Bruins Linked to Signing Former 28-Goal Scorer to Bolster Offense
He Boston Bruins have made some key moves this offseason, but they are linked to signing another middle-six forward to add some more secondary scoring to their lineup.
The Bruins were one of the worst teams in the NHL last season. However, Boston is looking to try and compete for a playoff spot this season. With that, NHL analyst Josh Wegman of theScore links Boston to signing former Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson.
“If the Bruins want to return to the playoffs next season after missing out in 2025, their 29th-ranked power play will have to improve significantly,” Wegman wrote. “That makes Olofsson a great fit. Of his 105 career NHL goals, 41 have come on the man advantage. As a lefty with a lethal shot from the right half wall, he could be a great complement to David Pastrnak on the opposite flank. Olofsson is a bit one-dimensional, but he addresses Boston’s biggest need.”
Olofsson is coming off a one-year, $1.075 million deal with the Golden Knights, and given that he isn’t signed, he likely would sign for something similar.
With the Golden Knights last season, Olofsson recorded 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in 56 games. His career-high is 28 goals, which he accomplished back in 2022-23 while he was with the Buffalo Sabres.
What Does Olofsson Bring to the Bruins?
If Boston does sign Olofsson, he would be a middle-six forward for the Bruins.
Olofsson would add some much-needed offense to the lineup, as scoring was an issue for the Bruins last season. Currently, the Bruins’ top-six wingers are Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, and Arvidsson.
“I do believe when you put the whole group together, what they’re capable of doing, we’ll score enough if we play the right way, and we’ll defend a hell a lot better, and I expect our goaltending to be significantly better,” Sweeney said on July 1.
Olofsson could even play top-line minutes with David Pastrnak, but being a secondary scorer on the second or third line seems more likely. But, there’s no question that he would help Boston score more, which was an issue for the Bruins last season.
Bruins GM Happy With Offseason Moves
Boston’s front office made it clear after the season that the Bruins were looking to compete for a playoff spot.
In free agency, Boston traded for Viktor Arvidsson while also signing Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, and Michael Eyssimont. After the additions, Bruins GM Don Sweeney was happy with his team’s move.
“We went to work on finding, as I referenced last week, that we were going to put together a competitive team with bringing some juice back (to Boston),” Sweeney said. “That applies to elevating our current guys and them feeling reinvigorated coming off of some injuries and a very down year.”
The key factor Boston wanted to focus on was being harder to play against. Which, Sweeney feels like the team accomplished.
“At times last year, even when we had our (whole) group, we were an easy out,” Sweeney said. “I just can’t stand for that. So we are going to reestablish.”
The Bruins still have just over $2 million in cap space.
