It is reasonable for Bruins supporters to wonder if their team has improved since their fire sale at the trade deadline, given the plethora of new players they signed on Tuesday. It would be challenging to respond in the positive on paper.
However, GM Don Sweeney’s goal with NHL free agency Tuesday was to increase his team’s competitiveness, first when training camp begins in September and then when the roster, whoever makes it, competes against other clubs in October.
If he was successful in that attempt, only time will tell.
When the free agency market was exceptionally thin and there wasn’t enough money to hire top players to cover every gap, assuming any were available, Sweeney set out to mend the team’s soul.
In exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, he first acquired veteran wing Viktor Arvidsson from salary-dumping Edmonton. Subsequently, Sweeney’s initial attempt to enter the free agent market resulted in a massive five-year contract ($3.4 million per season) for Tanner Jeannot, a low-scoring hitman and one of the league’s better fights. According to Jeannot, Jeannot makes everyone in the lineup a little taller.
He then brought on two additional bottom six forwards, Mikey Eyssimont (2 x $1.45 million), who Sweeney called a pain in the ass, and Sean Kuraly (2 x $1.85 million), a longtime friend and hustle dealer. Along with two 25-year-old minor league forwards, Matej Blumel (who scored 70 goals in the last two seasons for the Texas Stars (AHL)) and Alex Steeves (who scored 36 goals for the Toronto Marlies (AHL) last season), he also signed depth defenseman Jordan Harris, a product of Haverhill and the Northeast, to a one-year, $825,000 contract.
It’s time for this group of players, who are more likely to be tough bottom-six players and last-chance prospects than top players, to compete for roster places. This is an effort to revive the lost culture.
Even though our group had an easy out last year, there were instances when we were uneasy. Sweeney added, “And I can’t stand for that.”
Throughout his managerial career, Sweeney has stated time and time again that he does not want to give a young player a job, and this year’s July 1 crop clearly reflected that sentiment. Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras, and Fabian Lysell will be wearing a P on their chest rather than a B if they aren’t prepared to compete for a seat in September. That shouldn’t be an issue if they’re talented enough for the NHL.
Without a doubt, a younger player is contributing to our team if given the chance. Sweeney stated, “I believe that what we did two years ago, creating space for Matt Poitras, proves that.” However, there is competition. That is our goal.
At the end of the season, it was necessary to sell Brad Marchand, Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo in addition to the flash tank. There were no indications that the squad would turn around because it was headed in the wrong direction. James Hagens, a guy they think may be a top line striker, and a number of other intriguing possibilities have already been acquired by them as a result of their choices. In addition, they have two first-round draft selections in 2027 and two more next season, when the crop of prospects is anticipated to be deeper. Jeannot’s five-year contract was signed in part because of those young players.
In 2025–2026, can they contend for a postseason berth? It will be challenging because they play in the Atlantic Division and, at least theoretically, Florida, Toronto, Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Ottawa are superior than them. However, in a league where half the teams advance, it is not impossible.
The return of Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm should help the 24-25 club, since their losses were catastrophic. They still have David Pastrnak, one of the league’s top goal scorers. It’s impossible to predict how a team will come together under a new coach. Arvidsson, who played on the Kings power play when Sturm coached it in LA in 2021–22 before taking over the Kings’ top AHL affiliate, seems to be someone Marco Sturm genuinely believes in.
I simply believe that he understands the game because he played it. Arvidsson, who has one year left on his $4 million contract, stated, “I think he’s going to be a really good coach for the team and a young group that we are and pushing for playoffs.”
This winter, the Garden may host some fun, classic evenings with Jeannot (211 hits), Mark Kastelic, and Nikita Zadorov.
But don’t be misled. This team has no chance of winning the Stanley Cup. In order to go to the next level in a few years, the Bruins are essentially in a holding pattern where they aim to remain competitive until the young players come.
Fixing the culture is a good place to start when it comes to plans. The finish line, however, is a very long way off.
