After locking up Morgan Geekie on Sunday night, the Bruins kept the signings coming on Monday morning with three more contracts to announce ahead of Tuesday’s opening on free agency.
At the top of the list is right-shot defenseman Henri Jokiharju, who was signed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3 million. The 25-year-old Jokiharju, who was going to be a UFA, was obtained from the Sabres at the trade deadline and fit in reasonably well with Nikita Zadorov. With only Charlie McAvoy and Andrew Peeke as the only viable NHL right shot defensemen on the roster, the B’s desperately needed a right shot D and they signed Jokiharju rather than risk trying to get one in a thin free agency market. This presumably takes them out of any bidding Aaron Ekblad, should the Florida Panther make it to free agency.
The B’s also signed 25-year-old goalie Michael DiPietro, who had an outstanding season in Providence with a 26-8-5 record, a 2.05 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. He inked a two-year, one-way deal for a salary of $812,500. He’ll require waivers to go back to Providence so, unless the B’s move Joonas Korpisalo, there should be an interesting competition in training camp for the second goalie in Boston to battle Jeremy Swayman for playing time.
Lastly, the B’s signed fourth line forward John Beecher to a one-year deal for $900,000.
According to puckpedia, this gives the B’s approximately $12 million in cap space, if you slot in Michael Callahan’s deal for $775,0000. That gives the B’s space to go after one impact forward and two mid-range forwards when free agency opens on Tuesday.
