Boston Bruins may have made a major mistake ignoring this free agent

Bruins’ call to pass on Boeser could haunt them if goal scoring dries up next season

Sweeney covered some bases, but not the one that mattered most

When July 1 rolled around, the Boston Bruins weren’t exactly a finished product. They needed a center. They needed a right-shot defenseman. And, maybe most pressing of all, they needed someone who could put the puck in the net. Badly.

Don Sweeney did make moves. He brought in Viktor Arvidsson, hoping he’d add scoring touch on the wing. But while some holes were patched up, it feels like Boston tiptoed around one of their biggest problems — goal scoring. And the solution was right there in front of them: Brock Boeser.

There were whispers, Boeser was in play, and Boston knew it

For months, it seemed like Boeser was on his way out of Vancouver. Things between him and the Canucks never felt settled. NHL insiders kept tossing Boston’s name into the mix as a serious contender. The fit was obvious. The need was there. So was the cap space.

And then? Nothing. Boeser re-upped with Vancouver — a full seven-year deal at $7.25 million per season. It wasn’t a blockbuster. No dramatic sweepstakes. Just a quiet signing that left a lot of people scratching their heads, especially in Boston.

The Bruins could’ve had him, and still stayed flexible

Here’s the kicker: the Bruins could’ve absolutely made that number work. Boeser’s contract wasn’t outrageous. If anything, it was a bargain considering the rising salary cap and the fact that he’s coming off a 40-goal year. Boston had the money. What they lacked was the urgency.

Instead of going big, they went broad — handing out smaller deals to bottom-six depth players. But that’s what makes it so confusing. They already had young talent in the pipeline. Fraser Minten. Matthew Poitras. Fabian Lysell might not be ready yet, but the other two clearly are. So why not go bold? Why not get the guy who could’ve changed the offense overnight?

Boeser wasn’t just available, he was the answer

Viktor Arvidsson is a solid player, no question. But banking on him to be your main goal-scoring threat, especially after the injury history, is a risk. And betting on Tanner Jeannot to suddenly rediscover his form from three seasons ago? That’s more of a hope than a plan.

Boeser is a different story. He’s a scorer by nature. A finisher. The kind of guy who makes opponents pay if you give him an inch. The kind of player Boston hasn’t had enough of in recent years.

This might be the move they regret all year

If the Bruins go cold offensively next season, and let’s be honest, there’s a real chance, it won’t take long for fingers to point back to this summer.

“If the Bruins struggle to score next season, you won’t have to look far as to why.”

You only get so many chances in this league to fix what’s broken. Boeser could’ve been that fix. Instead, Boston passed. Quietly. And if the goals don’t come, that silence might echo for a long time.