Boston Bruins News: B’s Extend Qualifying Offers
To get ready for Free Agency frenzy, the Boston Bruins had to tie up a few loose ends before they started wheeling and dealing. The Bruins extended qualifying offers to members of the organization that the B’s want to lock up before opening night. The Bruins are bringing in a lot of new blood on two-way contracts this season. So, the B’s will be letting some of their AHL players and Boston defenseman Matt Bartkowski explore free agency.
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Any team must extend a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent in order to retain negotiating rights. The amount offered depends on the salary made by that player. Any player who made less than $660,000 in the previous season must be offered 110 percent of their previous season’s salary. If it’s between $660,001 and $1 million, the offer is must be 105 percent. If the player makes over $1 million, then it’s equal to the last year of their contract.
If the team chooses not to extend a qualifying offer, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. If the player chooses not to accept the qualifying offer, they remain a restricted free agent.
So, who is in and who is out?
OUT: Rob Flick. Flick has spent the last three seasons in Providence. As a center, there was too much competition for him to make the big club. Still, the 24-yr old forward was a dependable player for Providence, putting up twenty-four points(nineteen goals) for the Baby B’s. The Bruins already have four starting centers (five including Chris Kelly), and it’s doubtful he would have broken into the NHL this year.
IN: Brett Connolly. Connolly didn’t have much luck with the Bruins last season, breaking his hand during his second practice with the team. Connolly only played in five games last year, earning two assists. The Bruins did like what they saw in him, and he could end up supplanting Reilly Smith on the second line. He’s a cheap forward who knows how to move the puck, and if the Bruins can pull themselves out of their cap hell, he might make a good long-term addition to the roster.
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OUT: Matthew Lindblad. Lindblad spent most of his time in the Providence organization, having being signed as a free agent back in April of 2013. He only played in four games for the big club, putting just three shots on goal. With so many new players coming into the organization, the B’s have chosen to let the 25-year old center explore free agency.
IN: Ryan Spooner. Ryan Spooner ended up being the second best surprise for the organization last year. He gave the Bruins another offensive minded player who had great hands and a willingness to engage. He was able to succeed in spite of Claude Julien, whose ire helped relegate Spooner to Providence for half of the season. Even in his limited play (29 games), Spooner was able to put up eighteen points (eight goals) and clicked really well with rookie sensation David Pastrnak. Spooner will likely end up centering the third line in Boston on opening night, and it was the biggest no-brainer for the Bruins.
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OUT: Adam Morrison. Morrison is a goaltender in the Bruins organization, spending most of this time in the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. He only had one game for Providence last season, and it was as bad for him as it was for Malcolm Subban in his NHL debut. He ended up with a .792 save percentage and allowed five goals on just twenty-four shots. With all the new goalies coming in, there isn’t much of a place for Morrison at the NHL (or even the AHL) level.
Martin Jones was also extended a qualifying offer, but the ink on that offer hadn’t even dried before the Bruins sent Jones back out west to the San Jose Sharks in return for a first round pick in next year’s draft.
The Boston Bruins have given themselves some breathing room with their recent moves. They should be able to find the appropriate amount of funds to compensate both Spooner and Connolly. While draft weekend certainly looked ugly for the Bruins organization, it looks like Don Sweeney and company are starting to right the ship.