After completing a professional tryout (PTO) with the Boston Bruins during the preseason, Tyler Johnson is still unsigned but is still hopeful of receiving an offer and signing a contract with the team. Johnson chose to sit out the first part of the regular season, turning down other offers, in order to wait for Boston after joining the team on a paid time off before to training camp.
On TSN’s “Insider Trading,” Chris Johnston gave an update on the veteran forward’s status, stating that rather than looking into other options, Johnson is prepared to exercise patience and wait for a chance to sign with the Bruins. “Johnson has remained in the city as he hopes to latch on with the team this season,” Johnston stated. “He’s skating there, attempting to maintain his fitness, and waiting patiently for a contract.
Johnston continued by explaining that although the Bruins were pleased with Johnson’s performance at camp, they are unable to give a contract at this time due to their current salary limit position, which only has $443,000 in available space. “The Bruins like him, they really did like his camp, but they don’t have cap space at this point in time,” Johnston stated. “It would have to be someone else put on waivers, a trade to create space, or maybe an injury opens an opportunity.
“Tyler Johnson, however, is prepared to wait in the hopes of eventually landing a contract with Boston. Johnson, 34, wants to make it to the playoffs one more time, preferably with a team like Boston. However, the Bruins must pay at least a minimum salary of $700,000 to any player joining the team on a normal deal, so they will need to clean up about $300,000 in order to make that happen.
With 12 years of NHL experience, the former forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning has already won consecutive Stanley Cups. Johnson demonstrated that he still has a lot of energy left in him after playing for the Chicago Blackhawks throughout their rebuilding period for the previous three seasons. He scored 31 points in 67 games the previous season and 32 points in 56 games the year before.
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