Shattenkirk spent the last three seasons in Anaheim, where he averaged five goals and 24 assists (29 points) per 82 games. The Bruins have a much deeper blueline than the Ducks did, so Shattenkirk will likely played a more sheltered third-pairing role, but brings some added offence to that role. He should also see some time on the second power play unit.
Hanley had two assists, 14 SOG, 15 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 26 games with Dallas in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.575 million ($787.5K AAV). The 32-year-old defensemen has spent the last five seasons in Dallas and has two goals, 24 points, 33 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 151 career games played.
Smith had nine goals, seven assists, 104 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 64 games with both Boston and Washington in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $1,000,000 with Dallas. The 33-year-old centre will be joining his fourth NHL team and has 200 goals, 414 points, 328 PIMs and a +95 plus/minus across 853 career games played.
Pacioretty was only able to play in five games in 2022-23 after missing majority of the season with a torn Achilles but still had three goals and 16 SOG with Carolina last season and has now signed a one-year deal worth $2 Million with the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old left-winger will be looking to prove he can still play in the NHL after only playing in 44 total games since 2021 due to injury. He currently sits on 326 goals and 319 assists through 855 career NHL games played.
Poehling had seven goals, seven assists, 64 SOG, eight PIMS and a -2 plus/minus through 53 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million with Philadelphia. The 24-year-old centre was selected in the first-round of the 2017 draft by Montreal (25th overall) and has scored 20 goals and 36 points in 138 career NHL games played.
Lucic played the first eight years of his career with the Bruins before spending the last eight years with the Kings, Oilers and Flames. The 6-foot-3, 240 lbs. winger returns to the team that drafted him as a bottom-6 option at this point in his career. In 2023, he had just 19 points (7G / 12A) in 77 games while averaging a career-low 11:18 TOI/gm. Still, he brings a physical presence to a fourth-line, having averaged 2.5 hits per game in his four seasons with the Flames.
Miller had six goals, 21 points, 106 SOG, 37 PIMs and a +23 plus/minus through 79 games played with Dallas in 2022-23 and has been traded to New Jersey for a 2025 fifth-round pick. The 30-year-old defeneseman enters his ninth NHL season with joins his fifth team in the Devils having accumulated 35 goals and 157 points across 466 games played.
Reilly had an assist, 12 SOG, and two PIMs across 10 games with Boston in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1.0 million contract with the Florida Panthers. The 30-year-old veteran defensemen will be joining his fifth NHL team and has 12 goals and 98 points across 339 career NHL games.
Holl had two goals, 16 assists, 60 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus through 80 games with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year contract worth $10.2 million ($3.4M AAV) in Detroit. The 31-year-old undrafted defenseman joined the Maple Leafs in 2017-18 and has scored 11 goals and 82 points with a +58 plus/minus in 285 career NHL games since.
Orlov had seven goals, 29 assists, 124 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 66 games played with both Washington and Boston in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract worth $15.5 million ($7.75M AAV) with Carolina. The 32-year-old defensemen took a massive offensive step forward in 2022-23 with his change of screnary to Boston which led to an impressive eight assists in seven playoff games. He brings 64 goals, 273 points and a +114 plus/minus through 709 career NHL games to the Hurricanes.
Geekie was originally a third-round pick of the Hurricanes before he was selected in the Seattle expansion draft in 2021. The 24-year-old centre played in the bottom-6 for most of his time with the Kraken, finishing the 2023 season with 28 points (9G / 19A) in 69 games. With the futures of fellow centres Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci in doubt, Geekie could play more of a middle-6/third-line role for the Bruins in 2024.
Nash had 24 goals, 35 assists, 37 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus with Charlotte (AHL) through 66 games in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year deal worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV) with the New York Rangers. The 34-year-old centre last played in the NHL with Tampa Bay in 2021-22 and bring 63 goals, 176 points and 751 SOG through 627 NHL games to the Rangers.
Clifton spent the first five seasons of his NHL career in Boston, tallying 43 points (10G / 33A) across 232 games. The 2023 season was his best to-date, posting 23 points (3G / 18A) with 120 blocked shots and 208 hits in 78 games. He brings a hard-nosed style to the Sabres' blueline and should fit well on their second pairing, potentially as a partner to up-and-comer Owen Power.
Reimer was 12-21-8 with a .890 SV% and 3.48 GAA with San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old goaltender will join his fifth NHL team and brings a career 204-169-61 record, 2.87 GAA and .911 SV% to the Red Wings.
Johnson spent the last 13 years in Colorado, but lands in Buffalo on a one-year deal, where he will help mentor some of their young defensemen like Owen Power. In 2023, Johnson had just eight assists, 102 blocked shots and 121 hits in 63 games with the Avalanche.
Pitlick had seven goals, nine assists, 54 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 61 games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers worth $785,500. The 31-year-old centre is joining his eighth NHL team and has 55 goals and 105 points across 386 games and nine NHL seasons.
Burroughs had two goals, three assists, 47 SOG, 62 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 48 games with Vancouver in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year deal worth $3.3 million ($1.1M AAV) with San Jose. The 27-year-old defenseman has appeared in 95 career NHL games across three seasons; picking up three goals, eight assists, 89 SOG and 106 PIMs.