The Bruins can make Chris Kreider fit, but only if they’re willing to clear the runway first.
That’s the real issue here. Kreider would unquestionably help Boston in the short term if he can bring last season’s 50-point production with him.
He’d add veteran presence, bring a hometown angle as a former Boston College Eagle, and give the Bruins a forechecking, net-front presence who knows how to score the ugly goals and handle playoff hockey. On paper, he checks a lot of boxes.
But the Bruins are also staring at a roster picture that already feels crowded in all the wrong places. Adding a 35-year-old winger isn’t just about what he gives you now - it’s about what he could take away from the players already in the pipeline.
James Hagens is the obvious name that comes up, since a Kreider addition could push him to Providence. Matthew Poitras could also get squeezed out of his shot to break through, and even be moved as trade bait to make room.
That’s why the move isn’t as simple as “yes” or “no.” If Boston didn’t have so many bottom-six forwards already filling spots, Kreider would be a much easier sell. Fans who want the organization to commit to youth have every reason to be skeptical, because a signing like this makes the path harder, not easier, for younger players to stick.
The only way this works is if Don Sweeney turns it into a larger roster shuffle. The Bruins would need to move veteran forwards out to create space, because there simply aren’t enough spots for everyone as things stand. If Kreider is coming, the front office can’t just drop him into the lineup and hope the rest sorts itself out.
Elliotte Friedman’s comments on his recent 32 Thoughts Podcast are a big reason the buzz around Boston has picked up. He pointed directly to the Bruins in his Kreider discussion, and that doesn’t sound like random smoke.
"Kreider wants to go back near his family in the East. I know there's alot of speculation about Boston, it makes alot of sense.
We'll see on Thursday. "
Elliotte Friedman
If Boston does land him, the pressure on Sweeney gets even higher. Casey Mittelstadt would seem to be the most obvious player to move, especially if the Bruins want to preserve a spot for Hagens and still make room for Kreider. Mittelstadt’s third-line wing spot is the cleanest place to create that opening.
There is a version of this where the Bruins get the veteran they want and still protect the future. Kreider’s game does fit Boston better than a lot of other aging additions would, especially if the team is aiming at a playoff push. But if the signing happens without another move attached to it, that’s a mistake the front office would be making on its own.
In Other News...
Fraser Minten's Extension Just Created A Real Bruins Center Crunch
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The larger question now is how the Bruins sort out the rest of that depth chart as Mintens role grows. Boston has other centers whose situations are already moving toward decision time, and any further expansion in Mintens responsibilities could eventually force the front office to make some uncomfortable choices about the roster composition around him. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Has A Real Chance To Force Boston's Hand
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Hagens is in camp with a chance to make the front office think harder about how the forward group should look when the season opens. Boston has options and plenty of competition among its younger forwards, and this week is his first real chance to turn offseason buzz into something more concrete. The Bruins do not need to rush him, but they also do not need to make the path any easier for themselves if he keeps standing out. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Rookie Camp Just Put Early Focus On Bostons Next Depth Battle
The Bruins opened rookie camp at Warrior Ice Arena with the usual September mix of promise and possibility, and a couple of names already drawing a closer look. Dans Locmelis and Attilio Biasca were part of the group on the ice, while the organization also has Bruins Fan Fest coming up in Warwick, Rhode Island, giving fans another early chance to size up the next wave of players before the real battles begin.
Locmelis offered an encouraging update after his shoulder surgery in March, saying he is fully healthy again, while Biasca was taking part in his first NHL rookie camp after signing a two-year deal in June. For a team looking to stock its lower lines and fill out future depth, those are the kinds of developments that matter most right now, even with the bigger camp decisions still weeks away. [Read more 🡒]