Henri Jokiharju has done what the Bruins have asked of him, even if the fit in Boston has never felt especially permanent. He’s been the kind of defenseman a team can lean on in a pinch: not a shutdown force, not a flashy puck mover, but dependable enough to step in, absorb minutes, and give Boston something close to 18 solid ones a night.
That kind of profile still carries value, and if the Bruins wind up needing to move a defenseman this preseason, Jokiharju looks like the sort of piece another team could use. A contending club can always find a job for a depth defender who can handle different spots on the back end.
One possible landing spot is Anaheim. The Ducks could be in real trouble on the right side after losing captain Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba, and trade deadline pickup John Carlson. Right now, they’re projected to open with Tristan Luneau on the top pair’s right side, and while he has been a standout in the AHL, he doesn’t bring the same presence as the veterans who are gone.
Jokiharju wouldn’t replace that level of impact either, but Anaheim’s issue is simple: Boston has too many NHL defensemen, and the Ducks do not have enough. If there’s a team that can use a player who can slide anywhere in the lineup and provide replacement-level defense, it’s Anaheim.
Dallas is another Western Conference option that makes sense on paper. The Stars have some defensemen under contract who can bounce between the NHL and AHL, but if they want to make another run in the Central Division, they may need another body like Jokiharju if injuries hit.
It would be a modest addition, especially after Dallas had a deal in place for Zach Werenski this offseason. Still, if the Stars get desperate for depth, Boston should be ready to act.
Then there’s Carolina, where the question gets a little more interesting. The defending Stanley Cup Champions could use help on the blue line with Alexander Nikishin’s contract situation creating headaches. Joel Nystrom is next in line for top-six minutes, and after playing 38 games for the team last season, he’s not an unthinkable option - but he’s still enough to make the coaching staff and front office uneasy.
And then there’s the bigger thought: Nikishin and the Bruins were reportedly linked earlier this offseason when the Hurricanes started shopping him. A Jokiharju-for-Nikishin swap would not be a straight one-for-one deal, but the idea is there. Boston could try to build a package around Jokiharju and see if it opens the door.
In Other News...
Bruins Suddenly Have A Backup Goalie Battle Behind Swayman
Joonas Korpisalos move to the New York Rangers left the Bruins with an open lane behind Jeremy Swayman, and it has quickly turned into one of the more interesting early camp questions for Boston. Michael DiPietro has put himself in position to claim the job after standing out in the AHL, and the organization now has a real decision to make on who will dress as the No. 2 goalie when the season begins.
Jiri Patera, signed recently to a two-way contract, adds another layer to the competition and gives Boston a second option to weigh against DiPietro. The Bruins are expected to use training camp to sort it out, which means the backup role is not likely to be handed out on reputation alone. For a team that wants stability behind Swayman, this is one of the quieter battles worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Marchand Update Brings Back A Tough Bruins Reality
Brad Marchands latest injury update landed with a familiar sting for Bruins fans, because it brings back an uncomfortable reminder of how much his body has been through in recent years. The veteran forward said he underwent surgery for a lower-body injury, and the issue is believed to involve both his hip and a sports hernia, two areas that can make even a routine return to form a drawn-out process. For a player who has long been at the center of Bostons identity, any medical update involving Marchand inevitably carries bigger significance than just one roster note.
The timing only adds to the uncertainty. Marchands recovery could keep him sidelined for about two months, which would put his status for Opening Night in doubt and leave another gap in a Bruins lineup that has already had to adapt to his absences before. He had double hip surgery in 2022, and while he remains a major figure in the rivalry picture between Boston and Florida, this latest setback is another tough reminder that the road back for an aging star is rarely straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Just Lost Three Prospects As One Future Question Lingers
Three Bruins prospects have now hit the end of their signing window, closing the book on a trio of different development paths the organization had been tracking. Philip Svedebck, Oskar Jellvik and Mason Langenbrunner are all unrestricted free agents, giving Boston one more reminder that prospect pipelines do not always stay intact from draft day to the point where an NHL job might finally come into view.
Svedebck still wants to keep his pro hockey career going in North America, while Jellvik has moved on to a new opportunity in Sweden and Langenbrunner has stepped away from the game to pursue business ventures. For the Bruins, the bigger question is the same one that always follows a stretch like this: which young players still fit into the long-term plan, and which ones are already headed somewhere else? [Read more 🡒]