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Boston Bruins UFAs: Loui Eriksson, Chris Kelly and Kevan Miller

By Tanner Rebelo

Apr 7, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Lee Stempniak (20) reacts after scoring a goal past Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Lee Stempniak (20) reacts after scoring a goal past Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Bruins UFAS: Loui Eriksson, Chris Kelly, and Kevan Miller Lead The List

The Boston Bruins season came to an unexpected ending on Saturday after they were eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight season. With no playoff hockey again this season it is time to already look ahead to the Summer which is expected to be a busy one for the Black and Gold.

There are currently 9 Boston Bruins players who will become unrestricted free agents on July 1st.

1. Loui Eriksson, right wing ($4.25 million cap hit in 2015-16)

2015-16 stats: 30 goals, 33 assists in 82 games

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    • Loui Eriksson will have a lot of attention around him by NHL teams looking for top 6 forward. After Eriksson’s 30 goal season his price tag is expected to be considerably higher than his current cap hit of $4.25 million.  Eriksson saw his production increase in Boston only after the team moved to a more offensive scheme as the defense failed. Eriksson’s high price tag may cause the Bruins to balk, but without Eriksson the questionable offensive production for the Bruins will worsen.

    As the team struggles to find a top-four defenseman they will need all the offensive production they can manage, which leads me to believe that they will pay Eriksson out of fear for losing his offensive production. Personally I think that Eriksson is a good player but the Bruins shouldn’t overreact here, and only sign him if the money is right. If the price is too high I would look to try and fill the position from within in the idea that the young players in the system will step up.

     2. John-Michael Liles, defenseman ($3.875 million)

    2015-16 stats: six goals, 15 assists in 81 games (with Boston and Carolina)

    Liles was one of the two trade deadline acquisitions for the Bruins this season. Liles gave the Bruins another defensman that they desperately needed, he looked good out on the ice for the Bruins in the month that he was here but he lacked any real contribution to the team. The Bruins defense will likely undergo the most significant change this off-season and I fully expect Liles to be gone.

    3. Chris Kelly, center ($3 million)

    2015-16 stats: two goals, zero assists in 11 games

    Kelly’s season was ended early by a  fractured femur on Nov. 3. At 35 years old, it remains unclear whether or not Kelly will seek another contract or retire. My assumption is that Kelly will look to return for one more contract, from the Bruins perspective Kelly is a good locker room guy and is an excellent penalty kill player. But the Bruins changes will most likely not include Chris Kelly in their plans.

    The Bruins can’t hurt having a player like Talbot on the roster as he comes cheap and is a glue guy in the locker room.

    4. Maxime Talbot, center ($900,000)

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    2015-16 stats: two goals, five assists in 38 games

    Talbot spend the majority of the season riding route 95 traveling between the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence and the big club in Boston. While with the Boston Bruins Talbot primarily saw action on the fourth line as well as penalty minutes. Talbot is another aging center and it is unclear what his plans are going forward. The Bruins can’t hurt having a player like Talbot on the roster as he comes cheap and is a glue guy in the locker room.

    5. Lee Stempniak, right wing ($850,000)

    2015-16 stats: 19 goals, 32 assists in 82 games (with Boston and New Jersey)

    Stempniak found immediate chemistry with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in his short time with the team after he was acquired from the New Jersey Devils prior to the trade deadline. Stempniak will likely be an affordable option for the Bruins to bring back, it is key to not overreact on his chemistry with the Bergeron line as many of the players the Bruins plug there do fairly well.

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    6. Matt Irwin, defenseman ($800,000)

    2015-16 stats: zero goals, zero assists in two games

    Remember Matt Irwin Bruins fans? The team probably forgot about him as well after they signed him to a one year deal last off-season and gave up on him after just 2 games in Boston. He played the entire season down in Providence and there is little chance he returns to the Bruins organization unless he is content with remaining with the P-Bruins.

    7. Kevan Miller, defenseman ($800,000)

    2015-16 stats: five goals, 13 assists in 71 games

    Miller was one of the most reliable defenseman for the Bruins this season, and as the Bruins seek to improve the blue-line this off-season it is unclear where Kevan Miller fits into the Bruins plans.

    8. Joonas Kemppainen, center ($792,500)

    2015-16 stats: two goals, three assists in 44 games

    Kemppainen making the roster out of training camp surprised many as he made the jump from Swedish Elite League without any time in the AHL, but he got injured and lost almost the entire month of December. Kemppainen offered little production when he was on the ice and quickly lost favor with the Bruins coaching staff. He finished the season in Providence after being sent down at the trade deadline to make room for Stempniak.

    9. Jonas Gustavsson, goalie ($700,000)

    2015-16 stats: 11-9-1, 2.72 goals against average, .908 save percentage in 24 games

    Gustavsson was a serviceable back-up to Tuukka Rask but his time in Boston is likely over. Reason being the Bruins have several goaltenders waiting in the wings for an opportunity to play in the NHL. The other goalies in the Bruins organization are Malcolm Subban, Zane McIntyre and Jeremy Smith (who is another UFA).

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    The Bruins have until July 1st to decide who they will try and re-sign and who they will let go, many changes are coming to the Bruins and there direction is unclear at this time. Along with the nine primary UFA’s the Bruins have 7 RFA’s on their NHL rosters led by defensemen Torey Krug. A lot of decisions to make for Don Sweeney and his staff, but the more pressing matter is if the Bruins will decide to keep head coach Claude Julien for another season.

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