
Stats: 57-37 -94
There’s no denying that the crown jewel of NHL free agency would look good in black and gold. Reinhart is coming off a season where he posted a career-high 57 goals and 94 points. He’s reached the 30-goal plateau in all three seasons since taking his talents to Sunrise, FL, and was a consistent 20-goal scorer even before that.
The problem here is going to be the price tag. Not only has Reinhart insinuated that he wants to stay in Florida, but he’ll undoubtedly command an eight-figure salary that may just be too rich for Don Sweeney. He’s a perfect addition who would elevate Boston’s even strength and power play scoring, but he’s a pipe dream unless Boston backs up the Brinks truck.
Jonathan Marchessault
Age: 33
Stats: 42-27-69
Jonathan Marchessault is a flat-out gamer. He’s posted 22 or more goals in seven of the last eight seasons and 50 or more points in six of those eight. The regular season numbers catch the eye, but it’s his postseason production that he’s best known for. In 102 career playoff games, Marchessault has 36 goals, 40 assists, and 76 points. He followed up a Stanley Cup-winning season (where he took home the Conn Smythe trophy) with 42 goals despite the numerous injuries the Vegas Golden Knights suffered.
At 32 years old, he may be nearing the end of his prime, but he’s the type of finisher I believe can achieve 20+ goals even as he ages. He can produce efficiently at even strength and on the power play in areas where Boston needs the most help. The Bruins will most likely be priced out of Reinhart, but if they’re willing to drop the big bucks on one of the most effective wingers in the league over the past few seasons, Marchessault is the guy.
Tyler Toffoli
Age: 32
Stats: 33-22-44
Tyler Toffoli is one of those players who has shown throughout his career that he knows how to put the puck in the net. He has made six different stops across his NHL journey, and he’s proven that when he’s healthy, he can shatter the 20-goal mark. In his last four seasons, he’s notched at least 20 goals (topping 25 four times) and 44 points. He’s also played in two Stanley Cups and has a ring with the Los Angeles Kings.
The problem with Toffoli is his age and price tag. Toffoli is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off of a deal where he made $4.3 million last season. His consistent run of goal-scoring seasons will boost both the price tag and the term he’ll want on a new deal. Will Don Sweeney pay an aging forward $5-6 million annually well into his 30s? That’s the question.
Jonathan Drouin
Age: 29
Stats: 19-37-56
Jonathan Drouin had a promising start to his career, posting 20 goals and 50 points in his second full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, since then, his NHL tenure has been marred by injury. He’s missed at least 20 games in every season since 2018-19 except for last year’s campaign. He’s a talented winger who simply hasn’t been able to stay on the ice.
That being said, Drouin can be a top-six staple when he’s healthy. He’s an excellent skater who thrives in transition and can use his speed to create problems for defenders. When he’s suited up in over 70 games (five times), he’s consistently racked up 30 assists and between 13 and 21 goals. If Drouin is on the right side of a bad stretch of injuries, he’s definitely worth an investment. At a decent price, he’d be a gamble on which I’d wager.
Teuvo Teravainen
Age: 29
Stats: 25-28-53
Bruins fans may remember Teravainen from his rookie season in Chicago when the Blackhawks stole the 2013 Stanley Cup on Garden ice. Since then, the Finnish winger has had an impressive career, amassing 450 points in 670 games. He consistently scores somewhere between 15-20 goals, piles up assists, and will most likely give you 50 points a year. He does significant damage on the power play and would be a welcome facilitator for Boston’s ailing man advantage.
Teravainen is interesting because he’s firmly in the prime of his career but isn’t so old that a longer-term contract would hamstring Boston’s cap. He’s an excellent forechecker, can dish the puck well, and would be an upgrade over DeBrusk in terms of sheer point production. He is someone I would definitely consider if I’m the Boston Bruins.
Anthony Mantha
Age: 29
Stats: 23-21-34
Anthony Mantha has the type of frame and athleticism to make any talent evaluator swoon. At 6’5″ and 234 pounds, he has the frame to dominate board play, create havoc in front of the net, and assert himself physically. Couple that with the fact that he’s in the 79th percentile of the league in skating speed, and you get a physical freak.
The issue with Mantha is that he’s struggled to stay on the ice. He’s played 80 games once in his career, and due to that inability, his production hasn’t been there. He doesn’t necessarily shine on the power play and has only surpassed 20 goals in three of his eight seasons. If Boston were to acquire him, the price would have to be extremely favorable. Otherwise, it’s just an unwise risk.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Age: 29
Stats: 21-22-43
A massive set of Bruins fans remember Tyler Bertuzzi fondly for his quarter-season in Boston. He displayed instant chemistry with David Pastrnak, played a hard-nosed style of hockey, and put up excellent offensive numbers in the playoffs. If Bertuzzi were to return, he’d still be one of the better forwards on Boston’s roster; the question is how much better he is than what they already have.
Unfortunately for him, his time in Toronto wasn’t as productive as he would’ve liked. He barely edged out DeBrusk in points despite being on a much higher-octane team. For me, he falls into the category of ‘I’ll take him…at the right price.’ He’s shown he can play in Boston and provides the kind of forechecking game they need (89th percentile), but if he wants north of $6 million, he might price Boston out.
Warren Foegele
Age: 28
Stats: 20-21-41
If you want to look solely at analytics, Warren Foegele perfectly fits the player archetype the Boston Bruins seek. He’s fast (76th percentile), plays physically, and can win battles on the forecheck (78th percentile). The problem with Foegele is his stat sheet production.
The 28-year-old has only registered 20 goals more than once in his career, and that was last season while skating alongside Leon Draisaitl. Without Draisaitl centering him, the gritty winger’s best season consisted of 13 goals, 17 assists, and 30 points. There’s a chance Foegele is firmly in his prime and about to play the best hockey of his life, but that’s a major risk for Boston.
Anthony Duclair
Age: 28
Stats: 24-18-42
Duclair is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL (86th percentile for skating speed), and he could be exactly the type of player Bruins management is looking for in this free agent class. He’s been somewhat of a journeyman throughout his NHL career, but when he’s healthy and on a decent team, he’s a capable goal scorer who can create matchup problems at even strength and chip in on the power play.
Duclair is interesting because he falls somewhere between the second and third tier of free-agent forwards. He’s better than guys like Foegele, Sprong, and Eeli Tolvanen but hasn’t been a consistent point producer like Toffoli or Teravainen. That makes him somebody who could fall right into Don Sweeney’s salary sweet spot. If you’re looking for best value on a potential deal, Duclair may be the man for you.
Daniel Sprong
Age: 27
Stats: 18-25-43
Sprong is an interesting contender on this list because he’s put up impressive goal totals despite never really being given significant ice time. Over the last two years, Sprong has 39 goals in 142 games, nine of which came on the power play. Of skaters who played at least 200 minutes last season, Sprong ranked 1.18 in Goals per 60. He’s put together the type of resume that may lead some executives to believe that he could score more given increased time.
Sprong would be a fallback option for Boston if they fail to land one of the other big fishes in free agency. He profiles a lot like Morgan Geekie, someone with favorable advanced metrics who may be able to thrive when given a more favorable situation. The good news is he should come on the cheap, so if the Bruins want a bargain, he’s worth a shot.
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