The Bruins continue to tie up the loose ends of their roster and will have at least one arbitration date on their docket over the next month.
A source confirmed to CSNNE that Ryan Spooner filed for arbitration prior to a 5 p.m. deadline on Wednesday afternoon, but both sides are expected to keep working on a deal ahead of their scheduled date in arbitration.
The Bruins also agreed with energy winger Tim Schaller on a one-year, one-way deal for $775,000 for next season to avoid a possible arbitration date with the New Hampshire native. They still have until the end of business on Thursday to decide about team-elected arbitration for restricted free agents Austin Czarnik and Zane McIntyre.
Spooner, 25, is coming off a two-year, $1.9 million contract with the Bruins and is looking at a raise based on averaging 12 goals and 44 points over the past two seasons in Boston. It’s expected that Spooner still could also be dealt as part of a package that could net the Bruins either a proven top-six left wing for David Krejci or a top-four left-shot defenseman who's expected to be partnered with Charlie McAvoy.
Oscar Lindberg just signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract with the New York Rangers this week and Spooner’s numbers are much better than his. So, it’s not out of the realm that Spooner could be asking for something in the neighborhood of $2-3 million on a one-year deal given his power-play production and overall numbers. It's those very same skills, along with his high-end skating speed, that gives him value on the market as a trade asset.
Schaller, 26, appeared in 59 games in his first season with Boston in 2016-17. He scored seven goals and had seven assists for 14 points with 23 penalty minutes while playing a fourth-line role that showed a touch of offensive production and some needed physical play as well. Prior to joining the Bruins, Schaller spent two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres with two goals and three assists in 35 games.