Are the Boston Bruins a finished product going into the 2026-27 season? That remains to be seen, as general manager Don Sweeney does have some cap space available: $5.3 million, according to PuckPedia, but what does he do with it is the question.
The one big offseason move was trading for Utah Mammoth forward JJ Peterka to add to the top six for second-year coach Marco Sturm. Gone from the top six is Viktor Arvidsson, who took his talents to the Motor City after one season with the Black and Gold, signing with the Detroit Red Wings.
On Wednesday, news broke that the Anaheim Ducks are expected to place forward Chris Kreider on waivers for the purposes of contract termination, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Now Kreider is expected to want to return to the East, closer to family. He is a Massachusetts native and if he wants to come home, the Bruins should welcome him with open arms.
Bruins should seriously consider adding Chris Kreider
First and foremost, let's get the money situation out of the way. According to Friedman, Kreider has this season remaining on his current contract at a $6.5 million cap hit, but only $4 million in cash is still due after being paid a signing bonus on July 1. So the cap space for the Bruins is there if Sweeney is interested. He should be.
Kreider is 35 years old, and we're not talking about a long-term investment. We're talking about an investment for 2026-27. Last season, in 75 games for Anaheim, he had 22 goals and 28 assists, down from the 39 goals he scored for the New York Rangers the previous season. He's just a couple of years removed from a 52-goal season in the 2021-22 season.
Kreider is the top-six addition to add more scoring punch that the Bruins and Sturm need. It would also keep him from other Eastern Conference teams. More importantly, finding room for him would be easy, moving Casey Mittlestadt out of the top-six to the bottom-six. That would take a roster spot away from someone for Opening Night, but it makes the Black and Gold a better team offensively.
The moves this offseason by Sweeney have not been ones that are going to move the needle compared with some of the other moves made by other Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference teams. Can the Bruins count on Sturm's system working its magic for a second straight season to sneak into the postseason? Even if they do, more offense is needed, and Kredier is worth the investment for the upcoming season.
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