The Boston Bruins will have $20+ million to spend this offseason. The Hockey News is evaluating potential targets leading up to July 1.
With NHL Free Agency opening on July 1, the Boston Bruins will have decisions to make on both their expiring contracts as well as players leaving other teams that they could make a run for on the open market.
Earlier this month, we ranked the top 10 most important Boston Bruins free agents, consisting of the players with expiring contracts and their relative value to the team.
This time, we’ll be covering 10 free agents from other teams that could be attractive to Boston. These are not ranked in any particular order, but it will ultimately focus on the Bruins’ biggest needs: a top-six forward (or two) and a left-shot defenseman. Backup goalie was also a potential need, but after the Bruins traded Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators on Monday, Joonas Korpisalo -- one of the returning pieces -- is poised to compete with Brandon Bussi for the job.
There will be a new name covered every day leading up to the start of free agency.
Previously, we looked at forwards Elias Lindholm, Tyler Bertuzzi, Tyler Toffoli, Vladimir Tarasenko, Chandler Stephenson and Sean Monahan, as well as defensemen Brenden Dillon, Shayne Gostisbehere and Joel Edmundson. Today, we finish with arguably the biggest name available:
Steven Stamkos, Forward
Age: 34
2023-24 team(s): Tampa Bay Lightning
2023-24 stats: 79 GP, 40G-41A-81P
Previous Contract AAV: $8.5 million
Expected New AAV (per AFPAnalytics): $6.16 million
This would really be something. The Lightning traded away Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot on Saturday in an attempt to clear cap space. At first, that appeared to be for Stamkos, who is due for a new contract.
Instead, after Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois confirmed Stamkos will test the open on July 1, he went out and acquired the negotiating rights for Jake Guentzel, another top winger who was poised to reach free agency.
After 16 seasons with the franchise that selected him first overall in 2008, all signs point to Stamkos joining a new team. If the Bruins are ambitious, adding Stamkos would be a massive upgrade.
Three or four years at around $6 million per season would still allow the Bruins to address other positions, and Stamkos is the type of player who probably wouldn’t decline by much towards the end of a contract of that length. Coming off a 40-goal, 81-point season, Stamkos would add an instant offensive punch to a Bruins team that could use it.
Of course, given what the expected market for Stamkos would be, his price will likely be driven up. So it all comes down to who else is vying for his services and if the Bruins are willing and able to make a serious bid.
While traditionally a winger, Stamkos has also been used at center, which would give Bruins coach Jim Montgomery flexibility to play around with his line combinations – as he’s prone to do regardless – and find the best mode of attack.
Stamkos also captained two Stanley Cup champions (albeit he played for just 2:47 total, yet scored a goal, in the first run in 2020), and brings the playoff experience and credibility that Montgomery and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney desire.
Bringing Stamkos to Boston would be the biggest free agent splash for this team in years. Will it happen? We’ll find out on Monday.
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