The Boston Bruins brought in several new players this off-season. While this is the case, they were reportedly interested in another unrestricted free agent (UFA) who ended up signing with the Edmonton Oilers.
According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, the Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs were two teams who were eyeing Andrew Mangiapane before he signed with the Oilers in free agency.
Hearing that the Bruins were among the teams interested in Mangiapane is understandable. While they brought in multiple new forwards in free agency, the majority were clear bottom-six forwards. Mangiapane, on the other hand, would have given the Bruins another solid middle-six winger to work with. This could have been good for the Bruins, as it is clear that they could use another skilled forward there.
Mangiapane spent this past season with the Washington Capitals. It was a bit of a down year for the 2015 sixth-round pick, as he posted 14 goals and 28 points in 81 games. However, he is a notable bounce-back candidate heading into next season, as he recorded at least 40 points in the three previous seasons before the 2024-25 campaign. This included 35 goals and recording 55 points in 82 games with the Calgary Flames in 2021-22.
Overall, Mangiapane could have been a solid addition to a Bruins team that still needs more secondary offensive production. However, he is now with the Oilers and will be looking to get things back on track from here.
Bruins: Grading Don Sweeney's 2025 Off-Season Additions
Now that a few days have passed since July 1, things are calming down around the NHL. <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> 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.
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