The Boston Bruins made a move this week that’s raising some eyebrows - and not because it’s a blockbuster. On Wednesday, the team announced a two-year contract extension for forward Alex Steeves, locking him in at an average annual value of $1.625 million. It’s a solid payday for a player who’s carved out a role in the bottom six, but it also adds another layer to a familiar storyline in Boston: the logjam between the NHL roster and the pipeline of young talent waiting in Providence.
Let’s be clear - Steeves has earned his ice time. Since coming up from the AHL earlier this season, he’s played in 33 games, tallying eight goals and six assists.
That’s respectable production for a depth forward, especially one who came into the league as an undrafted free agent. After originally signing with Toronto, Steeves made his way to Boston last summer and has provided a spark in a supporting role.
He’s shown enough to warrant a longer look, and that’s exactly what the Bruins are giving him.
But the timing and implications of the extension are where things get interesting. With the Bruins once again investing in a bottom-six veteran, the question becomes: what does this mean for the next wave of talent?
Boston’s prospect pool isn’t exactly overflowing these days, and that’s largely by design. The front office has consistently pushed chips to the center of the table at the trade deadline, often parting with first-round picks in pursuit of deep playoff runs.
That’s the cost of chasing banners, and in many ways, it’s hard to argue with the strategy when you’re in win-now mode. But the downside is starting to show.
The pipeline is thinner, and the few high-upside players in the system are finding it tough to crack the NHL lineup.
This Steeves extension, while modest in scope, reinforces the perception that the Bruins are hesitant to give their young players a real shot. Names like Matthew Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and Georgii Merkulov have all shown flashes of NHL potential, but the path to regular playing time remains crowded. And now, with Steeves locked in for two more years, that bottleneck just got a little tighter.
Even looking ahead, the picture isn’t much clearer. James Hagens, last year’s first-round pick, is currently starring at Boston College and could sign his entry-level deal once the NCAA season wraps.
But what kind of opportunity will be waiting for him? If the trend holds, he may find himself in the same holding pattern - talented, ready, but boxed out by veterans filling depth roles.
It’s not that Steeves isn’t deserving of a spot. He’s played well, and depth scoring is always valuable.
But the Bruins have similar players in Providence who could fill that role at a lower cap hit and with more upside. The decision to extend Steeves suggests that the organization values stability over experimentation - a safer bet, perhaps, but one that comes at the expense of development.
This isn’t new territory for Boston. Under Don Sweeney, the Bruins have often leaned on experience over youth, especially in the bottom six.
It’s a strategy that’s brought regular-season success and playoff appearances, but at some point, the kids need to play. Otherwise, the message to the next generation becomes muddled: perform well, be patient, but don’t expect the door to open anytime soon.
For now, Steeves gets his reward - a two-year deal and a chance to keep proving he belongs. But for the prospects waiting in the wings, the wait continues.