The Boston Bruins have a slew of questions in front of them going into free agency. And some of them could be answered by the weekend.
Free agency officially kicks off Friday at noon ET, and the B’s have their work cut out for them — from figuring out Torey Krug’s future to Zdeno Chara’s status to maybe even adding some scoring depth.
While we don’t know exactly what the Bruins will do, we did make some bold predictions as to what could happen come Friday and beyond.
Torey Krug Moves On
Krug’s status with the Bruins has been in question essentially since last season began.
The defenseman expressed his desire to stay in Boston, but it’s unclear just how far conversations got.
Talks between the B’s and Krug seem to be minimal at the moment. Bruins general manager Sweeney revealed no progress had been made in contract talks, and reiterated as much after Day 1 of the NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday night.
So while a return isn’t completely impossible, it doesn’t seem very likely.
Kevan Miller Returns
Miller has been plagued by injuries and has been battling a knee ailment since 2019. He’s a big presence at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds and certainly was missed during the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
Miller is an unrestricted free agent and hasn’t played in an NHL game since April 2019. But if Krug does indeed end up elsewhere, it might be worth bringing Miller back on a “prove it” type deal.
The Bruins have plenty of depth at the blue line, yes, but bringing in a big bodied veteran could end up being beneficial. When Miller is healthy and on his game, he can leave an impact on the ice.
And while he might never return to what he once was due to the number of knee surgeries, it may be worth signing him to a short-term deal.
Bruins Make Significant Trade/Signing
The Bruins need secondary scoring, that’s no secret, and there’s been some names availble like Taylor Hall. That’s made Bruins fans wonder what would need to happen to get the first overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft in Black and Gold.
Boston needs a winger for David Krejci’s second line, as has been the case for the last few seasons. Jake DeBrusk had a down 2019-20 season, and Ondrej Kase wasn’t a reliable scorer.
Now, in order to get a reliable scorer — not Hall in particular — Boston likely would need to move money. Is losing certain key guys already on the roster worth it?
But if Sweeney wants to bolster the offense and have a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup with this core, a significant move will need to be made.
It’s also worth noting that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday that Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Toffoli likely will test the open market. He’d be an ideal fit with the B’s seeing as he’s a legitimate top-six wing. And, as noted, above, Krejci needs a winger.
But the question then becomes could Boston sign Toffoli to a deal that’s fair to him that won’t break the B’s salary cap.
Tuukka Rask Will Be Boston’s Opening Night Starter
We’re not sure just how bold this is. But there have been rumblings of late about Rask’s future with the Bruins.
Sweeney was adamant about the goalie being “a big part of our roster planning going forward.”
So unless something drastic happens, plan on seeing Rask between the pipes whenever the 2020-21 season begins.
Matt Grzelcyk Gets A (Small) Raise
Grzelcyk has played well during his time with the Bruins and his presence certainly was missed while he was out for a few games in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
His puck movement is pivotal, and he may be willing to take a bit of a discount on his final RFA deal.
Zdeno Chara Returns… But Not To Top Defense Pairing
Chara has expressed interest in returning for his 23rd NHL season. And if the B’s can come to terms on another short-term agreement with their captain, it certainly would make sense to bring him back.
But Chara will turn 44 in March, and his age has slowed him down a bit. Although he still is an important part of the Bruins’ blue line — especially with his role in helping with Charlie McAvoy’s development — it might be best to move him from the top pairing.
Plus with how deep Boston is at defense, it may be beneficial for another younger defensemen to play alongside Chara.
Jake DeBrusk Gets Extended
DeBrusk had a pair of down years after a promising rookie season. But while he can be a streaky player, he’s still fast and skilled at his position.
The winger also generally plays well alongside Krejci. And if Boston doesn’t re-sign Krug, it may be worth investing some money into DeBrusk. But how much is the question.
Is it worth dishing out over $3 million a year for four-to-five years? Will a bridge deal be considered?
While DeBrusk’s status may depend to a degree on what happens with Krug, it’s probably a safe bet having him back in Black and Gold in 2020-21.
