If nothing else, the Boston Bruins are adding lots of depth on the first day of free agency. After landing two forwards in Viktor Arvidsson and Tanner Jeannot earlier Tuesday, the Boston Bruins have now added several other depth pieces.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports they have signed defenseman Jordan Harris, while Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco reports they have agreed to deals with forwards Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont. Harris is a one-year deal worth $825,000, Kuraly is a two-year deal for $1.85 million per year, while Eyssimont is two years at $1.45 million per.
It’s a homecoming for Harris, who grew up in Haverhill and played four years of college hockey at Northeastern. The 24-year-old left-shot defenseman was originally a third-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 and played well in two seasons with the Habs from 2022-24, averaging over 18 minutes per game.
Harris was then traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Patrik Laine last August, and for whatever reason, things just did not click for him there. He played just 33 games, his ice time plummeted to 11:23 per game, and Columbus did not issue him a qualifying offer after the season, making him a free agent. He gives the Bruins seven defensemen on NHL contracts, plus Mike Callahan on a two-way deal.
It’s also a return to Boston for Kuraly, who played his first five seasons with the Bruins from 2016-21. Kuraly, now 32, spent the last four years with the Blue Jackets. Still a perfectly fine fourth-line center, Kuraly had 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) in 82 games last season while playing 11:46 per game and winning 54.3% of his faceoffs.
Eyssimont, 28, is another energetic bottom-six forward. He had a career-high 25 points with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24, but dipped down to 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) last season while getting traded from Tampa to Seattle mid-season.
It’s unclear exactly what the Bruins’ plan is with so many bottom-six forwards. Without the addition of a bona fide top-six forward, Arvidsson may have to slot in on the second line. That would leave Jeannot, Kuraly and Eyssimont joining a bottom six that already includes Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov and Johnny Beecher, with youngsters Matt Poitras, Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov potentially pushing for jobs as well. Tuesday signing Matej Blumel, who led the AHL in goals last season, could be in the mix as well.