Bruins Seek Right‑Side Reinforcement
The Boston Bruins are actively looking to reinforce the right side of their blue line ahead of the upcoming season. With Andrew Peeke’s contract set to expire and Victor Soderstrom having departed for Switzerland, the club finds itself without a proven NHL right‑shot defenseman on the roster beyond Charlie McAvoy and Henri Jokiharju. Prospect pipelines have failed to produce a ready‑made option, leaving the front office to explore external solutions.
Jordan Spence of the Ottawa Senators has emerged as a prime candidate. The 27‑year‑old restricted free agent logged 73 games this season, averaging 18 minutes and 44 seconds of ice time per night. He contributed 31 points — seven goals and 24 assists — while posting a plus‑15 rating. Advanced metrics show his presence on the ice translated into a 60.38 percent Corsi share for the Senators, underscoring his impact on 5‑on‑5 play.
Player Profile
Spence’s skill set blends defensive reliability with offensive contributions from the point. He spent his first four professional seasons within the Los Angeles Kings organization before joining Ottawa, where he quickly became a staple on the blue line. Bruins head coach Marco Sturm previously worked with Jordan Spence, a familiarity that could smooth a potential transition.
Contract Landscape
From a contractual standpoint, Jordan Spence is slated to receive a qualifying offer of $1.7 million and will have until July 5 to file for arbitration. AFP Analytics projects his next deal to be either a one‑year contract at a $3.1 million cap hit or a four‑year agreement averaging $4.9 million annually. The Bruins possess sufficient cap flexibility, though they must stay below an average annual value of $4,775,667 if they pursue an offer sheet.
Cap space calculations reveal the Ottawa Senators hold roughly $16.98 million in available room, outpacing Boston’s $15.42 million. This financial edge makes a trade more palatable for Ottawa, but it also means the Bruins would likely need to part with higher draft capital than the third‑ and sixth‑round picks they used to acquire Spence in prior negotiations.
Beyond Spence, the Bruins have other restricted free agents — Max Wanner and Mason Langenbrunner — who will also require attention. General manager Don Sweeney is expected to balance these negotiations while keeping an eye on the broader roster composition, ensuring that the team’s defensive core remains competitive.