By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
On July 1st, 2025, the Boston Bruins handed out seven contracts to unrestricted free agents to begin NHL Free Agency. Targeting five forwards and two defenseman, General Manager Don Sweeney wanted to rebuild the identity of a Bruins team that finished fifth-worst in the NHL the season prior and had dealt away many stalwarts.
Given the lack of top-six talent on the open market, the Bruins opted for bottom-six signings and depth additions, looking to reshape their identity. While these moves did not fully address the Bruins’ issues, they certainly contributed to a 34-point turnaround and a playoff birth in 2026.
Tanner Jeannot
The biggest contract Sweeney and President and Alternate Governor Cam Neely handed out was to the burly Jeannot, who signed for five years and $17 million with an AAV of $3.4 million. This move was scrutinized from the get-go, as the former Los Angeles Kings forward had struggled to produce in the years following his 41-point rookie season with the Nashville Predators. To add more questions, there apparently was a big bidding war for Jeannot’s services, which the Bruins came out on top of.
However, Jeannot proved the critics wrong in his first season in the black and gold. He posted 6-16-22 in 77 games, the second-highest point total of his career. He also led the team in hits with 239 and took a career-low 66 penalty minutes, eight of which came from fights. Jeannot was also crucial to the team’s identity, using his heavy forecheck to create disruption and being willing to drop the gloves whenever.
In year one, Jeannot established himself as the classic Bruins’ bottom-six forward, one who is willing to go to the dirty areas and be physical. While his 21-goal rookie season may have been an outlier, Jeannot has value as an everyday player and can make plays happen with his size and instincts.
Sean Kuraly
After four years with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Kuraly re-signed with the Bruins for two seasons at $3.7 million. Like Jeannot, Kuraly’s point totals are never going to blow anyone away. Rather, it is his defensive work and knack for clutch goals that make him valuable.
As the fourth line center, Kuraly posted the same stat line as Jeannot, 6-16-22, and was 51% from the faceoff dot, which was fourth best on the team. As in his first stint in Boston, Kuraly was a key penalty killer and started the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone. The fourth line of Jeannot, Kuraly and Mark Kastelic was a staple all season and was key at shutting down other teams’ scoring lines and establishing physicality. Next season, expect more of the same from that trio, since all three have years left on their deals.
Michael Eyssimont
Another depth piece brought in was Eyssimont, who spent last season split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Seattle Kraken. As a speedy, versatile forward, Sweeney and Neely inked him to a two-year deal worth $2.9 million. This was a tidy bit of work by the front office, as the speed and tenacity Eyssimont brings to the table were missing on recent Bruins rosters.
Eyssimont posted 8-10-18 in year one, the second-highest point total of his career. He was a regular in the lineup for the first half of the season, but come January, his appearances dwindled; he finished with 56 games played, 18 of which came after January 1st. This was due to the third-line right-wing spot that Eyssimont had occupied being rotated, with the 29-year-old becoming one of a few forwards who played there.
While the signing was good on paper, Eyssimont never became a regular for the Bruins and with a year left on his deal, could be a candidate for a move to clear up the backlogged depth. While Eyssimont had his moments, including a two-goal game against the Florida Panthers in early February, more was expected from the speedy forward.
Alex Steeves
While Eyssimont was projected to be a regular in the lineup, Steeves certainly was not. With 14 NHL games under his belt across four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was signed to a one-year deal worth $850K. In the AHL in 2024-25, Steeves posted 36-26-62 for the Toronto Marlies, finishing eighth in the league in points.
The thought heading into this season was that Steeves would push for a roster spot out of training camp. However, his call-up would come in November and he would score on his debut against his former team. In late November and into early December, Steeves was on fire, scoring five goals in five games around Thanksgiving.
Steeves finished the year with 9-7-16 in 43 games, struggling to find both production and playing time down the stretch. In January, the Bruins inked Steeves to a two-year extension, making this one-year flier worthwhile. While the scoring tapered off for the 26-year-old, the playmaking and speed are still evident and he will be vying for a roster spot out of training camp once again.
Matej Blumel
Like Steeves, Blumel tore up the AHL last season for the Texas Stars, posting 39-33-72 for the second-best in the league. The Czech forward had struggled to earn NHL call-ups with the Dallas Stars, appearing in only 13 games over two seasons. A one-year deal worth $875k was a worthy gamble by the Bruins, who had holes to fill on their roster and were in need of scoring.
However, unlike Steeves, Blumel never really had the opportunity to play at the NHL level, appearing in only four games in November when the Bruins were hampered by injuries. Despite that, he once again had a stellar year in the AHL, scoring 21-31-52 in 58 games.
With his deal up and another strong AHL season under his belt, the Providence Bruins would love to have him back, but another contract with Boston may be unlikely unless they feel he can take another step. Blumel’s role in Providence’s stellar season may not be enough to keep him in Boston next season.
Jonathan Aspirot
Perhaps the most surprising free agent addition to break out was Aspirot. Signed to a one-year deal worth $775k with zero NHL games under his belt, Aspirot emerged as a quality defenseman who played big minutes down the stretch for Boston. The 27-year-old recorded 3-10-13 in 61 games and was a team-high plus 30.
Aspirot’s strong play earned him a two-year extension, solidifying him as, at the minimum, a depth defenseman who can slot in anywhere. He played most of the season on the top pair with Charlie McAvoy, who posted career-highs in assists and points. While that may not be the top pair heading into next season, Aspirot should definitely be in the conversation to be a regular in the lineup on the back of his strong rookie season.
Jordan Harris
After re-signing Henri Jokiharju, the Bruins kept digging for a depth defenseman and landed on the Haverhill, Massachusetts native Harris for one-year at $825k. However, the left-shot defenseman had some unfortunate injury luck during the 2025-26 season, appearing in only eight games due to a right ankle fracture sustained on October 21st.
Harris played in five of the first eight games of the season before his injury, recording a goal and an assist. After his injury, he did not return to any game action until a January 23rd game for Providence, where, in four games for the P-Bruins, he had 1-2-3. He appeared in three games for the Bruins down the stretch, recording an assist and was in the lineup for game four against the Buffalo Sabres, but was a minus two.
As a restricted free agent, the Bruins still have his rights, so it is likely that Harris receives a qualifying offer and remains in the organization. But with the emergence of Aspirot, Harris’ role has diminished, as evidenced by the lack of games he played after January despite being healthy. While he’ll likely be back next season, it may be as a seventh or eighth defenseman.
Overall, the Bruins’ venture into the open market last season was a strong one, as they found players who emerged as quality options and helped build the foundation of an identity. The only real misses were Blumel, who still tore up the AHL and Harris, who suffered a major injury and missed months. These seven players all had some role in the Bruins’ return to the playoffs and proved that spending big in free agency does not necessarily translate to on-ice success.
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