Bruins Trying To Trade Veteran Defenseman Henri Jokiharju
Elliotte Friedman confirmed the situation in his season-opening 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet.
"Boston is trying to find a new home for Henri Jokiharju, who cleared waivers," Friedman wrote.
A Crowded Blue Line Left Him Without A Spot
Boston's defense corps simply had no room left for him.
William Borgen and Connor Clifton both arrived on July 1, and once Charlie McAvoy returns from his six-game suspension, he'll join Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Will Borgen, Mason Lohrei, and Connor Clifton as six players occupying Boston's top pairings, with Jonathan Aspirot and Frederic Brunet also pushing for spots.
Jokiharju is entering the second season of a three-year, $9 million contract, a $3 million cap hit, that he signed after Buffalo traded him to Boston in 2025 for a fourth-round pick.
Elliotte Friedman: Boston is trying to find a new home for Henri Jokiharju, who cleared waivers - Sportsnet (9/29)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) September 29, 2026
He posted 15 points across 42 games with the Bruins last season, but a subpar preseason left him with no path to a roster spot.
Friedman's column flagged a second Bruins player worth watching too.
"There are teams curious to see what they do with Matthew Poitras, who avoided them for the time being. Can't imagine he'd slide through," Friedman wrote, suggesting the 22-year-old forward could face a similar decision down the road even though he's currently listed as injured non-roster with a lower-body issue.
For now, Boston is working the phones to find Jokiharju a new home, though nothing suggests a deal is imminent given that no team was willing to claim him for free just days ago.
