Boston Bruins
The Bruins need help both on their blue line and in terms of added scoring punch.
Ryan Shea could be due for a nice pay day on Wednesday. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
The Bruins have already been busy this offseason, parting with a pair of first-round picks last week in order to pry top-six winger JJ Peterka out of Utah.
But, Boston has a lot more work to do this summer if it wants to build off a short playoff appearance this spring.
Utilizing trades appears to be the preferred transaction across the NHL so far this offseason, due in large part to a surging salary cap and what is looking like a lackluster crop of free agents.
But the Bruins — who enter July 1 with a projected $7.7 million in cap space and could clear more by offloading some redundant contracts — could shore up a few deficiencies in their depth chart once free agency begins at noon on Wednesday.
Here are a few names to keep tabs on for the Bruins once free agency kicks off:
Ryan Shea, D
No, we’re not throwing Ryan Shea in here just because he’s a Northeastern product who hails from Milton.
If the Bruins are looking for a mobile, puck-carrying skater to pair alongside Charlie McAvoy on Boston’s top D pair, Shea could be an under-the-radar signing that frees up some of McAvoy’s responsibilities moving forward.
Shea, 29, is a late bloomer, having played just three seasons (150 total games) in the NHL. But he’s coming off a productive year for the Penguins in 2025-26, scoring six goals and 35 points over 80 games — averaging 18:53 of ice time per contest.
The 6-foot-1 defenseman did most of his damage at 5-on-5 play (33 points), while a look under the hood at Shea’s puck-transporting skills paints the picture of a steady skater who makes life easier for his D partner.
As noted by Adam Vingan of Sportsnet, Shea sported a 75.5 completion rate on 5-on-5 outlet passes, ranking 32nd out of over 200 D-men who played at least 40 games. Shea’s turnover rate of 13 percent also ranked 29th overall.
If Boston wants to give McAvoy a fleet-footed skater without taking on an arduous contract like Darnell Nurse’s, Shea could be a solid value pick-up.
Matias Maccelli, F
As soon as the Bruins dealt for Peterka, the writing was seemingly on the wall that Viktor Arvidsson might have priced himself out of Boston after a very strong campaign with the club in 2025-26 (25 goals, 54 points in 69 games).
Peterka should account for Arvidsson’s production if the 33-year-old veteran signs elsewhere. But, a Bruins team that needs all of the scoring and skill it can get on a retooling roster would still be wise to prowl the free-agent market for some bargain deals.
A speedy winger like Matias Maccelli could make sense if Boston is looking for a bit more scoring punch on the third line. The 25-year-old forward will hit free agency after the Maple Leafs didn’t extend him a qualifying offer after just one season in Toronto.
Maccelli had an up-and-down year with the Leafs (14 goals, 39 points in 70 games). But, the Finnish forward has good wheels (75th percentile in top skating speed, per NHL EDGE) and scored 57 points during the 2023-24 season with the Coyotes.
Much like Arvidsson, Maccelli is not the biggest body at 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds. But, if Boston wants to add some scoring punch and upside at a cheaper rate than bringing back Arvidsson, Marcelli makes some sense.
Jacob Trouba, D
As much as the Bruins want to upgrade their top-four D corps this offseason, the options are few and far between.
If Boston doesn’t want to part with premium picks and prospects via trade — or has sizable doubts about signing Rasmus Andersson to a seven-year deal worth over $8 million per year — targeting a veteran option like Jacob Trouba on a shorter-term deal might be the preferred avenue.
The 32-year-old right-shot defenseman would seemingly slot into the clear vacancy on Boston’s second-pairing, giving the Bruins a physical, punishing option who could add some rigidity to a defense that was routinely bailed out by Jeremy Swayman last year.
At 5-on-5 play, the Bruins ranked 29th in the league in expected goals against 60 minutes (2.93) last season, ahead of only the Islanders, Canucks, and Blackhawks. Boston also coughed up 12.5 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, with only four teams giving up more Grade-A looks.
He’s not the player he was during his early years with the Jets, but Trouba at least checks off several boxes for a Bruins team that wants to compete now — while also bridging the gap to Boston’s next wave of talent.
Beyond his knack for doling out some punishing checks, the 6-foot-3 defenseman can inject some offense. Only McAvoy had more 5-on-5 points on Boston’s roster than Trouba (26 points) last season.
Trouba likely isn’t earning a seven-year deal at his age, although the total term could be tricky for a player still in his early 30s.
An ideal right-shot target for the Bruins would be 36-year-old John Carlson as a short-term fix who can generate plenty of offense, although it seems unlikely he’s going to market after the Ducks traded his negotiating rights to Carolina during the NHL Draft.
Mason Marchment, LW
If the Bruins want to add a bit of a different look when it comes to a middle- six scorer, a power forward like Mason Marchment could hold some appeal.
Marchment is 31 years old, but has a pretty solid track record of potting 20 goals, posting 40 points, and using his 6-foot-5 frame to wreak havoc and pester opponents after the whistle.
After a quiet start in Seattle last year (four goals, 13 points in 29 games), Marchment was a menace after getting dealt to the Blue Jackets — scoring 15 goals and 32 points over 39 games. He’s not necessarily a burner like Arvidsson, but Marchment is a netfront menace who could give Boston a different element in either a second or third-line role.
Given how barren this free-agent class is, Marchment could be due for a pretty hefty contract this summer, which could scare away a team like the Bruins.
Nick Blankenburg, D
If Boston is trying to add value in its search for a playmaking, right-shot defenseman, a 5-foot-9 skater like Nick Blankenburg is a potential option. He’s far from an imposing presence out on the ice, but Blankenburg is a playmaker who could have more to give in an elevated role.
He tallied eight goals and 24 points in just 61 games split between Nashville and Colorado this past season — averaging 16:48 of ice time per game.
A player like Blankenburg would be an appealing pickup for Boston, especially as a right-shot D. But it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old skater is a potential top-four option who hasn’t had a chance to capitalize with expanded reps — or more of a third-pairing option who needs to be sheltered further down the depth chart.
If his projection is more of a latter, he may not be the needle-mover that the Bruins need at this juncture of their retool.
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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