Bruins make qualifying offer to Sean Kuraly
Kuraly could have taken the Bruins to arbitration.
The Bruins made qualifying offers to three restricted free agents, including fourth-line forward Sean Kuraly.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 214-pound left-shot center played a steady game on the fourth line last year. He chipped in six goals and eight assists in 75 games.
Kuraly, 25, could have taken the Bruins to arbitration. The club needed to make an offer of $874,125 by Monday to retain his rights. If not, Kuraly would have hit the open market July 1.
A 2011 fifth-round pick of the Sharks, Kuraly signed with the Bruins out of Miami (Ohio) in 2016. His rights were traded to Boston with a 2016 first-rounder as part of a deal for goalie Martin Jones.
Boston used the pick (29th overall) to select Wisconsin center Trent Frederic, who had a 5-3—8 line in 13 games with Providence last spring after leaving school.
Jones has become San Jose’s No. 1 netminder.
The Bruins also extended offers to forwards Colby Cave and Anton Blidh.
Blidh, a gritty left-shot winger, has appeared in 20 games for Boston the last two years. The Swede spent all but one night last year in Providence (11-15—26 in 71 games). His offer was for $813,750.
Cave, a left-shot center, went 11-22—33 in 72 games for Providence last year. His offer was for $715,000.
The Bruins did not qualify forward Justin Hickman. According to the Providence Journal, Hickman (with Providence the last three seasons) signed to play in Norway.
