Bruins sign Slovakian right wing Martin Bakos
The move to sign Bakos came more than two weeks ahead of the NHL’s July 1 free agent signing date.
Lack of secondary offensive production among their playoff bugaboos, the Bruins on Thursday added unheralded Martin Bakos, a right winger from Slovakia, to their list of scoring candidates for the 2018-19 season.
Bakos, 28, agreed to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $700,000 if he makes the varsity and considerably less if he is assigned to AHL Providence. Never drafted by an NHL club, the 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound Bakos joined Bratislava in the Kontinental Hockey League at age 23 and played there three of the last six seasons. He returned to play in the top Czech league last season, with Liberec Bili Tygri, and collected 14 goals and 40 points in 52 games, his most productive year as a professional.
Bakos has the kind of résumé that would make him a candidate to play in the top six, perhaps at right wing on the No. 2 line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.
The move to sign Bakos came more than two weeks ahead of the NHL’s July 1 free agent signing date, which this year has become more interesting with renowned Russian scorer Ilya Kovalchuk back on the market. Boston general manager Don Sweeney confirmed Wednesday that he would like to sign Kovalchuk, 35, who likely will have 10 or more NHL clubs bidding on his services.
The Bruins dealt for Rick Nash in February to fill that role, only to see the veteran winger’s effectiveness sag after he suffered a concussion some three weeks after his debut in the Black-and-Gold lineup.
Because his NHL rights belonged to no one, Bakos was able to sign with the Bruins prior to July 1.
Bakos, who would be joining fellow Slovak Zdeno Chara if he were to make the varsity, has represented his country in a number of international tournaments, including the Olympics and World Championships this year.
The Bruins were only fringe participants in last year’s free agent market, signing forward Kenny Agostino and defenseman Paul Postma to one-year deals. Sweeney said soon after the season that he would not ask either to return. Bakos, though a couple of years older, in some ways fills the Agostino slot.
Can’t wait for camp
Newly signed defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, a first-round draft pick in 2017, is excited to join the Bruins and has his sights set on a roster spot.
The 19-year-old from Finland, who on Wednesday signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $925,000 annually, will join the Bruins’ development camp starting June 26.
“Just [a] dream come true,’’ he said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid, so it’s been an exciting few days here. Can’t wait to get there and get things started.’’
Last season, Vaakanainen played in the Finnish Elite League for SaiPa and had 11 points in 43 games and a plus-8 rating.
He also played for Finland’s national team in the World Junior Championships, where he recorded an assist in five games.
The nearly 4,000-mile journey from Lappeenranta, Finland, to Boston will mark the first time Vaakanainen plays in North America. He will have to adjust to North American hockey and its physicality, speed, and smaller ice surface.
“I’m really excited just to get to the camp and show how good I am and try to be at my best every day and just have fun and enjoy,’’ Vaakanainen said. “These opportunities [don’t] happen to every guy.’’
Vaakanainen knows what he can improve upon over the course of the summer.
“Well, I have to get a bit stronger and just overall better in everything,’’ he said. “Have to work on my shot a lot this summer and just playing on the offensive blue line getting shots to the net through the traffic.’’
His motivation is clear.
“My goal is to get a spot in Boston,’’ Vaakanainen said. “I’m just part of the camp, trying to be as good as I just can be and play as well as I can and try to get the spot. That’s my only goal for the camp.’’
