Boston Bruins: The dream of renewing Marcus Johansson is officially over

The dream if officially over. Marcus Johansson will not be signing any sort of cut-price deal to return to the Boston Bruins next season.

Given that Marcus Johansson didn’t have a move announced on the first day of free agency, it was fair, despite reports otherwise, that Boston Bruins fans might’ve gotten their hopes up a tiny bit. Maybe there was a way to bring him back without sacrificing too much.

It turns out there wasn’t. The reports stating that the Boston Bruins weren’t even on his negotiation list have proven true and he’s earned himself a tidy two-year contract worth $4.5 million per season. He’s earned that value, which is unfortunately why he had to depart Boston; even ditching David Backes wouldn’t give them enough space with the restricted free agents they have waiting for new deals.

The cost when they acquired Marcus Johansson was relatively steep; they paid the New Jersey Devils a 2019 second round pick (used on Russian defenseman Nikita Okhotyuk) and a 2020 fourth round pick. However, the value was there given that Johansson then went on to offer up eleven points (four goals and seven assists) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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He fit perfectly on a third line with Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen, that at times out-performed all other Boston Bruins lines. That’s no mean feat when you’ve got a line out there featuring Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron.

Perhaps the most disheartening part of his departure is that he hasn’t gone to the Western Conference, nor even back to the Metropolitian Division. He has remained in the Atlantic Division, which means we’ll be seeing plenty of him and he offers another threat for an improved Buffalo Sabres outfit.

Perhaps it’s best not to look at the move negatively though; Marcus Johansson did exactly what was expected of him coming to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline. After a slow-ish start, he found his feet and became one of the driving forces and difference-makers as we made it to the Stanley Cup Final.

Whilst it would be much nicer if he was departing with memories of hoisting the Stanley Cup and a ring on his finger, he departs as a player people fell in love with despite only being here for about 50 combined regular season and playoff games.

Of course, we wish him luck with the Buffalo Sabres in all games except those against the Boston Bruins!