The Bruins’ $23 million draft and free agency plan

Don Sweeney made a big deal on Monday by securing the No. 25 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Boston Bruins general manager made a point of awarding a first-round pick to an amateur scouting team that was idle on opening night of the previous two drafts.

“It was important for us to get back into the top ranks of the draft,” Sweeney told reporters in Las Vegas on Thursday. “It’s not an easy task at this time of year. Players like that don’t change hands very often at this point. But the opportunity was there. Hopefully we can take advantage of it.”

The Bruins are short on young players at every position, so on Friday night at The Sphere they will draft the teenager with the most NHL potential, whether it’s a forward or a defenseman.

“We’re going to try to find the best player possible,” Sweeney said. “We’re always looking for position needs when they arise. But it’s a dangerous prospect to go into the draft thinking you’re only targeting a certain position. Sometimes that’s down to bad luck. You can make mistakes.”

The Bruins can afford a first-round pick because they had the wiggle room to take on the four years and $3 million annually on Joonas Korpisalo’s contract after being granted 25 percent salary retention. Cap-tight teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning had no wiggle room.

Unlike last season, a clean sheet is Sweeney’s primary tool for building his team this season, and it has already earned him a first-round pick.

There’s more to come.

As of July 1, Sweeney will have about $23 million to spend. Part of that stash of cash comes from the fact that Jake DeBrusk likely played his 465th and final game as a Bruin. The team would be worse off without the do-it-all wing. But the Bruins have their eyes on a price for the 27-year-old that they don’t want to exceed.

“I suspect Jake will go to UFA and test the market,” Sweeney said. “I maintain that we have been negotiating with Jake. We haven’t had productive conversations in quite some time. But ultimately it’s his prerogative to see what July 1 brings for him.”

Meanwhile, Sweeney met with Danton Heinen’s agent Allain Roy on Wednesday. The Bruins would like to re-sign the versatile winger. Heinen played for the league minimum salary of $775,000 in 2023-24. The Bruins will not get such a bargain again.

If the Bruins extend Heinen’s contract, Sweeney will still have enough left over to do a favor for a fellow GM if he wants. The Buffalo Sabres, for example, would be happy if the Bruins could find room for Jeff Skinner and the three seasons remaining on his eight-year, $72 million contract. The price wouldn’t be high.

But Sweeney’s more likely approach will be to do his job at the draft — selecting in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds — and prepare his checkbook for Monday. The Bruins need reinforcements at center, on the wings and on the left side of defense. Whether they have the tools to fill all three needs remains to be seen.

Part of Sweeney’s summer money is earmarked for Jeremy Swayman. The future No. 1 goalie will be restricted on July 1. Talks are ongoing. If they don’t move forward, it’s possible Swayman could enter arbitration for the second straight year. Sweeney would prefer to reach an organic agreement. Swayman probably feels the same way after last year’s inconvenience.

“Hopefully we’ll find out in due course,” Sweeney said. “Because that’s a priority.”

Depending on Swayman’s haul, the Bruins might only have enough to sign a center and a defenseman. Elias Lindholm and his reliability in the three-zone position would fit well into the Bruins’ system. Evolving Hockey projects Lindholm as a seven-year, $55.3 million signing.

On defense, Brady Skjei would check several boxes as a five-on-five, left-shooting, shorthanded defenseman. He could play in the top four with Charlie McAvoy or Brandon Carlo. This would allow Mason Lohrei to continue working on his defensive details in the No. 3 pair with Andrew Peeke. Skjei is expected to receive a seven-year, $52.5 million contract.

Due to the nature of free agency, the Bruins would have to overpay for both players.

“If you try to be aggressive, you’re probably going to hit an area where you’re uncomfortable,” Sweeney said. “That’s just what happens if you keep doing that. You can be patient and hope that someone falls through.”

If the Bruins make such a big splash, they wouldn’t have enough money to bring in a winger. In that case, they have redundancies. Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie could move to the flanks. Jesper Boqvist could do that, too. Perhaps Fabian Lysell will make his NHL breakthrough on the right wing.

Sweeney will be active. GMs who can spend money usually are.

(Top photo of Elias Lindholm: Rich Gagnon / Getty Images)