The Boston Bruins have been busy on the outset of NHL free company on Monday and so they stayed that method all through the day.
After including influence gamers Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to long-term offers alongside with signing Max Jones, the Bruins made positive to herald some depth items.
The Bruins introduced they signed forwards Riley Tufte, Cole Koepke and Jeffrey Viel, together with veteran defensemen Jordan Oesterle and Billy Sweezy. 4 of these 5 gamers are on two-way contracts, whereas Tufte obtained a one-year deal price $775,000. Viel obtained a two-year deal at $775 yearly, with the 2024-25 season being a two-way settlement and a one-way contract for the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
Tufte performed 5 video games for the Colorado Avalanche final season and continued a Bruins’ pattern of signing gamers with spectacular dimension because the 26-year-old stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 kilos. He confirmed effectively for Colorado’s AHL affiliate, notching 23 objectives and 22 assists for 45 factors in 67 video games. Tufte initially was a 2016 first-round choose by the Dallas Stars.
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Viel, 27, didn’t play within the NHL final season after suiting up for 3 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, during which he tallied simply three objectives and two assists in 49 video games. Viel did play in 69 video games for the Winnipeg Jets AHL affiliate and recorded 17 objectives and 23 assists for 40 factors.
Koepke, whose two-way contract is only a one-year deal, appeared in 26 video games for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the last two seasons. The 26-year-old left winger solely had a purpose and two assists throughout his time with the Lightning however got here via with 20 objectives and 19 assists for 39 factors within the AHL final season.
Oesterle has essentially the most NHL expertise out of any of those signings. He’s a veteran of 10 NHL seasons, having suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Purple Wings and most not too long ago the Calgary Flames. The 32-year-old performed 22 video games for the Flames final season and compiled simply two assists and a minus-6 score. His greatest season got here with the Coyotes throughout the 2018-19 marketing campaign when he produced a career-high six objectives and 14 assists for 20 factors.
Sweezy has performed solely 9 NHL video games in his profession, all with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He isn’t afraid to scrap, as evidenced by the combat he obtained into with former Bruins ahead Jakub Lauko two seasons in the past. It’s additionally a homecoming for the 28-year-old, who’s a Hanson, Mass. native.
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