On the back end, the New England club is adding some organizational depth.
Defenseman Jordan Oesterle was signed by the Boston Bruins on Monday to a two-year, two-way contract. Through the 2025–2026 season, the deal has a $775,000 cap hit, with a $425,000 minor-league salary.
After three years, this is Oesterle’s third squad. The 2023–24 season was spent by the Dearborn Heights, Michigan native with the Calgary Flames on a one-year, $925,000 contract. Early in November, he was placed on waivers and signed with the Calgary Wranglers, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Flames.
Throughout the season, he would alternate between the Flames and Wranglers. Oesterle had a plus/minus of -6 and two assists in 22 games with the Flames. The former Western Michigan University standout scored two goals and 19 points in 30 games with the Wranglers, earning a -10 rating. The Coachella Valley Firebirds, who went on to win the Western Conference, defeated the Wranglers in the Pacific Division Semifinals. He also recorded an assist in six Calder Cup Playoff games.
Undrafted, Oesterle signed with the Edmonton Oilers after graduating from college. Before joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017, he played for the Oilers and Bakersfield Condors during his first three seasons of professional ball. In July 2018, he was eventually traded to the Arizona Coyotes in a deal that saw Chicago give the Coyotes Marian Hossa’s contract.
In 2021, Oesterle re-joined the Detroit Red Wings, his hometown team, after spending three seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
Oesterle has 19 goals and 67 assists in 371 NHL games, with four points in nine postseason contests. He has tallied 22 goals, 80 assists, and five points in 17 postseason games in 187 AHL games.
The Bruins now have 38 standard player contracts for the upcoming season after the signing. Boston is expected to have less than $8 million in cap space for the 2024–25 season, according to CapFriendly.
Goaltender Juuse Saros and the Nashville Predators have reached an eight-year agreement.
The agreement’s AAV is $7.74 million.
The Predators have signed Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, and backup goalie Scott Wedgewood as free agents today, making it a busy day for them. Additionally, GM Barry Trotz signed an extension with Alexandre Carrier.
Saros had a record of 35-24-5, 2.86 GAA,.906 SV%, and three shutouts in the previous campaign.
Saros has played in 350 NHL games and has a 182-119-32 record across nine seasons, with a 2.63 GAA and a.917 SV%. Over the past three seasons, the 29-year-old goaltender has led the NHL in games played, making him one of the league’s most productive netminders.
He was a finalist for the Veznia Trophy in 2021–2022 after going 38–25–3 with a 2.64 GAA and.918 SV%.
One of the best goalkeeper prospects in the league, Yaroslav Askarov, is about to start his third season in the AHL, raising concerns about his future given that Wedgewood signed a two-year contract and Saros secured a long-term one.
Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli stated on Daily Faceoff Live last week, “There is zero point having a goalie of that pedigree sitting in the AHL if you’ve just signed Saros to an eight-year deal.” He therefore becomes an instant trade target, and I’m interested to see if anyone steps up to try to acquire a player of that caliber.
CapFriendly reports that the Predators have just $595,801 in cap space. With the exception of AHL players Juuso Parssinen, Philip Tomasino, Marc Del Gaizo, Spencer Stastney, and Adam Wilsby, who require new contracts, the team presently has 20 players signed to terms for 2024–2025.
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