Bruins Free Agency: Breaking down and analyzing every move from Day 1
The Boston Bruins went into 2021 Free Agency with a lot to do. They needed to add a left-shot, big, physical defenseman, add bottom-six forwards, and add a goaltender. Surprisingly, but satisfyingly, B’s general manager Don Sweeney was able to get all three of these things done.
However, some of these moves require additional transactions as Boston has a surplus of the same position or need to upgrade the position (in some fans’ opinions).
In this piece, I will be going through each position group — forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders — and breaking down and analyzing each move (or non-move) that the B’s made on the first day of 2021 Free Agency.
These breakdowns and analyses will include my thoughts on the transactions as well as what it could mean for the B’s in the near future as well as what it means for the team now.
Bruins’ moves at forward on the first day of 2021 Free Agency.
The B’s went into this offseason knowing that they needed to inject physicality, grit, toughness, heart, and soul into their bottom-six forward group. And with wingers Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase being non-tendered and allowed to become unrestricted free agents (UFAs), it was clear Sweeney was about to significantly change up the B’s bottom-two lines.
With Ritchie not being tendered, I first thought that Jake DeBrusk would be given another chance playing on his strong side in the 2021-22 season. My suspicion was further evidenced by the link of the B’s to former Tampa Bay Lighting third-liner, Blake Coleman, by insider Elliotte Friedman.
However, this idea was thrown out the window once it was announced Coleman had signed with the Calgary Flames on a long-term deal and the Black and Gold had signed veteran left-shot forward, Tomas Nosek, to a two-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.75 million.
Nosek played for the Vegas Golden Knights this past season and was a very effective fourth-liner. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder scored eight goals and 18 points in 38 games and has been described as “a pain to play against.” He’ll be an upgrade over Sean Kuraly.
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Speaking of Kuraly, the 28-year-old forward signed with his home-state team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on a four-year deal with an AAV of $2.5 million.
After signing Nosek, the floodgates would open for Boston as they would go on to bring in two more veteran forwards in Erik Haula and Nick Foligno.
Haula signed a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.375 million. The 6-foot, 193-pounder has spent the last three seasons on pretty good teams, going from Vegas to Carolina to Florida. He gives the B’s some scoring depth in the bottom-six as he registered nine goals and 21 points in 51 games in 2020-21.
Foligno was brought in on a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.8 million. Like the other two forward signings, Foligno can play both center and the wings. Which could be very important this upcoming season as there still isn’t a timetable on David Krejci, and, according to Sweeney, second-line center with be “by committee.” There are rumors that Krejci and Boston are close to a deal, but as of Wednesday night, he is still not signed.
With three left-shot forwards being added to the roster, it looks like DeBrusk will not be a Bruin when the 2021-22 season begins. He’s still young at just 24 years old and has the skill to be a good second-line left wing. The B’s may be able to package him and a draft pick or Matt Grzelcyk for a legitimate top-four, shutdown defenseman.
Overall, I like the forward additions the B’s made. They knew that the bottom-six was a weakness and decided to almost completely change the group.
Other Bruins forward news.
Wednesday, the B’s also signed forwards Samuel Asselin and Steven Fogarty. Asselin signed a two-year, entry level contract (ELC) and Fogarty signed a one-year, two-way contract. Both deals carry an NHL-worth of $750,000.
Additionally, now former-Bruin Greg McKegg signed back with his once former team, the New York Rangers. He’s signed to a one-year deal worth $750,000.
Former B’s restricted free agents (RFA) Ritchie and Kase are still unsigned. Ritchie reportedly has a good amount of interest, so he should be signed soon. There was even a rumor that the Black and Gold were circling back to him. However, there hasn’t been any news on Kase.
Bruins’ moves at defense on the first day of 2021 Free Agency.
After re-upping Mike Reilly for three years at $3 million per year, the B’s had one thing to do regarding their defense — replace retired Kevan Miller and expansion-draft casualty Jeremy Lauzon with a big, tough, and physical left-shot defenseman.
