The prominent 34-year-old NHL forward, has made headlines with his surprising decision to remain unsigned, waiting for a contract from the Boston Bruins. Johnson, who participated in a professional tryout (PTO) with the team during the preseason, has declined offers from other teams, holding out in hopes of securing a deal with the Bruins.
After joining Boston on a PTO ahead of training camp, Johnson chose to sit out the start of the regular season, despite receiving interest from other clubs. TSN’s Chris Johnston shared an update on the situation during “Insider Trading,” revealing Johnson’s determination to stay patient. “He’s staying in Boston, skating and trying to stay in shape, waiting for an opportunity to sign with the team,” Johnston explained. “It’s a unique situation for the veteran forward.”
Despite the Bruins’ admiration for Johnson’s performance during camp, the team is constrained by salary cap limitations. With only $443,000 in available cap space, Boston is unable to offer Johnson a contract at this time. Johnston elaborated, “The Bruins liked what they saw in camp, but they don’t have the cap space right now. For them to sign Johnson, they’d need to make a trade, waive a player, or wait for an injury to create space.”
Johnson remains hopeful for another playoff run with a contending team, ideally the Bruins. However, for that to happen, the team would need to clear around $300,000 in cap space, as the minimum NHL salary for a player on a standard contract is $700,000.
A seasoned veteran with two Stanley Cups under his belt from his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Johnson has spent the last three seasons with the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the team’s struggles, Johnson managed to score 31 points in 67 games last season, proving he still has plenty to offer.
Leave a Reply