Bruins sign center, defenseman to big deals, lose key players in free agency

MILLION ANNUALLY. PRETTY MUCH. IT WAS A NO BRAINER FOR ME WHEN THERE WERE. WE FIND OUT THAT BRUINS WERE INTERESTED IN ME TO COME AND PLAY FOR THEM. AND, UH, IT WAS MUTUAL. UM, I THINK BOSTON WAS ON TOP OF MY LIST MY WHOLE LIFE. IT WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR ME. UH, YOU KNOW, JOINING THIS, UH, ORGANIZATION AND ORIGINAL SIX AND SO MUCH HISTORY AND SO MANY GOOD PLAYERS ON THE TEAM AND AND OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THEIR PLAYOFF SERIES AGAINST FLORIDA, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT THERE. BRUINS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE BETTER NEXT SEASON. SEVERAL BRUINS ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF BOSTON. MEANTIME REPORTS SAY JAKE DEBRUSK, DANTON HEINEN AND DEREK FORBORT ARE ALL HEADIN

The Bruins made a big splash in free agency on Monday afternoon with two big signings.Center Elias Lindholm, 29, and defenseman Nikita Zadorov, 29, are both coming to Boston from the Vancouver Canucks. Lindholm is a top center and should be able to fill some of the void left by the recent retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.Lindholm is signing a seven-year deal with an annual average of $7.75 million."It was an easy decision for me, joining this organization and an Original Six (team). So much history and so many good players on the team, and obviously looking at their playoff series against Florida, they're pretty much right there," Lindholm said. Zadorov brings physicality and depth to the D-line. His contract is for six years and is worth $5 million annually."Pretty much, it was a no-brainer for me. When we found out the Bruins were interested for me to come to play for them and it was mutual," Zadorov said. "I think Boston was up top of my list my whole life."Several Bruins, though, are on their way out of Boston.According to reports, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen and Derek Forbort are all heading to Vancouver on free agent deals. DeBrusk signed the biggest deal at seven years and $5.5 million per year. Meanwhile, Matt Grzelcyk will be going to the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year, $2.75 million deal.

BOSTON —

The Bruins made a big splash in free agency on Monday afternoon with two big signings.

Center Elias Lindholm, 29, and defenseman Nikita Zadorov, 29, are both coming to Boston from the Vancouver Canucks.

Lindholm is a top center and should be able to fill some of the void left by the recent retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

Lindholm is signing a seven-year deal with an annual average of $7.75 million.

"It was an easy decision for me, joining this organization and an Original Six (team). So much history and so many good players on the team, and obviously looking at their playoff series against Florida, they're pretty much right there," Lindholm said.

Zadorov brings physicality and depth to the D-line. His contract is for six years and is worth $5 million annually.

"Pretty much, it was a no-brainer for me. When we found out the Bruins were interested for me to come to play for them and it was mutual," Zadorov said. "I think Boston was up top of my list my whole life."

Several Bruins, though, are on their way out of Boston.

According to reports, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen and Derek Forbort are all heading to Vancouver on free agent deals. DeBrusk signed the biggest deal at seven years and $5.5 million per year.

Meanwhile, Matt Grzelcyk will be going to the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year, $2.75 million deal.

Bruins sign center, defenseman to big deals, lose key players in free agency

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks