The Boston Bruins have been active in free agency, signing forwards Sean Kuraly and Michael Eyssimont to two-year contracts. These signings aim to bolster the team's depth and add character to the lineup under new coach Marco Sturm. After missing the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade, the Bruins are looking to these energy forwards to help them rediscover their identity.
Sean Kuraly is returning to Boston after spending the last four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His two-year contract carries an average annual value (AAV) of $1.85 million, totaling $3.7 million. The 32-year-old center previously played for the Bruins from 2016 to 2021, appearing in 270 regular-season games and 57 playoff games. A fan favorite in Boston, Kuraly is known for his physicality, leadership, and ability to win faceoffs. In the 2024-25 season with Columbus, Kuraly played in all 82 games, recording 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points while averaging 11:46 of ice time. He also contributed 163 hits and a team-leading 54.3% faceoff percentage. Kuraly's best offensive season came in 2021-22, his first year with the Blue Jackets, when he tallied 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points. The Bruins hope he can bring a physical and impactful presence to their bottom-six forwards.
Michael Eyssimont is joining the Bruins on a two-year deal with a $1.45 million AAV, totaling $2.9 million. The 29-year-old winger split the 2024-25 season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Seattle Kraken, notching 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points in 77 games. Eyssimont is known for his tenacious forechecking, high-volume shooting, and pest-like style of play. Over his four seasons in the NHL, Eyssimont has accumulated 23 goals, 33 assists, 230 penalty minutes, and 352 hits in 213 games. His most productive season was in 2023-24 with Tampa Bay, where he recorded 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 81 games. Eyssimont has been traded mid-season three times in his career, demonstrating his journeyman status. The Bruins are hoping that Eyssimont can provide depth scoring and energy to their bottom-six.
The Bruins have also signed forwards Matej Blumel and Alex Steeves to short-term deals, further solidifying their forward depth. Blumel signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $875,000, while Steeves inked a one-year deal worth $850,000. With these additions, the Bruins have been among the busiest teams in free agency, focusing on adding depth and improving their team culture after a disappointing 2024-25 season.
