The Boston Bruins brought a total of seven new faces into the locker room in the offseason. Here is your cheat sheet to get to know some quick facts about each player, how they were acquired, who they previously played for, and how long their contract is.
Elias Lindholm
Position: Center
Previous Teams: Vancouver Canucks (2023-24), Calgary Flames (2018-24), Carolina Hurricanes (2013-18)
Acquired: July 1st, Free Agent
Salary/Cap Hit (millions of $): 54.25(7-year)/7.75
Although Hampus and Elias are unrelated by blood, the Bruins added another solid Lindholm in Elias, who has long been regarded as one of the league’s finest 2-way centers. When he signed with Boston in July, he was quoted saying “I think I can bring a little bit of what [Bergeron] did”, which holds respectable weight coming from the guy who finished second to Bergeron in the 2021-22 Selke Trophy voting. Offensive capabilities are the other half of a two way player, and Lindholm has a history of solid production on that end of the ice. He is expected to be the first line center with Pasternak and Zacha on his wings, and the last time he had as solid a line as that was in 2021-22 (Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau), where he totaled 82 points (42 goals, 40 assists).
Nikita Zadorov
Position: Defense
Previous Teams: Vancouver Canucks (2023-24), Calgary Flames (2021-24), Chicago Blackhawks (2020-21), Colorado Avalanche (2015-20), Buffalo Sabres (2013-15)
Acquired: July 1st, Free Agent
Salary/Cap Hit (millions of $): 30(6-year)/5
Zadorov is a 6’6’’, 258lb Russian wrecking ball. The Bruins needed an enforcer on defense, and they signed an excellent one. Nothing else needs to be said, just watch his highlight tape of crushing hits:
Mark Kastelic
Position: Center
Previous Teams: Ottawa Senators (2021-24)
Acquired: June 24th in Ullmark Trade
Salary/Cap Hit (thousands of $): 870/835
The 6’4’’, 226lb Arizonan adds some much needed depth at the center position for the post-Bergeron Bruins. In his 144 games with Ottawa, Kastelic netted 14 goals along with 11 assists and a faceoff win percentage of 56.3%.
Joonas Korpisalo
Position: Goaltender
Previous Teams: Ottawa Senators (2023-24), Los Angeles Kings (2022-23), Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-23)
Acquired: June 24th in Ullmark Trade
Salary/Cap Hit (millions of $): 5/4
The 6’3’’, 189lb Finnish goaltender is certainly a downgrade from linus Ullmark, but he’ll be a serviceable backup for the now permanent starter, Jeremy Swayman. His .890 save percentage from his 55 games in Ottawa last season is just a step below his .901 career percentage. A reliable piece when Swayman needs rest.
Riley Tufte
Position: Left Wing
Previous Teams: Colorado Avalanche (2023-24), Dallas Stars (2021-23)
Acquired: July 1st, Free Agent
Salary/Cap Hit (thousands of $): 775/775
The 6’6’’, 230lb Minnesotan adds a physical presence to an already sizable third line, with Trent Frederic (6’3’’, 220lb) and Justin Brazeau (6’5’’, 220lb) lining up to his right. The 26 year old only has 18 professional games under his belt, but will be looking to make a jump in his fresh start with Boston.
Max Jones
Position: Left Wing
Previous Teams: Anaheim Ducks (2018-24)
Acquired: July 1st, Free Agent
Salary/Cap Hit (millions of $): 1/1
The 6’3’’, 216lb Michigan native, although the same age as Riley Tufte, has 240 more games of experience. His 62 points (31 goals, 31 assists) in that span are hopefully a sign of what’s to come from a low-line production standpoint. Another solid depth add for the Bruins.
Cole Koepke
Position: Left Wing
Previous Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning (2022-24)
Acquired: July 1st, Free Agent
Salary/Cap Hit (thousands of $): 775/775
The 6’1’’, 203lb Minnesotan played college hockey with the aforementioned Riley Tufte at the University of Minnesota Duluth during the 2018/19 season. Since being drafted in 2018 by the Lightning, Koepke has been going back and forth from the minors, totalling only 26 games in the pros. The Bruins hope that Koepke can grow into a solid 4th line depth player or better.