The Bruins have proven to be the team of opportunity for AHL veterans looking for their big break.
First it was 26-year-old defenseman Jonathan Aspirot, who played his first NHL game with the B’s this year and parlayed it into a two-year NHL deal.
And on Wednesday, the B’s signed 26-year-old forward Alex Steeves, who had spent four seasons toiling in the Toronto system, to a two-year deal worth $1.625 million. He had originally signed with Toronto as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame but had gotten just 14 NHL games in the four years he was with Toronto.
The B’s signed Steeves as a free agent in the summer and, after hanging around for much of training camp, he was one of the last cuts. But he was brought up to Boston on November 8 when Elias Lindholm was injured.
He didn’t allow this chance pass him by. Steeves made an immediate impression with his hustle, scoring in his second game with the Bruins against his old team. He’s got 8-6-14 totals and is plus-5 in 33 games, though he’s gone very cold lately. He has not scored a goal since December 23, a span of 12 games.
While he was a goalscorer in AHL, topping the 20-goal goal plateau in three of the four seasons (his highest total was 36 last season with the Marlies), he has had to diversify his game to stick in the NHL. While his scoring touch has at least momentarily left him, he’s not afraid to get in on the forecheck and throw a hit. He leads the team in hits per 60 (17.15) and is fourth in total hits (117). Coach Marco Sturm has been able to utilize him throughout the lineup.
The St. Paul, Minnesota native’s energy and physicality will also serve as a good baseline for the young players like James Hagens, Will Zellers and Dean Letourneau who are expected to be integrated into the mix over the coming seasons….
The Dallas Stars claimed — or reclaimed – defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok off waivers from the Bruins. The B’s had originally claimed Kolyachonok from Dallas when they were hit by injuries on the back end. He played just two games for the B’s.
Speaking of Hagens and Letourneau, both Boston College players were among the nominees for the Hobey Baker Award. It was expected for Hagens, who was selected by the B’s with the seventh overall pick last June. But there was a question as to which way 6-foot-7 Letourneau, who was taken with the 25th overall pick in 2024, would go in his career. He had no goals and three assists in his freshman season at the Heights. This season has been different story, however, as he’s got 11-9-20 in 20 games and has been a physical force for the Eagles…
The B’s reassigned defenseman Billy Sweezey to Providence.
