Now that a few days have passed since July 1, things are calming down around the NHL. Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was certainly active at the start of free agency, as he brought in several new players to Boston's roster. He not only signed multiple free agents but also acquired Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers.
With this, let's give a grade for each notable off-season addition that Sweeney made for the Bruins on July 1 now.
Viktor Arvidsson
Arvidsson is the only new player who the Bruins acquired through a trade rather than free agency. With the Oilers needing to clear up cap space, the Bruins only needed to give up a 2027 fifth-round pick to land Arvidsson. This automatically makes this a low-risk move for the Bruins, but it also has the potential to be a solid one of Boston.
Arvidsson had a down 2024-25 season with the Oilers, posting 15 goals and 27 points in 67 games. While these numbers are not necessarily the best, the 32-year-old winger has the potential to bounce back when looking at his recent past seasons. In 2023-24 with the LA Kings, he had six goals and 15 points in 19 games. He also posted 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games with the Kings in 2022-23, so there is certainly some offensive skill there.
Ultimately, with the Bruins needing help on the wing and not giving up much to get him, there is no real harm in them taking a shot on a five-time 20-goal and two-time 30-goal scorer like Arvidsson.
Grade: B
Tanner Jeannot
The most expensive signing Sweeney made on July 1 was Tanner Jeannot. The Bruins signed the 28-year-old winger to a five-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million, which also comes with a full no-trade clause for the first two seasons. This is far more term and money than many expected Jeannot to receive this summer.
With the Bruins needing more offense, it is surprising that their biggest contract of the day was to a bottom-six tough guy like Jeannot. The Estevan, Saskatchewan native has not scored more than eight goals in each of the last three seasons after his 24-goal rookie campaign in 2021-22.
Overall, while Jeannot will certainly give the Bruins a lot more grit and toughness, the contract Sweeney gave him is certainly questionable.
Grade: D-
Sean Kuraly
After four seasons with his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets, Sean Kuraly signed a two-year contract, $3.7 million ($1.85 million AAV), to return to the Bruins this summer. With this move, Kuraly will once again have a home on the Bruins' fourth line and likely penalty kill.
Kuraly appeared in 82 games this past season with the Blue Jackets, where he posted six goals, 17 points, and 163 hits. Overall, he is still a serviceable bottom-six forward and should give Boston's bottom a bit more bite and solid defensive play again.
Overall, this is not a fancy signing, but Kuraly should be a decent pickup for Boston.
Grade: C
Michael Eyssimont
Michael Eyssimont is another bottom-six forward who the Bruins brought in this summer, as they signed him to a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.45 million. Like Jeannot and Kuraly, he should give the Bruins' bottom six more bite.
Eyssimont posted nine goals, 16 points, and 110 hits, and a plus-1 rating in 77 games split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken this past season. He also showed in 2023-24 that he has some offensive upside, as he set career highs with 11 goals, 14 assists, and 25 points in 81 games.
Overall, Eyssimont is another quiet signing by the Bruins. Yet, they got him at a lower cap hit than Kuraly and Jeannot, and he produces similar offense to them.
Grade: C+
Jordan Harris
With Parker Wotherspoon leaving, the Bruins needed to bring in another depth defenseman. Thus, they signed Jordan Harris to a one-year, $825,000 contract. While this was a smaller move, it has the potential to be a solid one for Boston.
Harris works well in an extra defenseman role, as he can play both the left and the right side. Furthermore, he is also just 24 years old, so he has a restricted free agent expiry status and still has time to improve. Thus, it makes sense that they are taking a shot on the Massachusetts native with this one-year, prove-it deal.
Ultimately, with Harris being a young defenseman and being signed to such a cheap deal, this has the potential to be one of Sweeney's better moves from July 1.
Grade: C+
Matej Blumel
The Bruins signed forward Matej Blumel to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2025-26 season, where he will carry an $875,000 cap hit. This is an interesting move, as Blumel has impressed big time in the AHL over the last few seasons with the Texas Stars.
In 72 games with Texas in 2023-24, he posted 31 goals and 62 points. However, he took another step forward this past season with Texas, recording new AHL career highs with 39 goals, 33 assists, and 72 points. This kind of offense at the AHL level certainly makes him a fascinating player for the Bruins to bring in.
Blumel has yet to cement himself as a full-time NHL player, posting two goals in 13 career NHL games over two seasons. Yet, with the Bruins needing more offense, there is no harm in them taking a shot on a player who has had so much AHL success, like Blumel. This is especially so with his cap hit being so cheap.
Grade: B-
NHL Trade Rumors: Bruins' Pavel Zacha Linked To 2 Teams
<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> forward Pavel Zacha has been discussed in the rumor mill as a trade candidate this off-season, just like he was during the 2024-25 season. With Zacha being one of the Bruins' top forward and under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, it would likely need to take a significant offer for them to
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