Boston Bruins: Unable to find the money to bring Marcus Johansson back

The Boston Bruins, as much as we’re sure they’d like to, aren’t likely to find the spare cash to bring Marcus Johansson back on a long-term deal.

Various reports around the league point to the fact that he Marcus Johansson has been speaking to other teams, both to gauge their interest and determine a value he’s happy to agree to. The Boston Bruins aren’t one of those teams:

Obviously, this is a disappointment. Since coming over to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, Marcus Johansson shone alongside Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen on what became one of the best third-line groupings across the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Four goals and seven assists on the thrid-line is exactly the kind of production the Boston Bruins needed, as they top-six struggled, and it’s fair to say without Marcus Johansson, they don’t make it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Their hopes fizzle out far earlier in that alternate world.

As a 28 year-old hitting free agency, you have to give Marcus Johansson the benefit of the doubt. This is potentially his best chance for a decent amount of term at a cap hit of around $4.5 million.

The Boston Bruins can’t fit that sort of contract in, especially given it’d be tucked away on the third line. They already have a $6 million cap hit potentially in the press box or at best, on the fourth line courtesy of David Backes.

Moving on from Marcus Johansson won’t be easy, but there are options within the organisation as to who could replace him; there’s Karson Kuhlman who stepped up to the second line for a time in the Stanley Cup Final, newly signed Brett Ritchie or the younger guys like Zach Senyshyn ,Anders Bjork, Peter Cehlarik or maybe Paul Carey. It’s not like they’ll be limited options.

It’s just a case of none of these guys are nine-year NHL veterans; they’re all relative newcomers by comparison. Paul Carey goes closest to matching that sort of veteran leadership, albeit mostly at the AHL level with only a sprinkling of NHL games to his name, comparatively.

However, if letting a rental leave is best for business, it’s got to be done. He did his job near perfectly in the end, albeit just came short on the Cup front. Time to move on.

Hopefully the money saved here ensures the return of Brandon Carlo, Charlie McAvoy and Danton Heinen this season and Torey Krug next year.