Instead of getting a big name, Sweeney elected to bring in one of the more unknown guys in this year’s free agency class in Derek Forbort. Ironically, the 29-year-old defenseman signed the same contract, in terms of length and price, as Reilly.
At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, Forbort brings size to rather small Boston defensive corps. Forbort is a stay-at-home defensive defenseman that brings you basically nothing offensively. However, with Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy, and Reilly in the top-four, the B’s really don’t need another defenseman to bring offense from the blueline.
Over the last few seasons, Forbort has been one of the league’s top shot blockers. With his strength, toughness, and shot-blocking ability, Forbort should help the B’s at both 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill.
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Forbort is expected to slot in on the Black and Gold’s third pairing next to Connor Clifton, however, I think there’s a chance he starts off the season playing on the first pairing next to McAvoy if another two-way, shutdown defenseman is brought in via trade.
We saw this past season head coach Bruce Cassidy try to recreate the big stay-at-home defenseman and two-way defenseman dynamic that Zdeno Chara and McAvoy once had with Lauzon and McAvoy. However, with Lauzon struggling a bit and then getting injured he lost his top-pair job to Grzelcyk.
Forbort played some tough minutes on Winnipeg’s second pairing in 2020-21, so I think there’s definitely a possibility that Cassidy experiments with him and McAvoy.
Overall, I like the move as it gives the B’s backend some much-needed size and strength. However, $3 million a year for a defenseman that doesn’t do much of anything else besides block shots is a bit of an overpay.
Other Bruins defense news.
The B’s signed depth defenseman Tyler Lewington to a one-year, two-way deal worth $750,000 at the NHL level.
Additionally, now-former Bruin Jarred Tinordi signed with the Rangers on two-year deal with an AAV of $900,000.
Bruins’ moves at goaltender on the first day of 2021 Free Agency.
Going into free agency the B’s were looking to add a veteran goaltender to pair with either Jeremy Swayman or Dan Vladar until Tuukka Rask returned in January or February from hip surgery (if re-signed).
Well, the B’s did more than just bring in a veteran goalie as they brought in a legitimate starting netminder. Sweeney pulled one out of the hat as he signed former-Buffalo Sabres starter Linus Ullmark to a four-year deal with an AAV of $5 million.
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Moments later, as I anticipated (but not so quickly), Vladar was moved to the Calgary Flames for a 2022 third-round pick. So, for at least about half of 2021-22, Boston will have a tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
Personally, I love this signing. It allows the B’s to keep Swayman in the NHL, where he obviously belonged, but not wear him down by giving him a legitimate tandem partner for the next four years. The only issue I have is that Ullmark has struggled to remain healthy over the previous two seasons.
But the guy had a .917 save percentage (SV%), 2.63 goals-against average (GAA), .550 quality start percentage (QS%), and 5.5 goals saved above average (GSAA) with a horrid Sabres team, so how do you pass up a potential Vezina winner in Boston’s system?
I’m unsure what this means for Rask, but Sweeney said the team has until the 2021-22 trade deadline to sign him before he has to go through waivers to be signed. So both parties have time and it will probably ultimately depend on how Rask’s recovery is going as well as how Swayman is fairing.
Other Bruins goalie news.
Now former-B’s backup goaltender, Jaroslav Halak, signed with the Vancouver Canucks on a one-year, $1.5 million, 35-or-older contract.
Final Thoughts.
Overall, I’m very pleased with the moves the B’s made on the first day of free agency. They rebuilt their bottom-six like they needed to, but they’re still lack a legitimate No. 1 left-side defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, I love Grzelcyk, but he just isn’t it for 1LD — especially in the playoffs. Him and McAvoy are great together, but they need someone bigger and stronger for that spot.
This is where DeBrusk comes in. He still has potential and the B’s need to sell this so they can bring in a legit No. 1 left D. However, this will probably require more assets to get. They might have to include Grzelcyk in the trade and/or some draft picks or prospects.
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