But next offseason figures to more eventful in Boston, with four key players set to become restricted free agents in addition to the handful of unrestricted free agents Chiarelli will have to address. Tyler Seguin, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask will be the Bruins' top priorities next offseason.
Rask recently signed a one-year contract worth $3.5 million to keep him in Boston for the upcoming season. He will have the task of replacing Tim Thomas between the pipes this season, and if he shows continued development, the team will likely feel inclined to extend the goaltender long-term.
The trio of forwards that are set to become restricted free agents will all require significant financial contributions from the team. Lucic was a postseason disappointment in 2011, but his combination of point production and physical play make him a valuable asset. Seguin, meanwhile, hasn't even scratched the surface of his enormous potential and could be in for the biggest payday of the bunch. Marchand, on the other hand, could come at a cheaper price tag than either Lucic or Seguin and therefore might be more likely to agree to a deal before the other two forwards.
It's no guarantee that the Bruins will in fact extend all four of these contracts, but which of the four do you think the Bruins will extend next?
Which upcoming Bruins restricted free agent will be next to sign long-term?
