BOSTON — Opponents average 1.26 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play against the Boston Bruins when Jonathan Aspirot is on the ice. For context, according to Natural Stat Trick, consider that of the 182 defensemen with at least 375 minutes of ice time as of Sunday, only one had a lower GA/60: the Tampa Bay Lightning’s J.J. Moser (1.06).
On Dec. 28, Moser agreed to an eight-year extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning that will pay him $6.75 million annually. On Sunday, Aspirot signed a two-year deal with a $887,500 average annual value.
For the Bruins, it is serious bang for the buck — literally, too, given Aspirot’s 42 hits rank third-most among team defensemen.
“He took advantage of the opportunity and also the opportunity for a new coach coming in,” said coach Marco Sturm. “The system we play, I think it just fit him perfectly. That’s why he rewarded himself with a two-year deal. I’m just very happy. He’s become a pleasant surprise for this hockey team. We know it. The players know it.”
By Aspirot’s recollection, he received only a few offers on July 1, 2025. There was nothing eye-opening about the one-year, $775,000 NHL minimum the Bruins proposed. Appropriately, there was no significant distinction regarding the 292 AHL games Aspirot had compiled between the Belleville Senators and Calgary Wranglers.
“He was a good defenseman in the AHL,” recalled Sturm. “But not like, ‘Holy moly, this guy’s unbelievable.’”
The Bruins’ offer was the opportunity that interested Aspirot the most despite its lack of differentiation. The Bruins signed Aspirot with no promises. The likelihood was an AHL assignment out of training camp, which is what occurred.
But the preseason gave Aspirot a critical window in which to showcase his skill set to Sturm and management. They noticed his strengths right away: excellent foot speed, quickness when it came to closing on opponents, muscle in the battle.
Things started to move when Hampus Lindholm suffered a lower-body injury in the second game of 2025-26. Six games later, Jordan Harris, who started the year as the No. 7 defenseman, broke his ankle.
Aspirot, however, was not atop general manager Don Sweeney’s contact list. Michael Callahan was first up. The Franklin, Mass. native made three straight appearances, but did not do enough to catch Sturm’s eye. On Oct. 26, the Bruins recalled Aspirot from Providence as a third-pairing defenseman.
He may have played his final AHL game.
Jonathan Aspirot quickly earned his coach and teammates’ trust with a skill set that suits the Bruins’ new defense scheme. (Eric Bolte / Imagn Images)
It did not take the 6-foot, 212-pound Aspirot long to skate into Sturm’s favor. His go-go game was a good fit for what Sturm wants to do in his hybrid system. The Bruins play man-to-man high in the defensive zone. Down low, the Bruins have the green light to outnumber the puck carrier when there’s an opportunity for a turnover.
It might have been a different story had the Bruins stuck with the zone system they played for years. It calls for patience and communication. Defensemen were taught to fold back toward the net to protect dangerous ice. But the simplicity of Sturm’s hybrid structure played to Aspirot’s willingness to close. He accelerates quickly and arrives on time. Sturm and assistant coach Jay Leach, who is in charge of the defense, did not need to give Aspirot much direction when it came to defensive fundamentals.
“He’s a guy who’s better without the puck,” said Sturm. “Because he closes, he can skate and he keeps things simple. Blocks a lot of shots. He does all those things we were looking for. He’s quick enough and strong enough. That, you can’t teach.”
Aspirot quickly leapfrogged Callahan on the depth chart. He has not stopped there.
Sturm has called Aspirot’s number more often than Mason Lohrei’s for matchup shifts. In fact, with Lindholm out for the last four games because of an undisclosed injury, Sturm has used Aspirot on the No. 1 pairing next to Charlie McAvoy.
“He’s been awesome,” said McAvoy. “He’s been such a story. Just a great guy. I’ve been enjoying playing with him. Before I got to play with him, I enjoyed watching him come in. He was really starting to take strides when I was out. I’m just so proud of him.
“It’s a heck of a story. You talk about paying your dues. You keep pushing for the dream. I know a lot of guys who played a lot of years in the AHL and looked to go to Europe or somewhere else. That’s a guy who just showed up and continued to get better. I don’t think there’s any doubt with anybody that’s watched him the appreciation we have for him in here. He’s an NHL hockey player.”
Notes
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 27 shots in the Bruins’ 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. The backup has two of the Bruins’ last three wins.
“There’s no bad thing about putting him in net and think about who we’re going to get tonight,” Sturm said. “He’s been very good lately. He showed it again today. A game like today, it’s not easy. Just like (Saturday), we saw two tired teams out there. We needed to have a good goalie. We got one today.”
Morgan Geekie did not play because of a family emergency. Geekie left after the first period on Saturday against the New York Rangers to attend to the matter.