The Boston Bruins have made several moves this off-season. Among the most notable was re-signing defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a three-year, $9 million contract. The 26-year-old was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1, but the Bruins got him signed before he had the chance to hit the market.
There is no question that the Bruins made the right decision keeping Jokiharju around. When looking at Boston's roster, Jokiharju is expected to be a very important part of the right side of their blueline as they look to bounce back in 2025-26.
Since trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is apparent that the Bruins need all the help they can get on the right side of their defense. Thus, losing Jokiharju, who the Bruins acquired at the 2025 NHL trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres, would have only weakened a part of their roster that is already not particularly strong.
The Bruins would have also had a very challenging time finding a true replacement for Jokiharju if they did not re-sign him, as this year's free agency class was not strong when it came to right-shot defensemen. Thus, getting Jokiharju back at an affordable $3 million cap hit over the next three years is a real win for the Bruins.
Jokiharju will now be looking to put together a strong 2025-26 season after earning this nice contract with the Bruins. In 18 games with the Bruins last season after being acquired by the Original Six club, he recorded four assists, 15 hits, and a plus-7 rating.
47 Days Until Opening Night: Bruins' History Of No. 47
The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> are now 47 days away from their regular-season opener against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals">Washington Capitals</a>. Due to this, let's continue our history series by looking at each Bruins player who has worn No. 47 for the club.