With training camp set to begin this week for the Boston Bruins, general manager Don Sweeney has just over $5 million in cap space remaining for the upcoming season. Just what he does with it, if anything at all, remains to be seen.
However, earlier this week, a potential free agent emerged after Chris Kreider was placed on waivers for his conditional release. He was released and cleared waivers, opening up the opportunity for him to sign with any team. His agent made it clear when he was placed on waivers that Kreider, a 35-year-old veteran, would not report to the team that claimed him if he didn't want to go there.
On Saturday, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that Kreider was down to four teams he was going to join, and one of them was the Bruins. What an addition he would have been to a Black and Gold roster looking for another major, impactful forward. Kreider is the perfect target, as he made it clear that he wanted to play in the East. Not only is he going back to the East, but he's heading to Canada, signing with the Montreal Canadiens.
Bruins must face reality with Chris Kreider signing with the Canadiens
Kreider clearly wanted to sign with a contender. That would be a Stanley Cup contender, and let's be honest, the Bruins as currently constructed aren't one. If Kreider passing on Boston for Montreal doesn't tell that to Sweeney and the rest of the front office, I don't know what would. He signed with the Habs on a one-year, $2.1 million deal with a bonus-laden contract.
Kreider is still a very good forward and someone who thrives on the power play. Talk about the Bruins adding another power-play threat that would open things up even more for David Pastrnak on the top unit. It's bad enough that Kreider passed on the Black and Gold, but to go to Montreal makes it even more frustrating.
Are the Bruins a playoff team? That remains to be seen, but you can't deny just how good the Atlantic Division is going to be this year. Heck, not only has the Atlantic Division gotten better, but so has the Eastern Conference as a whole. It will be very difficult for the Atlantic Division to get five teams in the postseason this season.
Boston could have used another top-six forward, and Kreider would have been a huge addition. Instead, the Bruins are stuck with their roster as currently constructed and are banking on Marco Sturm to work his magic for a second straight season. We'll see if that ends up working out.
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