The Bruins signed six players during the free agent frenzy yesterday and announced an extension for defenseman Connor Clifton. Introducing the new Bruins (and reintroducing a prospect that was resigned):
- Maxime Lagace, G. Played primarily for the Chicago Wolves (AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights) last season, where he posted a 2.43 GAA and 0.914 SV% in 33 regular-season games and a 3.34 GAA and 0.865 SV% in three playoff games. He signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level.
- Brett Ritchie, RW. Played for the Dallas Stars last season, where he produced four goals and two assists in 53 games. He also played in one playoff game for them, but he recorded no points in it. He is signed to a one-year, $1 million contract.
- Par Lindholm, C. Started the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline. He tallied one goal and 12 assists in 65 games between the two teams, and he also played in two playoff games for the Jets but recorded no points. He is signed to a two-year contract worth $1.7 million ($850,000 AAV).
- Brendan Gaunce, C/W. Played primarily for Utica Comets (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) last season, where he recorded 16 goals and 22 assists in 60 games. He is signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level.
- Josiah Didier, D. Played for the Charlotte Checkers (AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes) last season, where he recorded two goals and eight assists in 41 games. He also played in 19 playoff games for the Checkers on the way to winning the Calder Cup, and recorded no goals but four assists in that time for them. There are conflicting reports as to what type of contract he signed, but it is either a one-year AHL contract or a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level.
- Ryan Fitzgerald, C. Played for the Providence Bruins (AHL affiliate of the Bruins) last season, where he recorded nine goals and 28 assists in 61 games in the regular season and zero goals and one assist in four playoff games. He was resigned to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the AHL level.
I did a separate report on all these players that included what I thought of the deals, so check those out if you want to know more about them (they’re under the Bruins Free Agents tab on the blog). The theme of the day for Sweeney was depth, depth, and more depth, which I think was a good thing. Nearly all of the major signings yesterday were overpayments and/or for too long a term (I did a report on most of them, which you can find under their respective teams’ tab), so I’m glad Sweeney didn’t jump right into the middle of it and come out with a deal that will be regretted within a few years. The team did not have the cap space to do so, as they still have to resign RFAs Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen and after yesterday they have just $10.2 million to do so. This means there is likely at least one trade coming soon, as that isn’t enough for all three of them (contrary to what Sweeney may have said yesterday, but I don’t see any scenario in which it is). Overall, I like what Sweeney did yesterday, as too much depth has never hurt anyone. He only spent around $1.8 million, which isn’t too bad, although I think giving Brett Ritchie $1 million was a bit much. Sweeney seemed to do the best he could with the cap space he had accounting for the fact that a trade involving one of the team’s nine defensemen was likely necessary anyways. I think we’ll look back on this as a good, harmless free agent frenzy day, which is not always a bad thing when you are already a Stanley Cup contending team. It’s also what was expected of the Bruins given their cap situation and the fact that they were Cup finalists last season, and I’m glad that it worked out the way it did.
Hockey Addict 