Bruins & Maple Leafs Linked to Same Star
The Bruins could enter a bidding war with their biggest rival.
The 2024 NHL Offseason is an exciting one for the Boston Bruins. The Original Six club has roughly $21 million of cap space, meaning they are in a prime position to make some major moves.
The Bruins' top objective is to bring in a top-six center this offseason. Because of this, they have been connected to Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson. However, their biggest rival is also being linked to the skilled center as well.
The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta wrote that he suspects that both the Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs will pursue Stephenson if he hits the free agent market this offseason.
Stephenson, 30, is one of the top centers from this year's free agency class. As a result, it is unsurprising to hear that both the Bruins and Maple Leafs are hoping to land the Saskatoon native.
Stephenson would immediately provide the Bruins' top six with a significant boost. When it comes to the Maple Leafs, he would make them lethal down the middle, as they already have Auston Matthews and John Tavares. However, Stephenson can also play the wing, so he would work in their top six.
While the Bruins and Leafs are likely to express interest in signing Stephenson, they won't be the only clubs. Pagnotta also listed that the Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and Nashville Predators are clubs to watch when it comes to Stephenson.
We will need to wait and see where the veteran forward ends up landing from here. The door isn't completely shut with Vegas, either.