Tyler Johnson Set to Contribute to Bruins this Season
Veteran forward Tyler Johnson now suits up for the Boston Bruins on a much more regular basis after impressing in his tryout agreement and now signing a new deal with the Bruins. Johnson inked a $775,000 contract with the team with the hopes of getting some key playing minutes with the team moving forward and is expected to make some good performances fro the Bruins.
There were a lot of talks as to how the Bruins already liked Johnson to be a part of their squad back in training camp. However, the team had to wait for some complications to die down and for the team to bank all the available salary against the cap. The same situation was seen in the team’s signing of Danton Heinen last year – who was signed October 30th back then.
Johnson, however, managed to impressed well when he played for the Bruins in the preseason – drawing a lot of praise from both teammates and the coaching staff. That proved to be pivotal in the team’s decision to wait out the cap and finally go all-in on him by bringing in a swashbuckler on the center and even wing position.
A Boost in Johnson
Johnson boasts a promising presence on the front for the Bruins this season as one of the prolific scorers in the game. Last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, the forward had 17 goals and 14 assists in 67 games, making him quite the reliable spark that the Bruins could use off the bench. For many analysts, that signing makes a lot of sense, and the Bruins are definitely all in on him.
One thing that Johnson actually brings to the table is his versatility – the ability to play down the wing side and even the middle – which helps Boston create a much more fluid lineup that can pack a serious punch on the offensive end. Even bringing him as the bottom six will give him more presence on the attack and enable the Bruins to maximize its lineup changes from time to time.
On top of that, he can take off minutes for potential injuries and even manage matchups against other teams, and that says a lot about his impressive value on the team and what makes him a good signing at this point in time. Sure, he is not much to be projected as a 50-point scorer at this point, but it cannot be denied that his support role will be of much value heading into the rest of the season.
Veteran Presence Again
The presence of Matthew Poitras, Morgan Geekie, John Beecher, and Cole Koepke has been really thrilling to watch for the Bruins in the previous season. However, it is evident that they really needed the veteran presence in the team in the Playoffs. That’s why bringing in Johnson also appears to be a good move at this point in time.
The Bruins have needed more support for its top scorers, and while Johnson is not a high-point scorer, it is worth noting that he brings a lot of impact for the team. At the age of 34, Johnson has already spent 12 seasons in the NHL. That includes nine with the Tampa Bay Lightning and three with the Blackhawks – landing two Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 as well.
At this point, many fans can expect that Johnson will be a reliable piece for the Bruins, and it is expected that he can make a major difference for the team and ensure their chances for the playoffs this season.