While everyone is focused on the start of the NBA free agency period at midnight tonight, free agency is upon us in the NHL as well, and the Boston Bruins cut ties with several veteran players on Friday.
The B’s placed disappointing winger Jimmy Hayes on waivers early Friday, and will buy out the remainder of his contract. They also indicated that they would be letting veteran free agents Dominic Moore, Drew Stafford, and John-Michael Liles pursue other options, as the B’s are looking to go younger and faster next year.
Hayes was the epitome of a disaster in his two seasons with Boston, scoring just 15 goals and adding merely 19 assists in 133 games with the Bruins. He was abysmal last year, with just five points (two goals, three assists) and spent more games watching from the rafters than skating with his teammates.
Hayes was acquired in 2015 from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Reilly Smith, and was due nearly $5 million in the next two seasons. He will now count as $566,667 against the cap this year and $866,667 in 2018-19. With his buyout and the release of defenseman Joe Morrow, the Bruins have nothing left on their roster from the deal that sent young superstar Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars on July 4, 2013.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney told reporters on Friday that the team will likely move in a different direction pertaining to Moore, Stafford, and Liles. He stated that they have been in contact with both Moore’s and Stafford’s representatives, but there hasn’t been huge movement towards extending offers to either player. The writing seemed to be on the wall for Liles, since the Bruins have six defensemen under contract and they are seeking to add another top-four D-man in free agency.
Moore was a solid contributor last season for Boston, netting 11 goals and 14 assists while becoming one of the leaders of a top penalty killing unit. Stafford was acquired at the trade deadline for a fifth-round pick, and scored four goals and four assists in 18 games, while Liles added five assists in 36 games but was a key part of Boston’s postseason with multiple injuries hitting their defense during their seven-game series with Ottawa.
