3 Bruins Players Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

The Boston Bruins patched together a season in which many thought they would finally fall from the top of the mountain. This involved many cheap contracts and players stepping up and playing above their contracts again. The team didn't have much cap space to work with this season, but will have more room to really upgrade and change around their roster in the offseason.

Linus Ullmark

The Bruins tried to trade Linus Ullmark on deadline day, but the goalie vetoed the trade. It was rumored that the trade would have sent him to the Los Angeles Kings. This shows that the Bruins know that they have to sacrifice his contract to upgrade in other more needed areas. Since Jeremy Swayman, who has taken over as the #1 and played more games this season than Ullmark, is in need of a contract extension in the offseason, some of Ullmark's money has to be used on him. The team knows they can only play one goalie at a time in the playoffs and going back and forth last season didn't work.

James van Riemsdyk

The Bruins brought in James van Riemsdyk for very cheap ($1 million AAV) in the offseason to fill one of the many holes in the lineup. He has outperformed expectations and should get a decent bump in pay in the offseason. As he is a UFA and the Bruins have to be smart with their money, an extension will likely not come from them. van Riemsdyk has done well this season, but there are other internal options that should take his place. That or the Bruins will look externally.

Kevin Shattenkirk

The Bruins made one deadline move on defense this season, and that was adding Andrew Peeke. The younger defenseman is signed through 2026 and shoots right. With Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo on the team as well, Peeke should take over the spot on the right side on the third pairing, pushing Shattenkirk out of the lineup. As Shattenkirk is a UFA after the season and was a quick fix this season, he will likely hit free agency.

While these three players seem like the most likely to move on after the season, I also want to mention other potential players like Jake DeBrusk, Derek Forbort, Matt Grzelcyk, Pat Maroon, and of course Milan Lucic.