Bruins keep away from arbitration with Ian Mitchell, signal defenseman to 1-year contract

Bruins

The Bruins nonetheless have two extra arbitration hearings set with Jeremy Swayman and Trent Frederic.

The Bruins settled one in every of their three arbitration instances forward of a doubtlessly contentious listening to, with Boston saying Monday that it signed defenseman Ian Mitchell to a one-year NHL contract with an annual cap hit of $775,000.

The 24-year-old blueliner was acquired by the Bruins final month from the Blackhawks in a commerce centered on Taylor Corridor. Mitchell was one in every of three Bruins to file for arbitration final week, becoming a member of goaltender Jeremy Swayman and ahead Trent Frederic.

Though arbitration hearings are set to start later this month, groups nonetheless have the power to barter contracts between now and at any time when mentioned hearings are held.

Mitchell’s new contract represents a slight dip from the $1.05 million in NHL wage he commanded final season. Nonetheless, Mitchell appeared in simply 35 video games for the cellar-dwelling Blackhawks in 2022-23, scoring a objective and including seven assists.

The fitting-shot D will doubtless function a spare defenseman on Boston’s roster this yr, with Mitchell seeking to battle Kevin Shattenkirk for normal reps on the Bruins’ third defensive pairing.

Based on CapFriendly, the Bruins nonetheless have $6.2 million in cap house this offseason, most of which might be allotted towards no matter contracts Swayman and Frederic ultimately ink.

Swayman’s listening to date is about for July 30, whereas Frederic’s is scheduled for August 1.

Each Swayman and Frederic are due for pay raises this summer season.

Swayman, who went 24-6-4 with a .920 save proportion final season, earned $1.05 million in wage final season. Frederic, who buried a career-high 17 objectives and 31 factors, made $1.15 million in 2022-23.

Talking on Friday, Don Sweeney acknowledged that the Bruins wish to craft new contracts for each gamers earlier than negotiations pivot to hearings.

“We’re all working laborious on that entrance,” Sweeney mentioned of Boston’s dealings with Swayman, Frederic, and Mitchell. “Having just about fixed dialogue with all three gamers and representatives – you realize that’s at all times the hope [of signing before the hearings].

“However, we all know there’s a path and there might be a proper answer on the opposite facet, and a method or one other they are going to be a part of our group so, it’s only a instrument within the toolbox, that both participant elects or the membership elects and also you undergo and however hopefully we will. It’s not the final word objective for anyone on both facet however it’s a path that determines if the participant might be again.”