2026-06-21

The Boston Bruins have two players on the roster who are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, and general manager Don Sweeney is hoping neither veteran makes it to the open market. Sweeney and the front office are engaged in contract discussions with forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenseman Andrew Peeke, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Arvidsson appears to be the higher priority of the two after he put together a terrific 2025-26 season, recording 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games. The 33-year-old quickly became a valuable part of the Bruins' top six, providing secondary scoring and veteran leadership. And his performance certainly justifies Boston's desire to hold on to him. Peeke represents a different type of decision for Boston, having posted five goals and 14 points in 77 games while serving as a dependable depth option on the blue line. So the Bruins have some flexibility with roughly $15 million in salary-cap space available for next season. Pagnotta reported that the Bruins are having ongoing discussions with the camps for both players about extensions. But it remains to be seen whether either player will agree to a new contract before reaching the open market. The Bruins have not closed the door on bringing back Peeke, who played last year on a contract carrying a $2.75 million cap hit. Arvidsson's contract discussions are unclear, but his bounce-back campaign in Beantown has made him a key player to re-sign. With free agency rapidly approaching, the Bruins are committed to exploring every avenue to keep both veterans in black and gold. Boston currently has some room to maneuver with their salary cap, which could make re-signing Arvidsson easier. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of these two players.