The Boston Bruins are going to pay the price for squeezing Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci under the salary cap.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney and assistant GM/cap guru Evan Gold had to do some serious gymnastics just to sign both Bergeron and Krejci and stay under the $82.5 million cap for 2022-23. And they knew there was a good chance they’d end up paying a penalty the following year, due to the veterans’ performance bonuses earned during the season.

The B’s are one of 15 teams across the league to have to take a hit on their cap for 2023-24, but theirs is by far the biggest.

• As reported by PuckPedia, via NorthStar, the Bruins will have to pay $4.5 million on next year’s cap in what’s known as a bonus overage. Essentially, any bonuses earned by Bergeron and Krejci during the season that exceed the cap will count against it on the 2023-24 books.

  Bergeron and Krejci both qualified for performance bonuses because they are both over 35 years old and signed one-year deals. To put in perspective how much the Bruins are paying for bringing back their two veteran centers and staying cap-compliant, the Philadelphia Flyers have the second-biggest cap overage at $1.1875 million.

  The $4.5 million that the Bruins have to pay in overages is $500K more than they will pay for Jake DeBrusk ($4 million) and just under Pavel Zacha’s $4.75 million.

• 

  NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: David Krejci #46 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins skate against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2023 in New York City. The Bruins defeated the Rangers 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images )

• Ironically, the Bruins have had to play without Bergeron to start their 2023 first-round playoff series against the Panthers, and on Friday night they lost Krejci, too. But the B’s responded to that adversity with one of their best all-around performances of the season, overhauling their gameplan and controlling much of the action in a Game 3 win to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

  The returns of Bergeron and Krejci certainly paid off in the standings, as the Bruins ended up with a 65-12-5 record, setting new marks for the most wins and points in a single regular season. The whole thing was done, however, with a Stanley Cup championship in mind.

  They’re still a long way away from that. But the fact they have a 2-1 lead over the Panthers while getting zero games from Bergeron is a promising sign.

• 

  SUNRISE, FL – APRIL 21: Teammates congratulate Goaltender Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins after the 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers in Game Three of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on April 21, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

• Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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