Alex Chiasson betting on himself with Bruins PTO

The veteran winger will battle for a bottom six spot during training camp.

BRIGHTON, Mass. – Alex Chiasson is betting on himself once again.

The veteran winger, who agreed to a Professional Tryout Agreement with the Boston Bruins on Aug. 21, will battle for a spot in a highly contested bottom six when training camp opens on Sept. 20.

Chiasson has bounced around the NHL the past 11 years but his production has rarely faltered. On his sixth PTO in seven seasons, the 32-year-old is determined to add longevity to his pro career, no matter how challenging the path has proven.

“This game has given me so much. [I] try to keep it going, try to squeeze a little bit more out of it and [I’m] excited for this opportunity,” Chiasson said on Friday following the Bruins’ captains’ practice at Warrior Ice Arena.

When deciding his next steps this summer, Chiasson said there were multiple PTO offers on the table, but the former Boston University Terrier thought the Bruins organization was most fitting for his specific circumstances.

“I think where I’m at in my career, the two things I was really looking forward to on a team I was looking at was: A). Was there an opportunity for me to come in and earn a spot?” Chiasson said.

“There’s obviously a lot of teams that have tons of forwards, teams are in different phases, winning or whatnot. I think that kind of brings me to my second point: I wanted to be on a team that was competitive.”

In a group where lineup spots are anything but guaranteed this season, Chiasson will play a big part in Boston’s internal competition.

The Bruins bolstered their forward depth over the past few months with the acquisitions of Morgan Geekie, Milan Lucic and Jesper Boqvist. Not to mention the return of guys like AJ Greer – who had a noticeably strong showing during Friday’s scrimmages – creating opportunities on nearly every shift.

It will be a dog fight for consistent slotting in the bottom six, and that’s a good thing for the Bruins.

“It’s going to be a tough camp, a lot of guys battling for spots. I’ve bet on myself quite a bit in my career; it’s always worked out,” Chiasson said. “That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but I’m willing to put myself up against the odds and see where it goes.”

While Chiasson has lacked a sense of stability or real permanence for most of his professional run, he’s found a way to make meaningful contributions for whatever lineup he’s in – even if it’s not on the biggest stage.

Chiasson, who skated in 20 games for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022-23 campaign, spent most of the year with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he garnered 20 points in 29 games.

“I put my pride away and I went and earned my keep,” he said.

If he cracks the Bruins lineup, Chiasson has the potential to be a reliable right-wing option and claim some time on the power play. Standing at 6-foot-4, Chiasson’s net front presence has been one of his strengths as a bulkier forward.

This next stage of Chiasson’s NHL career brings him right back to a city he already knows. A Terrier from 2009-12, Chiasson’s three years on Comm Ave got him familiar with the culture and pride around Boston sports, creating a “full circle” moment, he said.

“I got drafted in ‘09, played three years at BU, obviously the school means a lot to me and I’ve realized as I’ve gotten older how much it’s helped me throughout my career,” Chiasson said. “I was around when the Bruins won back then (in 2011) and I know what sports mean to the city.”

With no plan or guarantee of what his life may look like in a month, Chiasson is ready to compete and is at peace with the fact that he has given his all to his NHL dream.

“I think as I’ve gotten older I realized that – I’ve always said this – it’s a privilege to play in the NHL,” Chiasson said. “I know one day when I’m done playing, whenever that is, that I really put it all out there. I have no regrets.”