The first day of NHL free agency came and went with the Bruins making seven transactions. The most notable moves were the additions of defenseman John Moore and goaltender Jaroslav Halak
John Moore was signed to a 5-year contract with $2.75 million per season. Moore is a defensive style defenseman who can still put up decent offensive numbers as he posted 7 goals and 11 assists with the New Jersey Devils.Moore also posted a plus-3 with 135 hits and 105 blocked shots. on the defensive side of the puck.Moore projects to be a second pair defenseman.
Joining Moore is goalie Jaroslav Halak who signed a 2-year $2.75 million deal with the Bruins. Halak posted a 20-26-6 record with a 3.19 GAA and a .908 Save% last season for the Islanders behind an atrocious defense.
Two smaller moves which may impact the 4th line on this team are Chris Wagner previously of the Ducks and Joakim Nordstrom previously of the Hurricanes. They both signed 2 year deals for low money. They project to fill out the bottom line with Riley Nash and Tim Schaller gone.
The minor Bruins moves listed below:
Forward Chris Wagner was signed to a two-year deal worth $1.25 million per season.
Forward Joakim Nordstrom was signed to a two-year deal worth $1 million per season.
Defenseman Cody Goloubef was signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 while he’s playing in the NHL.
Forward Mark McNeill was signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 while he’s playing in the NHL.
2018 second-round draft pick Axel Andersson signed his entry-level NHL contract; the deal is for three years at just a shade over $825,000 per season.
On the downside the Bruins lost Riley Nash, Anton Khudobin and Tim Schaller. But none of those players are going to be impossible to replace. Nash would be the closest in terms of a key loss. He was great last season.