Bruins now have just under $11 million in cap space
On Monday, the Boston Bruins traded forwards Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula. The Bruins entered the offseason needing to make very difficult decisions as to how they were going to free up cap space. Make no mistake, no matter what Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney did it was going to be painful. While the smoke continues to permeate from the pre-draft fireworks, there is one prevail thought that now comes front and center.
What will General Manager Sweeney do with the freed up cap space?
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The Bruins following the trade with the Chicago Blackhawks have just under $11 million in cap space. When you combine that new reality with the questions surrounding the team, it is 100% fair to ask the tough yet thought provoking questions as it pertains to how will General Manager Sweeney will utilize the cap room.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Boston Bruins this offseason is whether they will be able to re-sign left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi, who was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings on March 2nd. Bertuzzi has made no secret of his desire and intention to test free agency come July 1st, yet the Bruins are hell-bent on keeping Bertuzzi beyond this past season. The Bruins do not make the deal they made with the Blackhawks if they do not believe internally they can keep Bertuzzi long term. The team saw the kind of chemistry that was built between Bertuzzi and David Pastrnak after his arrival, best exemplified by this Pastrnak goal scored in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs vs Florida Panthers.
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Bertuzzi's importance to the Bruins cannot be overstated. He performed exceptionally during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring five goals and 10 points in a seven-game, first-round loss to the Florida Panthers.
Another area where the Bruins could use their new cap space is on Jeremy Swayman. The restricted free agent goaltender is coming off a stellar season in which he went 24-6-0 in 37 games played (33 started) with a .920 save percentage and 2.27 GAA. Swayman, 24, is due for a significant raise in salary. With the salary cap room now available for the Bruins, it will be fascinating to see how Swayman's new deal will impact the Bruins salary cap over the next few seasons (he will an unrestricted free agent following the 2025-2026 season).
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As the Bruins now currently find themselves with just under $11 million dollars in salary cap room, General Manager Sweeney has a number of ways he can go about utilizing the money he has now freed up. With the free agency beginning officially on Saturday July 1st and the NHL draft on Wednesday, it is fair to speculate that Sweeney may not be done creating more cap room.
The Bruins had work to do going into the offseason. They have surely made the NHL world take notice of the work they are putting in so far.