The Boston Bruins have several players who are entering the final year of their contracts. With this, the Original Six club will certainly have some big decisions to make about who they are planning to keep around beyond the 2025-26 season.
Due to this, let's discuss five specific pending free agents who will be most interesting to watch during the 2025-26 season now.
Andrew Peeke, Pending UFA
Andrew Peeke is entering the final season of his contract in 2025-26, and it will be very fascinating to see what the Bruins end up doing with him. The 27-year-old defenseman appeared in 76 games this past season for the Bruins, where he scored one goal and set new career highs with 16 assists and 17 points. He also threw the body pretty often, finishing the year with 105 hits.
With Peeke still being younger than 30 years old, the Bruins could very well try to sign him to a contract extension to keep him in Boston. However, with playoff teams always valuing big right-shot defenseman, the pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) also could be a valuable trade chip for the Bruins to move at next year's trade deadline if they don't view him as a long-term part of their plans. This is especially so if the Bruins end up having another bad year in 2025-26 and end up being sellers.
Viktor Arvidsson, Pending UFA
Bruins off-season addition Viktor Arvidsson is another notable pending UFA on the team's roster heading into 2025-26. The veteran winger is coming off a shaky 2024-25 season, as he had 15 goals, 12 assists, and a minus-3 rating in 67 games with the Edmonton Oilers. With the 32-year-old now entering a contract year with the Bruins, he will be looking to put together a strong bounce-back season in 2025-26.
If Arvidsson proves to be a strong fit in the Bruins' top six and regains his previous form, Boston could consider keeping him around beyond this season. However, if he ends up not being a fit on the Bruins' roster, it would be understandable if they ended up trading him next season. Playoff teams are always on the hunt for experienced forwards who chip in offensively, and Arvidsson is just that.
Matthew Poitras, Pending RFA
Young Bruins forward Matthew Poitras is entering the final season of his entry-level contract with the Bruins in 2025-26. Depending on how next season goes for him, the possibility of him getting a nice raise from his current $870,000 cap hit is certainly there.
With Poitras being a pending restricted free agent (RFA) and one of the Bruins' most promising prospects, he will certainly be a player that they keep around. However, the big question will be whether they look to sign Poitras to a bridge contract or if they give him a bit more term. For Poitras to get more than three years on his next contract, he would need to have a breakout campaign for Boston next season.
Fabian Lysell, Pending RFA
Fabian Lysell is another notable prospect who can become an RFA next summer. Like Poitras, Lysell is considered one of the Bruins' top prospects, so they would likely tender him a qualifying offer next year if he finishes next season without a new contract extension.
There is no question that this is a crucial season for Lysell, though. The Bruins need the 22-year-old forward to take a notable step forward with his development in 2025-26. If he does, it could lead to him getting a nice new contract next summer. However, if he does not become an NHL regular next season, a two-way contract could be on the way for Lysell.
Georgii Merkulov, Pending Group 6 UFA
Depending on how many games Georgii Merkulov plays for the Bruins in 2025-26, he could become a Group 6 UFA next summer. A skater can become a Group 6 UFA if they are at least 25 years old and have not played 80 career NHL games. Merkulov has played in 10 NHL games in his career thus far and will turn 25 next summer.
When looking at the Bruins' forward depth, it might be hard for Merkulov to secure himself a spot in Boston's lineup, as their bottom six is crowded. The 5-foot-11 forward has shown promise down in the AHL with the Providence, though, posting 70 goals, 109 assists, and 179 points in 201 games. In six games this past season for Boston, he had one assist and a minus-1 rating.
Other Bruins Entering Their Final Year Of Contracts
In addition to the five listed above, John Beecher, Matej Blumel, Jordan Harris, John Farinacci, Riley Tufte, Patrick Brown, Michael Callahan, Victor Soderstrom, Jonathan Aspirot, and Alex Steeves are all pending free agents. This is because they each signed one-year contracts with the Bruins this off-season.
Other players, such as Dalton Baycroft, Riley Duran, Brett Harrison, Jeffrey Viel, Max Wanner, and Billy Sweezey, will also have expired contracts after next season.
Former Boston Bruins Forward Officially Retires
After sitting out the 2024-25 season, former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> forward Blake Wheeler has officially announced his retirement.
Photo Credit: © Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images