Don Sweeney had a pair of notable free-agent calls to make this summer, and only one of them really felt like a formality.
Andrew Peeke was always headed toward a split with the Bruins, and that’s exactly how it played out when he signed with the Utah Mammoth. Viktor Arvidsson was the tougher choice. Boston’s path started to look clearer after the Bruins landed JJ Peterka from the Mammoth for a pair of first-round draft picks, but Arvidsson still ended up staying in the Atlantic Division, signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a deal the Bruins could have matched.
That contract has already been singled out as one of the better ones handed out this offseason. Harman Dayal of The Athletic included Arvidsson’s deal on his list of the Top 9 contracts this summer, noting that the winger signed for two years with an AAV of $5 million.
“Arvidsson is 33 and injury-prone, so this isn’t to say it’s a completely risk-free deal, but the odds are stacked in the Red Wings’ favor,'' wrote Dayal.
From Boston’s side, that’s where the debate gets interesting. Arvidsson still produced when he was on the ice last season, finishing with 25 goals and 29 assists in 69 games despite dealing with injuries. If the Bruins plan to bring back Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittlestadt, then letting Arvidsson walk at $5 million may have meant breaking up what was arguably one of the NHL’s top second lines last season.
For Detroit, the move could wind up being a sharp one from Steve Yzerman, especially with the pressure mounting after another missed playoff push. For Boston, the question is simpler and a lot less comfortable: everyone else around the Black and Gold got better this offseason, but did the Bruins? That’s why passing on Arvidsson at that price could be the kind of decision that lingers.
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