The Boston Bruins are gearing up to make a strong bid for Brock Boeser (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
By all accounts, forward Brock Boeser’s career with the Vancouver Canucks appears to be finished. While many expect the 28-year-old right winger to head home to his native Minnesota and sign with the Wild on July 1, numerous teams are expected to make substantial offers to lure him away.
RG has learned that, in addition to the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins are planning a significant push to sign the pending unrestricted free agent, who scored 25 goals and added 25 assists for the Canucks this past season.
“The Bruins went hard for him last summer and even before that,” an NHL source confirmed to RG.
“They tried again at the NHL Trade Deadline but then decided to be sellers instead. They were looking at him again, but then things went south fast, and they were sellers. They like him a lot and will go after him, but they’re one of many.”
A Longtime Interest from Boston
According to the source, the Burnsville, Minnesota, native has been on Bruins general manager Don Sweeney’s radar for quite some time. The Bruins notably passed on Boeser with three consecutive draft picks at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, instead selecting defenseman Jakub Zboril (13th overall), winger Jake DeBrusk (14th overall), and forward Zach Senyshyn (15th overall). Boeser eventually went 23rd overall to the Canucks.
Of Zboril, Senyshyn, and the now 28-year-old DeBrusk, only DeBrusk developed into an everyday NHL player, now entering the second season of a seven-year, $38.5 million ($5.5 million AAV) contract with the Bruins.
“I’m not saying that has anything to do with his pursuit of Boeser, but it would be pretty ironic if Sweeney can sign him, eh?” the source remarked.
Since becoming a full-time NHLer with the Canucks in the 2017–18 season, Boeser has hit the 20-goal mark six times. His best season was in 2023–24 when he reached the 40-goal plateau and finished with 73 points.
Boston's Need for Scoring Depth
“The Bruins have made it clear that if they can’t find another top-six center, they want a winger who can drive a line and score,” the source pointed out. “I think they see Boeser as that guy, and that’s why I know they’ve already let it be known they’re interested.”
As previously mentioned, the Wild would love to bring their native son back home, but the Bruins are among several teams that will try to persuade Boeser that returning home isn’t always the best option for a professional athlete.
“It’s been proven before that the pressure of coming home can hurt a player,” the source emphasized. “I think the Bruins and those other teams are going to stress that.”
If the Wild decide to bring Boeser back to Minnesota, they will have considerable salary cap space freed up due to forward Zach Parise’s and defenseman Ryan Suter’s contracts coming off the books.
“Boeser likely comes in at a very digestible cap hit for the Wild, so the Bruins may have to go higher than he's worth,” the source cautioned.
Regardless of what unfolds, the Bruins are poised for what promises to be an eventful two weeks ahead.
With 24 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, ESPN Boston, NESN, NHL.com, etc.) covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA and junior hockey, and more, Jimmy Murphy’s hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a wide array of hockey media personalities that have lived in and around this great game. For 22 of his 24 years as a hockey and sports reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins on a daily basis, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals. Murphy is currently a co-host, along with Pierre McGuire, on The Eye Test Podcast.
