Two former Boston Bruins who were once easy to overlook are still sitting in the free-agent pool as the 2026-27 NHL season moves into its second week.
James van Riemsdyk and Reilly Smith both made Bleacher Report’s list of the top eight unsigned players remaining, with Lyle Richardson slotting Smith at No. 3 and van Riemsdyk at No. 4. The Philadelphia Flyers already dipped into that market last week by signing Michael Bunting, but these two veterans are still out there and could be useful additions for teams chasing depth.
Smith, now 35, spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and appeared in 69 games. He finished with 16 goals, 26 points, and a minus-9 rating, then added two assists in seven playoff games while averaging 12 and a half minutes per night.
"(Smith's) production tumbled last season to a career-low 26 points in 69 games,'' wrote Richardson. "Still, Smith could have enough left in the tank for one more decent season. He could be a good addition to any club in the market for a skilled third-line winger.''
Van Riemsdyk’s case is a little different. At 37, he may not be the same all-around threat he once was, but Richardson pointed to one area where he can still matter: the power play.
"Given his age and declining production, van Riemsdyk could be best used as a power-play specialist. His experience and offensive touch could make him effective for teams seeking some extra scoring punch,'' wrote Richardson.
That man-advantage skill is still part of his appeal. In his one season with the Bruins, he scored six power-play goals and finished with 12 points on the advantage. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, he had seven power-play goals and 11 power-play points overall.
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Bruins Just Got A Big Blue Line Question On This Road Trip
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The question now is which defenseman will skate next to him when the Bruins set their lineup for San Jose. Mason Lohrei, Jonathan Aspirot and Frederic Brunet are all in the mix, and the choice says plenty about how Boston wants to balance puck movement, size and reliability as the trip begins. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Push Comes With One Offensive Pressure Point
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Mason Lohrei has given that idea a timely boost. The young defenseman has come through with important goals in each of the last two games, helping the Bruins in wins and giving Sturm a useful example of the kind of contribution he wants to see more consistently. Whether that becomes a real trend will matter for a Boston team that is still trying to define how much offense it can expect from its back end. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Blue Line Suddenly Has A Tough McAvoy Decision
Charlie McAvoy is back for the Bruins after serving a six-game suspension, and his return comes at the start of a tough California road trip that immediately asks coach Marco Sturm to reshuffle his blue line. The first practice look had Hampus Lindholm beside McAvoy on the top pairing, with Nikita Zadorov and Will Borgen together and rookie Frederic Brunet alongside Mason Lohrei, giving Boston a new defensive alignment to sort through on the fly.
The most notable ripple from that change is the fate of Connor Clifton, who appears headed for a scratch despite leading the Bruins in ice time in the previous game. For a team trying to steady itself on the road, that is a real decision point, because McAvoys return restores a top-end presence while also forcing Boston to decide which defenseman gets squeezed out of the rotation. [Read more 🡒]