Boston Bruins: 2 Free Agents to Watch in Stanley Cup Final

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There are some areas that the Boston Bruins would like to upgrade prior to the 2021-22 season to make a run at a championship. Assuming that Taylor Hall and David Krejci re-sign, then they should be all set with their top-six.

After that, there could be some changes coming.

One area the Black and Gold struggled this season and in the playoffs was with their bottom-six. It’s no secret that upgrading at the bottom should be a priority of general manager Don Sweeney this summer.

Nick Ritchie is a free agent, Jake DeBrusk had a frustrating 2020-21 season and could be a candidate to be used in a trade, while fourth-line center Sean Kuraly is also a free agent and his time wearing the Black and Gold could be done.

Last Friday, the Bruins re-signed fan favorite Trent Frederic to a two-year contract that carries a $1.05 million cap hit and could be a bottom-six option for coach Bruce Cassidy, as long as he’s not selected by the Seattle Kracken in next month’s Expansion Draft.

If the Bruins lose Frederic to the Kracken, Ritchie to either the Kracken or in free agency, Boston does have some young forwards down in the minors that could fill out the fourth-line around Curtis Lazar. If the Bruins need to dive into the free agency pool this summer to add experience, then two options playing for the Stanley Cup right now will be available.

Jun 7, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Crey Perry (94) during the warm-up session before game four against Winnipeg Jets of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /

Corey Perry

If the Bruins need a bottom-six forward with experience, Corey Perry would certainly give them that. The Montreal Canadiens forward is 36 years old and making $750,000, which despite his age, could be a bargain pickup for one season on a team in win-now mode.

Perry had nine goals and 12 assists this season for the Canadiens, which would have had him the leading goal scorer for the Bruins bottom-six. He has three goals and six assists so far in the postseason.

A first-round pick at No. 28 in the 2003 Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, Perry won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, in which he had six goals and nine assists in 21 games.

Could the Bruins go younger on the bottom-six? Yes. But if they’re in a win-mode with their core group with the window closing, Perry could be a very cheap bottom-six addition that would most likely command a pay increase, but one that the Bruins could afford.

Teams that make a long postseason run that look to add another championship look to veteran players. Perry is a championship-winning veteran who has had a nice season in Montreal.

Blake Coleman

While Perry would be an addition to the bottom six, Blake Coleman is younger and put up better numbers this season in a contract that carries a $1.8 million cap hit for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 29-year-old Coleman from Plano, Texas, was selected 75th overall in the 2011 Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils and had 14 goals and 17 assists in the regular season. In the playoffs, Coleman has one goal and seven assists for the Lightning, including an assist in Game 1 Monday night in Tampa Bay’s 5-1 victory. He also finished with a team-high 11 hits against the Habs.

The Lightning has one of the best third lines in the NHL with Coleman, Yanni Gourde, and Barclay Goodrow. It has been one of the reasons for Tampa’s postseason success this year as they are chasing their second consecutive championship. Last season in the Toronto and Edmonton playoff bubbles, Coleman had five goals and eight assists.

Coleman would check all the boxes for the Bruins as a bottom-six forward. He can add much-needed scoring, he plays a physical game, is on the right side of 30 years old, and wouldn’t come with a crazy cap hit.

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The Lightning have proven that getting production and having veterans in their bottom-six have been a recipe for success the last two seasons. Yes, they are still three wins away from a second straight championship, but Coleman would be a nice addition to a Bruins team and provide them with bottom-six stability next season.

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