The Boston Bruins have sent forward Riley Tufte back to their AHL affiliate in Providence, marking the end of his most recent NHL stint - one that offered flashes of promise but ultimately didn’t stick.
Tufte, 27, was called up on November 17 and wasted no time making his presence felt. In his first game back, he found the back of the net on a late power play against the Carolina Hurricanes, spoiling what would’ve been a shutout.
It was a moment that showcased the kind of offensive upside that’s made him a compelling figure at the AHL level. But that spark didn’t quite ignite a run in Boston.
He was a healthy scratch just two nights later against Anaheim and appeared in only three more games before being reassigned, sitting out four contests in total during his brief stay.
This wasn’t a random call-up. Tufte earned his shot with an impressive start to the season in Providence, where he posted eight goals and 18 points in just 13 games.
That kind of production isn’t new for him either - he put up 21 goals and 42 points across 58 games last season. For a player who once struggled to find his scoring touch early in his pro career, those numbers represent real growth.
The question now is whether that AHL success can ever translate to the NHL level. Tufte was a first-round pick back in 2016, and while the expectations that come with that label have faded over time, his recent AHL performance suggests he’s still developing.
At 6-foot-6 and 234 pounds, he brings a rare physical profile that teams are always intrigued by - especially when there’s even a hint of offensive upside. But so far, the scoring touch he’s shown in the AHL hasn’t followed him to NHL ice.
Tufte is currently on a one-year, two-way contract that pays him the league minimum $775,000 at the NHL level, with a strong $450,000 salary in the AHL - thanks to a $500,000 total guarantee. That kind of deal reflects where he is in his career: a player on the fringe, capable of contributing in the minors and potentially offering depth at the NHL level.
If he can keep up his current scoring pace in Providence, more call-ups could follow. And with unrestricted free agency looming, a strong finish to the season might put him in position to land another one-way NHL deal - something he had just a year ago. For now, though, Tufte heads back to the AHL, still chasing the consistency and opportunity that could finally cement his place in the league.