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By Conor Ryan
It’s already been a busy offseason for Don Sweeney and the Bruins, with the Original Six franchise bolstering their prospect pool in the NHL Draft and re-upping in-house skaters like Morgan Geekie, Henri Jokiharju, and Mason Lohrei.
But with Boston still operating with a projected $12.7 million in cap space, the Bruins will have an opportunity to add to their roster on Tuesday with the start of NHL free agency set to get underway.
Even with several top targets already re-signing with their respective clubs before July 1, there could be some value unearthed across the free-agent market, while Sweeney also stressed that Boston could re-assess trade opportunities once things begin to ramp up this summer.
“We had a couple of those things that we looked at,” Sweeney said Saturday. “Maybe they they come to bear over the next day or so as well. And we’ll foray into free agency if we haven’t filled those holes via trade, so the quality of it — again, you won’t know which players are leaving their current environments.
“Some guys sign today and tomorrow and the following day, right up until the free agency period begins. And so ultimately, you try to forecast whose available and what players would be leaving their current environments.”
Follow along with us as we cover all of the twists and turns of NHL free agency — which will officially begin at 12 p.m.
We’ll have regular updates, as well as scouting reports on whoever Boston ends up bringing in on Tuesday.
7:00: This quote will ultimately hold plenty of weight when the time comes to grade out this upcoming Bruins season.
Don Sweeney: “I do believe when you put the whole group together, what they're capable of doing, we'll score enough if we play the right way, and we'll defend a hell a lot better, and I expect our goaltending to be significantly better.” pic.twitter.com/lE30rrew8Q
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) July 1, 2025
4:50: Barring a major change, it looks as though the Bruins are done for the day when it comes to bolstering their roster.
Bolster might not be the right word.
3:27: New Hampshire native was a productive player in the AHL ranks last season.
Alex Steeves, one year, $850,000 with Boston Bruins. #Leafs
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) July 1, 2025
2:52: A one-way contract for Blumel. Bruins are hoping that scoring translates at the next level. They’re going to need it.
Matej Blumel to Boston $875,000 one way.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2025
2:25: Sean Kuraly is a familiar face in Boston, as the fourth-line forward spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Bruins — establishing himself as an impact fourth-line forward with a penchant for scoring timely goals in the postseason.
The 32-year-old forward spent the last four seasons with the Blue Jackets — scoring 40 goals and 85 points over those four seasons. Kuraly could be a useful addition to a Bruins PK that took on water this past season.
Eyssimont is another fourth-line option for the Bruins who both puts pucks on net and finishes his hits. He scored nine goals and 16 points over 77 games this past season while logging 110 hits.
Mikey Eyssimont, signed 2x$1.5M by BOS, is a fourth line energy winger who forechecks, finishes checks, and most importantly shoots the puck a ton. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/ZM8LTkyqkY
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025
2:17: Bruins loading up on some depth forwards, including old friend Sean Kuraly.
Told the Bruins have signed:
— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) July 1, 2025
Arvidson
Eyssimont
Kuraly
Blumel
Steeves@DailyFaceoff
Details below:
Kuraly 2 yrs 1.85
— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) July 1, 2025
Eyssimont 2 yrs 1.45
W/ Bruins@DailyFaceoff
2:00: More on Tanner Jeannot:
1:47: Bruins adding a local product in Haverhill’s Jordan Harris. Left-shot D who could be the seventh option on Boston’s depth chart.
Hearing Jordan Harris, who was not qualified in Columbus, is headed to Boston.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2025
Played his college hockey at Northeastern
1:30: Former Bruins blueliner heads to Pittsburgh.
Sounds like Parker Wotherspoon is going to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
— Irfaan Gaffar (@irfgaffar) July 1, 2025
1:09:The Bruins just signed Tanner Jeannot to a 5-year contract. A very physical winger, but man — that’s a lot of term (and money).
Tanner Jeannot 5 x $3.4M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2025
Boston
12:35: One of the top free-agent targets are now off the board.
7.25 x 7 for Boeser in VAN
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) July 1, 2025
12:30: More updates on Arvidsson.
12:22: Looks like the Bruins are banking on some upside with a young winger in Blumel. The 25-year-old Czech forward led the AHL this past season with 39 goals over 67 games with the Texas Stars.
Has just two goals in 14 career NHL games , so we’ll see what the Bruins can draw out of him.
Expect Matěj Blümel to sign with Boston.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) July 1, 2025
12:00: Free agency is officially underway.
11:50: By taking on Arvidsson’s contract, the Bruins have a little under $9 million in cap space.
The Bruins have acquired Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers.
— Bruins Cap Space (@BruinsCapSpace) July 1, 2025
Updated Cap Projection pic.twitter.com/N99gpFOqHB
11:33: According to Friedman, it’s a 2027 fifth-round pick for Arvidsson.
Trade details, per sources:
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2025
To #NHLBruins:
Viktor Arvidsson
To #Oilers:
2027 5th Round Pick
No salary retained on Arvidsson.
11:28: Seems like it’s just draft capital for now on Arvidsson.
Still pending league trade call but Viktor Arvidsson, who waived his no-trade, going to Boston for a future/mid-round draft pick.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2025
11:20: Arvidsson, 32, has one year left on his deal with a $4 million cap hit. Scored 15 goals and 27 points this past year with Edmonton, but does have five 20-goal seasons on his resume.
Might be more of a third-line winger at this point, although that remains to be seen on a pretty light Boston forward grouping.
Arvidsson: Dangerous on the rush and also peppers the net, which the Bruins desperately need on a forward grouping full of pass-first options. https://t.co/jA8G53ZA9Q
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) July 1, 2025
11:15: Interesting. Given how desperate the Oilers are for goaltending, one has to wonder if Korpisalo would be a target here.
Hearing Viktor Arvidsson has been traded to the Boston Bruins from Edmonton.
— Irfaan Gaffar (@irfgaffar) July 1, 2025
10:51: Offer sheets are always an intriguing offseason play for several teams, including the Bruins. But with so many teams still flush with cap space, it seems like multiple organizations are poised to match any offer presented to them.
10:02: Fair to say, the current crop of free agents is … not great. With Mitch Marner going to Vegas in a sign-and-trade and other players like Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and others all re-signing, there aren’t a lot of high-end options available beyond Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers.
This is so bleak lol (via @DailyFaceoff)
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) July 1, 2025
Anyways, happy free agency day pic.twitter.com/XjChs5vBuN
If the Bruins are looking for an impact player, it might have to come via trade.
9:30: Greetings from Warrior! Plenty going on today, starting with Day 2 of Development Camp. Our first Dev Camp notebook dropped last night — focusing in on Will Zellers and Vashek Blanar.
Back at it. pic.twitter.com/jWIeFvEqON
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) July 1, 2025
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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