Bruins Expected To Pursue Two Defenseman In Free Agency

Bruins Expected To Pursue Two Defenseman In Free Agency originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Bruins are expected to pursue two top defenseman in free agency.

Boston has just over $15 million in cap space, and the Bruins have a need to upgrade their blue line. Ahead of the offseason beginning, Bruins insider Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic believes Boston will pursue Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh. “The Bruins are in the market for right-side reinforcements on defense.

… They would like to add Darren Raddysh and Rasmus Andersson, but with multiple teams in the bidding, the price could go beyond the Bruins’ limit,” Shinzawa wrote in an article published on Thursday. The Bruins expressed trade interest in Andersson before he was dealt to Vegas, so the team being interested in him in free agency wouldn’t be a surprise. Andersson recorded 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 81 games this season, as he could add some more offense to the Bruins' back end.

Raddysh, meanwhile, had a career year as he quarterbacked the Lightning’s power play as he recorded 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points in 73 games in just his third full season in the NHL. The 30-year-old was an undrafted free agent and became a star defenseman this past season, and will be in line for a massive payday. Whether or not the Bruins will be able to land both or one of them is to be seen, but Shinzawa expects Boston to be aggressive in free agency.