Boston Bruins sign Marat Khusnutdinov to a two-year deal as free agency nears

Fitting into Boston’s system quietly and quickly

After coming over in a deal that sent Justin Brazeau to Minnesota, with Jakub Lauko coming back as well, Marat Khusnutdinov found his footing fast.

He got into 18 games for the Bruins, posting two goals and three assists, while mostly sliding into third- or fourth-line duty.

His full-year stats included 75 games played, five goals, and seven assists.

More importantly, he didn’t sink the ship when he was on the ice. In fact, he posted a 48.4 CF% and a 4.1 relative Corsi, signs that he handled his matchups well, even with limited help.

From Russia to Boston in one unpredictable season

It’s easy to forget that Marat Khusnutdinov started the year in the KHL, splitting time between SKA St. Petersburg and HK Sochi.

He jumped midseason into an entirely different league, system, and pace, and didn’t miss a beat.

He plays the right way, and that’s what we’re building toward, one team source said on Sunday. The team isn’t asking for fireworks. They’re asking for consistency, and Khusnutdinov gave them that in a small sample.

Michael Callahan re-signs on one-year, two-way deal

The Bruins also announced the return of defenseman Michael Callahan. The 24-year-old inked a one-year contract that will pay him $775,000 at the NHL level. He’s expected to start in Providence but could be called upon if injuries pile up.

Callahan may not be on the radar of casual fans, but he’s trusted internally as a stable, physical presence who can eat minutes if needed.

Smart roster management, nothing more

Neither signing makes headlines. That’s fine, they weren’t supposed to.

This was about doing the work that often goes unnoticed: locking in depth before prices rise, rewarding players who earned another look, and staying ahead of the curve.

Boston’s big swings may still be coming, but for now, the front office is taking care of the foundational pieces.