The Boston Bruins surpassed forecasts by qualifying for the playoffs this season, but they will be expected to do so again next season.
The Bruins may be active this offseason, with the blue line being one area of concern for Boston, so another puck-moving defenseman capable of providing some attack from the back end is needed. With that, The Athletic’s Bruins expert Fluto Shinzawa believes Boston should target Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh in free agency.
“The Tampa Bay Lightning right-shot defenseman picked the ideal time to rocket through his ceiling,” Shinzawa wrote in an article published on Tuesday. “The UFA-to-be scored career highs in goals (22) and assists (48). He will earn several times his present $975,000 annual salary.
“Raddysh will have his pick of employer. The Bruins may find his fee excessive. But, given how the right side falls off after Charlie McAvoy, they must bid for Raddysh’s skills.
Raddysh will most likely be the finest free agent available on July 1, and numerous teams will be interested in him. In his third full season in the NHL, he had a career year for the Lightning, scoring 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points in 73 games.
The 30-year-old was an undrafted free agent who has spent the previous five seasons in the Lightning’s system, developing into a star defenseman capable of running the top power play unit while also contributing offense to the backend.
