After a strong playoff performance that helped the Bruins get one game away from hoisting the Stanley Cup, pending unrestricted free agent Marcus Johansson is certainly on the B's radar to return to Boston.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN reports:
Bruins GM Don Sweeney is expected to connect with JP Barry, agent for pending UFA F Marcus Johansson, over next few days. But Sweeney wants to get official salary cap number before being able to throw a number at the Johansson camp.
Sweeney told reporters in Vancouver, where the NHL Draft begins Friday, that hasn't informed any of the B's unrestricted free agents (Johansson, Noel Acciari, Steven Kampfer, Zane McIntyre) of the team's plans regarding returns or departures.
At his end-of-the-season press conference this week in Boston, Sweeney heaped praise of Johnasson, 28, acquired at the trade deadline from the New Jersey Devils. The winger found a home on the third line, particularly in the playoffs, when he had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 22 games.
“We found that Marcus was a really good fit for our hockey club,” Sweeney said this week. “I was proud of how he got injured [with a lung contusion in March], came back and elevated his play, was really invested, thought he fit in really well with [fellow trade deadline acquisition] Charlie [Coyle] coming in, gave us some options on the power play, was a really good fit. Good person, great teammate and got us to a certain point. Wish we could’ve finished it off.”
Boston Bruins
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