By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
On July 1st, 2024, Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney addressed multiple needs on the team’s roster. The signing of Elias Lindholm gives the Bruins more depth down the middle, something they have targeted since the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Nikita Zadorov brings more size and toughness to the Bruins’ backend, elements missing in their series against the Florida Panthers. While those were the headline moves, there were a number of lesser ones, including one that may have flown under the radar for many: the signing of Riley Tufte.
A native of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Tufte was selected 25th overall in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. After three years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, he began his professional career with the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars. Tufte spent four seasons in the Stars’ Organization before joining the Colorado Avalanche after not being tendered a qualifying offer. He played five games with the Avalanche this year, spending most of the year in the American Hockey League.
Having only played 18 NHL games to this point, Tufte will look to add to that as a Bruin. While he may spend some time in Providence, plenty suggests he could be on his way to becoming a full-time NHLer.
For starters, Tufte has improved in each season of his career. He led the Colorado Eagles in goals this past year, with 23 in 67 games. He also had 22 assists, set a career-high with 45 points, and was named to the AHL All-Star Game for the first time. Compared to his three-goal rookie season in 2019, Tufte has clearly shown significant improvement.
Tufte also has physical tools that can help him at the NHL level. The 6′-6″, 231-pound left-wing has a tremendous reach and soft hands around the net. He pairs those together to score goals and patiently waits for the goaltender to move before reaching around to slide the puck into the empty frame. Tufte can also play a simplified game, using his size advantage to barrel toward the crease to find loose pucks and put them home.
He can fill a traditional fourth-line role, bringing physicality and toughness to whatever team he plays for. He finishes his checks, as evidenced by his 91 penalty minutes last season with the Eagles. Tufte may need to rely on this aspect of his game as he joins the Bruins’ Organization.
While Boston projects to have one of the strongest lineups in the league next season, their line combinations are still up in the air. This is especially true for the Bruins’ bottom six, given the departures of Jesper Boqvist, Jakub Lauko, and Pat Maroon. Tufte has perhaps his best opportunity to solidify himself as a full-time NHL player. He will likely battle alongside fellow newcomers Mark Kastelic and Max Jones and returner Johnny Beecher for a spot on the Bruins’ fourth line. If Tufte can continue his upward trajectory, one of those spots might end up being his.
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