Mar 23, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Jersey Devils forward A.J. Greer (42) pursues the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
Beginning up front, and with Boston’s first signing of the day, the Bruins and forward A.J. Greer agreed to a two-year, one-way contract worth $762,500 per season.
A 6-foot-3 left wing, Greer put up 22 goals and 52 points in 53 games with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League this past season, and added one goal and one assist in nine NHL appearances with New Jersey.
“In A.J.’s case, had a heck of a year offensively. I think he understands, in talking with him today, doing our background work on him — I think he understands himself a lot better as to what type of player he is and how to be successful,” Sweeney said. “And hopefully that translates — I mean, from the skating and a speed standpoint, getting on pucks and being an aggressive mindset with his size — it’s an attractive quality for us to add to our group.”
The No. 39 overall pick from the 2015 NHL Draft, Greer has totaled two goals and eight points in 47 NHL games of NHL work in five seasons between the Avalanche and Devils. In the minors, the former BU Terrier has produced at an impressive clip, with 85 goals and 195 points in 278 contests.
ELMONT, NEW YORK – MARCH 13: Vinni Lettieri #28 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on March 13, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
In addition to Greer, Boston’s other addition up front came with the signing of forward Vinni Lettieri to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 at the NHL level.
A right-shot center, Lettieri has spent the last two seasons with the Ducks organization, and set NHL career-highs across the board this past season, with five goals and 10 points in 31 games played. In addition to his NHL work in Anaheim, which also included a five-game run in 2021, the 5-foot-11 Lettieri was productive for AHL San Diego, scoring 22 goals and 48 points in 46 games for the Gulls.
An undrafted talent out of the University of Minnsota, Lettieri broke into pro hockey with the New York Rangers organization, having appeared in 46 games with the Bruins and 173 tilts with Hartford from 2017 through 2020.
Lettieri has totaled seven goals and 18 points in 82 career NHL games.
EDMONTON, AB – SEPTEMBER 28: Kailer Yamamoto #56 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Connor Carrick #58 of the Seattle Kraken during second period preseason action at Rogers Place on September 28, 2021. (Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
On the backend, the Bruins signed Connor Carrick to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000.
Carrick’s jump to the Bruins organization comes following a year in the Kraken organization. The 28-year-old spent the entire year in the AHL, however, and tallied 10 goals and 32 points in 59 games with the Checkers.
The 5-foot-11, 194-pound defenseman has appeared in 247 career NHL games with the Capitals, Maple Leafs, Stars and Devils, totaling 13 goals and 49 points.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 07: Dan Renouf #21 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during a preseason game at Little Caesars Arena on October 07, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
In addition to Carrick, the Bruins also brought veteran depth defenseman Dan Renouf into the mix on a two-year, two-way contract worth $762,500 at the NHL level.
Renouf, who played his college hockey at Maine, skated in four games with the Red Wings in 2021-22.
A 6-foot-3 defenseman, Renouf has appeared in 23 career NHL games with the Wings and Avalanche, and has totaled three assists and 27 hits over that 23-game sample.
In the minors, Renouf put up three goals and 14 points, along with a plus-14 rating, in 63 games with Grand Rapids this past season, and comes to the organization with 342 games of AHL experience since 2015-16.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 06: Keith Kinkaid #71 of the New York Rangers warms up before the game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 06, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
The Bruins also made a move in net with the signing of Keith Kinkaid to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 in the NHL.
Kinkaid stopped 29-of-31 in his lone NHL experience of the 2021-22 season, and put up a 20-14-2 record and .904 save percentage in 37 appearances for AHL Hartford.
The 33-year-old Kinkaid has appeared in 167 NHL games since 2013, and has posted a 69-58-21 record and .905 save percentage over that stretch, with appearances for the Devils, Canadiens, and Rangers.
