Bruins Rise in Contract Efficiency Rankings
Boston’s contract efficiency has jumped to 18th overall in the league for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign, a notable climb from the 25th spot it occupied last season. The improvement reflects a more favorable balance between cap hits and projected on‑ice value, a metric that Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic has been tracking in depth.
How the Metrics Are Calculated
Luszczyszyn’s model, published by The Athletic, projects each player’s value using future performance expectations and comparative benchmarks, while deliberately excluding no‑move clauses, no‑trade clauses and bonus structures. The resulting surplus is expressed as a dollar figure that shows how much a contract exceeds or falls short of its expected contribution.
Two of Boston’s marquee players sit near the top of the leaderboard. David Pastrnak’s $11.5 million cap hit earns an A+ grade, with a model value of $16 million that generates a $23.8 million surplus. Jeremy Swayman, carrying an $8.25 million cap hit, receives an A grade and delivers a $22.9 million surplus, underscoring the positive impact of their extensions.
Additional Positive Surpluses
The Bruins also benefit from solid contributions by Jonathan Aspirot, whose two‑year extension yields a 98% positive value despite a modest $887.5K cap hit, and Charlie McAvoy, whose four‑year, $9.5 million deal produces a $4.6 million surplus and a B rating. Defenseman Henri Jokiharju ranks third among Boston blueliners with a 58.8% positive value, while the rest of the defensive corps posts negative surpluses.
Beyond the top names, seven forwards generate positive totals, including Morgan Geekie, Marat Khusnutdinov, Alex Steeves, Mikey Eyssimont and Mark Kastelic, all graded in the B range. Pavel Zacha, in the final year of his $4.75 million contract, posts an 86% positive value and a $6.5 million model valuation.
Problem Contracts Weighing on the Ledger
Not every deal works in Boston’s favor. Will Borgen’s four‑year, $4.1 million contract delivers a $2.6 million model value, resulting in a C grade and a flagged problem status. JJ Peterka’s $7.7 million cap hit translates to a C+ grade and a $7.3 million model value, described by Luszczyszyn as an "interesting swing". Tanner Jeannot’s league‑minimum agreement yields a -$10.3 million surplus and a D+ grade, while Elias Lindholm’s $5.1 million model value produces a -$13.1 million surplus and a D+ rating, having failed to reach 50 points in two seasons with the club.
Despite these setbacks, the Bruins sit seventh in the Atlantic Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. The division’s depth is evident, with five Atlantic teams — Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Florida — cracking the top eight of the NHL’s contract efficiency list.