By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
With only four days until the National Hockey League Entry Draft and eight until the beginning of Free Agency, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has made another move. The Bruins announced this morning that they have agreed to terms with Defenseman Mason Lohrei on a two-year contract extension with an Average Annual Value of $3,200,000.
Lohrei, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had five goals and 28 assists in 77 games this season with the Bruins, and was -43. He won a Gold Medal earlier this summer with Team USA at the IIHF World Championships alongside Bruins teammates Jeremy Swayman and Andrew Peeke.
This deal leaves the Bruins with just under $24,000,000 in cap space. Of Boston’s remaining Restricted Free Agents, Morgan Geekie is in line for the biggest payday, having scored a career-high 33 goals this season. AFP Analytics projects his contract at four years, with an AAV of just over $6.5M. Some of Boston’s other RFAs include Marat Khusnutdinov, Johnny Beecher, Jakub Lauko, John Farinacci, and Georgii Merkulov.
With Lohrei extending in Boston, the Bruins’ defensive corps for next season is beginning to take shape. The left side is pretty much set in stone as a result of Lohrei’s return, with Hampus Lindholm coming back from injury, and Nikita Zadorov signed long-term. The right side still needs work. Charlie McAvoy and Andrew Peeke are signed for next season, but the Bruins will still need another player or two. Newly acquired, Victor Soderstrom could be a candidate, having been named Defenseman of the Year in the Swedish Hockey League. Still the Bruins will likely look to fill one of these spots either through trade or free agency. Stay tuned as what is shaping up to be a busy offseason is just getting started.
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