Lucic, Bruins reunion finalized
One-year pact part of free agent frenzy
The two highest-profile centers of interest to the Bruins, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, remained unsigned after Day 1 of NHL free agency.
Also still sans contracts: restricted free agents Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic, though general manager Don Sweeney is confident those deals will get done.
The Bruins did add seven players to fill out the middle and lower portions of their lineup, including a fan favorite (Milan Lucic), a veteran net-front presence (James van Riemsdyk), a versatile forward with upside (Morgan Geekie), and a replacement for Connor Clifton on defense (Kevin Shattenkirk).
At the close of business on Saturday, the Bruins look like a team with stout defense and goaltending, albeit compromised at forward, at least compared to last year’s record-setting juggernaut.
“I don’t think you ever feel comfortable with where you sit in July,” Sweeney said, musing that perhaps a young standout like Fabian Lysell will prove himself ready for NHL work this fall. “You’ve got a lot of ifs, ands, or buts.”
If things break well for the Bruins, they will get some of Tyler Bertuzzi’s production around the net from van Riemsdyk, who signed a one-year, $1 million deal. And Geekie (two years, $2 million per), who can play center and right wing, will help solidify a fourth line that loses center Tomas Nosek and right wing Garnet Hathaway (off to Philadelphia for two years and $4.75 million).
But they know what they can expect from Lucic (one year, $1 million, with a $500,000 performance bonus). He’s a
big (6 feet 3 inches and 240 pounds), competitive player who hopes his long-awaited return to Boston will rejuvenate everyone around him.
“That fire, bringing it every day, that’s something I haven’t lost,” said Lucic, one of the game’s premier power forwards during his first run here (2007-15).
Lucic, speaking on a Zoom call from his Los Angeles home, was granted permission by the Flames to explore the market early. He began talking with Sweeney two weeks ago. At 12:01 p.m. Saturday, Sweeney said, he received a picture of Lucic wearing a recently purchased Spoked-B hat.
“All my Bruins stuff is in Vancouver,” a grinning Lucic said.
Grateful for the opportunity to return to the place of his best hockey memories — drafted 50th overall in 2006, career highs in goals (30) and points (62) and a Stanley Cup in 2010-11, hundreds of battering-ram hits — and personal growth, Lucic said he is ready for whatever role coach Jim Montgomery assigns him.
“I’m not the same player and person I was 10 years ago,” said Lucic, coming off a World Championship gold medal with Team Canada in May (2-2–4 in 10 games) and a poor season in Calgary (7-12–19 in 77 games). “My mind-set is still the same. That’s to win a championship.”
Van Riemsdyk (6-3, 208), who turned 34 in May, has made a career of using deft touch and timing around the net (300 goals, 591 points in 940 games). The left wing showed his age last season, putting up his worst numbers since he became a regular (12 goals, 29 points in 61 games). His power-play production cratered, too: two goals and four points.
“He’s really tough to defend in the front of the net,” Sweeney said, suggesting puck luck might have been the issue in Philadelphia. “It’ll be incumbent upon him to get back to those areas and bear down and score like he normally would.”
Geekie (6-3, 201), who turns 25 later this month, took the expansion route from Carolina to Seattle and was productive on the fourth line last season. He scored a careerhigh nine goals and 28 points while averaging 10:27 of ice time. He was largely used in an offensive role — which he will not be in Boston — but no forward who averaged less than 11 minutes had more points, and only three scored more goals.
“He’s played bumper on the power play,” Sweeney said. “He’s got a really good release. The skating has always been the knock. We feel with the size and hockey sense and puck-skill ability, he’ll be able to complement our group.”
Experienced NHL players all, at a combined cost of $4 million a season. They will mix with a group of young players (Jakub Lauko, Lysell, Oskar Steen, Marc McLaughlin, Georgii Merkulov) vying for forward spots.
“We scored [301] goals. More than likely we’re going to drop from that,” Sweeney said. “Goaltending’s really good. Defense is really good. Our structure’s not going to change. If you look at the size of our lineup, it’s pretty big. So can we play with the pace we would like to play with, that Monty would like to play with?”
Also in that depth group: exBoston College captain Patrick Brown (two years at $800,000 per).
Brown, a center who spent last year with Philadelphia and Ottawa, plays physically at 6-1, 209. He is the son of former NHL winger
Doug Brown and nephew of current BC coach Greg Brown.
On defense, Shattenkirk (one year, $1.05 million) will replace Clifton (three years, $10 million in Buffalo) on the right side. Ex- of Boston University, Shattenkirk, 34, is a solid two-way defender who put up 27 points in 75 games with the Ducks last year.
Providence got a boost with the addition of forwards Anthony Richard (one year, $775,000) and Luke Toporowski (he was on an AHL deal; he signed for two years at $870,000 per). Forward Jayson Megna and defensemen Parker Wotherspoon signed two-way deals at one year and $775,000.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Orlov struck a big payday in Carolina, which signed him for two years at $7.75 million a season. Mike Reilly, waived multiple times and finally bought out by the Bruins, signed on in Florida for one year at $1 million. Chris Wagner signed with Colorado.
Bertuzzi, Sweeney said, cost too much and for too long for the Bruins’ cap structure. The GM could not find the needed roster-changing trade to accommodate the player’s ask.
With the salary cap expected to rise by some $4 million in the summer of 2024, the Bruins could have lots of room. In addition to Lucic, van Riemsdyk, and Shattenkirk, Jake DeBrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, and Derek Forbort will be unrestricted free agents. Linus Ullmark and Brad Marchand will be entering the final year of their deals.
“We feel good about the competitiveness of our group,” Sweeney said. “With an eye toward the future.”