During this past off-season, forward Cole Koepke moved on from the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins. This was after he appeared in nine games for the Lightning during the 2023-24 season, posting two assists and 23 hits. He also had 20 goals and 39 points in 53 AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch that campaign.
While with the Lightning organization, Koepke primarily played down in the AHL with the Crunch and received limited chances with the NHL squad. In 26 games over two seasons as a Bolt, he had one goal, three points, 55 hits, and a minus-5 rating. However, after receiving a fresh start with the Bruins, Koepke certainly broke out and cemented himself as a true bottom-six NHL forward.
In 73 games this season with the Bruins, Koepke set new career highs with 10 goals, seven assists, 17 points, and 177 hits. Overall, he proved to be a solid depth addition for the Bruins, as he provided them with secondary offensive production and plenty of grit. Now, the former Lightning forward, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, should get himself a bit of a raise this off-season because of his solid play.
Sometimes, players benefit from a change of scenery, and that certainly was the case for Koepke. He received more consistent chances with the Bruins than he did with the Lightning, and he took advantage of them in the process. It will now be interesting to see what kind of season he has in 2025-26, whether he stays put with the Bruins or ends up joining another club.
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