Jonathan Aspirot nailed down a spot<\/a> and his partnership with McAvoy cannot be understated. A career AHLer, the Bruins\u2019 scouting staff identified Aspirot as someone who could fit in well. They were correct.<\/p>\n Get Starting Point<\/p>\n A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n Aspirot is a steady, stay-at-home defender who closes quickly and makes quick decisions with the puck. His style allowed McAvoy to push the puck and take more chances offensively. McAvoy finished the season with career highs in assists (50) and points (61).<\/p>\n Signing Aspirot to a two-year extension at annual cap hit of $887,500 was a crafty, under-the-radar move by general manager Don Sweeney.<\/p>\n Oh, and did we mention Aspirot finished with a team-high plus-30 in 61 games? <\/p>\n That quartet would seem to be locked in for 2026-27 given their statuses \u2014 both with the team and contractually.<\/p>\n The other spots will be up for grabs, with Andrew Peeke, Mason Lohrei, Henri Jokiharju, and Jordan Harris at the top of the in-house candidates to try to lock down a consistent spot on the backline.<\/p>\n A look at what Sweeney and Co.<\/a> could look at to tweak and\/or overhaul the defending group.<\/p>\n 1. The safety squeeze \u2014 Re-signing the versatile Peeke, who played with a variety of partners throughout the season, would provide a measure of stability for the player and the team.<\/p>\n Dependable right-shot defenders are always in demand (remember, Peeke was held out a few times near the trade deadline), and the seven-year veteran knows Marco Sturm\u2019s system and flashes good speed in the transition game. He also can be a hard-nosed defender who doesn\u2019t shy away from protecting his goalie.<\/p>\n A three-year, $12 million pact could give Peeke the peace of mind to play freely and effectively.<\/p>\n 2. The home run \u2014 Darren Raddysh had a breakout season for the Lightning, collecting 22 goals (his previous career high was six). <\/p>\n He will command a monster pay raise (his cap hit of $975,000 was among the NHL\u2019s biggest bargains) and many teams (the Bruins included) will be ready to open their checkbooks for him on July 1.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a righthanded shot who is responsible in his own end but also adept at landing his shots on net (think Johnny Boychuk circa 2011<\/a>).<\/p>\n Sure, the red flags are there (he\u2019s 30; and maybe this season is a one-off), but 70 points means the red lights are there, too.<\/p>\n Would five years at $50 million get it done?<\/p>\n 3. The grand slam \u2014 Make another run at Rasmus Andersson.<\/p>\n The Bruins kicked the tires on this right-shot defenseman in January (dangling Lohrei as part of a package) before Calgary sent him to Las Vegas, where he is currently chasing the Cup.<\/p>\n Andersson refused to sign an extension beyond this season, which is why the Bruins balked. Though Vegas has a track record of keeping its acquisitions in the fold (Boston fans are still groaning about Noah Hanifin<\/a>), a big-money offer (eight years, $64 million?) from a big-market team might persuade the 29-year-old to leave Sin City.<\/p>\n Andersson plays with the requisite edge that would make him an almost immediate fan favorite at the Garden.<\/p>\n 4. Extra bases \u2014 What to do with Lohrei?<\/p>\n Though he was benched in the latter stages of the postseason, the three-year veteran played well for large stretches of the regular season. He took a ton of heat after a minus-43 a season ago, but he bounced forward with a plus-17 as he adjusted to Sturm\u2019s systems.<\/p>\n He described his season as \u201canother step in the process\u201d and expressed positivity before leaving for another spin for Uncle Sam at the World Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways try to get faster, quicker,\u201d said Lohrei about his summer agenda. \u201cFoot speed, I mean, that\u2019s a big one, is just skating and getting quicker and then continue to get stronger and fill out my frame.\u201d<\/p>\n Lohrei can play in this league. If the Bruins decide it\u2019s not here, there will be a market for him.<\/p>\n \u2014 Ditto for Jokiharju.<\/p>\n The veteran defender is on the books for two more seasons at $3 million per. That\u2019s more than reasonable if he\u2019s in the lineup. If he\u2019s in the press box, however, that\u2019s a big number to swallow.<\/p>\n He showed flashes at the end of the 2025-26 campaign and was serviceable at times this season, but he needs to be more consistent. <\/p>\n He\u2019s another trade candidate.<\/p>\n \u2014 What\u2019s on the farm?<\/p>\n Frederic Brunet put up 12 goals and 36 points in 65 games with Providence. <\/p>\n A fifth-round pick in 2022, Brunet is a slick skater with good size (6 feet 2 inches, 199 pounds) and good vision. At the very least, Brunet could get an extended look as McAvoy serves his six-game suspension<\/a> to start next season.<\/p>\n Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Lightning](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FZG55DF3LK7G5IARIBDDRY5ICE.jpg\")
Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout season offensively on Tampa Bay’s blue line this season.Chris O’Meara\/Associated Press<\/p>\n