Boston Bruins Sign Jimmy Hayes and Brett Connolly.
Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has locked up the last of his free agents today. A little while ago, the Bruins organization announced that they signed three players to contracts. Don Sweeney has pulled off a series of minor miracles since draft day. He’s found suitable replacements for lost players, and fixed (at least in the short term) the Bruins cap troubles.
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Jimmy Hayes (6’6″, 221lbs) also known as ‘The Pride of Dorchester’ was signed to a three-year contract through the 2017-18 season. Hayes’ contract will have an average cap hit of $2,300,000. Hayes bring his imposing frame back to Boston where he played three seasons for Boston College, helping them win the 2010 NCAA Championship. Hayes will be starting his second full NHL season with Boston and is predicted to end up on the David Krejci or Patrice Bergeron lines on opening night.
Brett Connolly (6’2″, 181lbs) was signed to a one-year contract through the 2015-16 season. That contract brings a cap hit of $1,025,000 at the NHL level. Connolly was the last of the Peter Chiarelli deals. Connolly broke his hand on his second practice was the team, and was limited to just five games last season. He did put up two assists during that time, and showed flashes of brilliance with his play. He’ll bring a strong presence as a top-nine(possibly top-six) forward to the Black and Gold.
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The Bruins also signed forward Brandon DeFazio (6,2″, 205lbs)to a one-year, two-way contract through the 2015-16 season worth a cap figure of $575,000 at the NHL level. DeFazio has limited NHL experience, playing in just two games for the Vancouver Canucks last season. He’ll be heading to Providence in October, where he’ll fill in the gaps left by Providence players either being promoted to the Boston club, or ones who left due to free agency.
Don Sweeney has now locked up all his free agents, giving the fan base one more sigh of relief. Both Connolly and Hayes were signed to reasonable, cap-friendly contracts. The only thing the Bruins are missing at this point is a top-four defenseman. Thanks to Sweeney’s wheeling and dealing, that goal is reachable for the B’s. Even in factoring in the latest signings, this still gives the Bruins organization $5.5 million in cap space. While it likely puts former Chicago Blackhawks free agent Johnny Oduya out of reach, there’s enough cash available to sign Cody Franson to a deal.