Boston Bruins: Grading Don Sweeney’s Offseason

Sweeney’s Signings

On the second day of free agency, Sweeney signed Craig Smith to a three-year, $9.3 million contract. In signing the former Nashville Predators right wing, the Bruins are hoping that he can help solve the problems with secondary scoring. In five of his nine years with the Predators, Smith scored 20 goals and was on his way to a sixth season before the season was paused last March with him sitting on 18 goals.

After six weeks on the free-agent market, Jake DeBrusk was brought back on a two-year bridge deal with a $3.65 million annual cap hit. Re-signing DeBrusk was key for the Bruins on the second line left wing with David Krejci.

On defense, Matt Grzelcyk avoided arbitration after agreeing to a four-year deal for $14.75 million. With Krug and Chara leaving, re-signing the 27-year-old Boston native was almost a necessity for the Black and Gold. One of the more surprising re-signings was when Sweeney and Kevan Miller agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with bonuses.

Miller has not played in a game since April of 2019 when he injured his knee cap in the playoffs. Miller has apparently slid ahead of Connor Clifton on the Bruins right-handed depth chart for the third pairing. Sweeney also re-signed Jakub Zboril for two years and $1.45 million.

Other minor moves by Sweeney brought back Karson Kuhlman on a two-year deal for $1.45 million and he signed Greg McKegg away from the New York Rangers on a one-year, two-way deal for $700,000. He’ll most likely begin the season on the taxi squad. Goalie Callum Booth, who spent last season in the Carolina Hurricanes organization, was signed for a one-year, two-way contract at $700,000. All three of those signings were for depth.