Bruins inquired on free agent Justin Williams
Dec 23, 2018; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) celebrates their win against the Boston Bruins at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Boston Bruins 5-3. (James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports)
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
If veteran free agent Justin Williams decides to come back to pro hockey, and if decides to come back with some team other than the Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins will be among those who reportedly try to convince him to join their team. This, anyway, is If Williams doesn’t sign with Carolina keep hearing Boston, Washington and perhaps Tampa will try and sign “Mr Game 7”. While the Hurricanes continue to work on a contract for Justin Williams, complicated by the 35 and over rules and bonuses and their cap situation, word is the Maple Leafs also made a pitch to Williams this week. Also heard that the Bruins inquired.
It’s a fine, idea, and one that would allow the Bruins to add without having to part with tangible assets (prospects and picks) for some desperately needed help beyond the team’s superhero first line and vaunted power play.
Williams can still play, too, as he put up 53 points last year (his most since 2011-12) and contributed four goals and seven points in Carolina’s improbable, 15-game run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Williams is undoubtedly the most accomplished piece available on the free agent or trade market, too, with three Stanley Cup rings to go with 40 goals and 101 points in 151 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests since 2002.
There’s a lot of if’s when it comes to Williams, though, the biggest of which being the fact that he’d return to the NHL for any team other than the Hurricanes. It’s clear that the 38-year-old put his heart and soul into captaining that team, and that he desperately wanted to win with that group.
If he does return, it seems almost 100 percent guaranteed that it’s going to be as a Hurricane, and with everybody else having to look elsewhere for playoff experience and Game 7 heroics. I mean, that seems obvious with the Hurricanes and Williams actually talking about a contract, which cannot be said for the rest of the field as of right now.
But if it’s a Greybeard the Bruins are after, might I suggest the one and only?
BOSTON, MA – MAY 1: Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Boston Bruins stands during a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
I mean, the 47-year-old Jaromir Jagr does have eight goals and 15 points in 21 games for Kladno this year. JUS’ SAYING.
