Bruins Have Another RFA Right-Shot Defenseman to Consider

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The Boston Bruins need more than the speed and skill Don Sweeney called for at the end-of-season press conference. 

The right side of the blue line is running thin. Andrew Peeke’s contract expires this summer, and the depth chart took a hit when Victor Soderström left for Switzerland. Henri Jokiharju saw limited minutes late in the season; he and Charlie McAvoy are the two NHL right-shot defensemen signed for the 2026-27 season. 

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The Bruins do not have a promising right-shot defenseman in Providence or elsewhere in the prospect pool. Max Wanner, 23, is the youngest; he is a restricted free agent this summer. The Bruins also have until August to sign defenseman Mason Langenbrunner, 23, which seems less likely after his father’s departure to Nashville. 

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Ottawa Senators are “gauging the trade market” on defenseman Jordan Spence.

“This doesn’t mean Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, is trying to deal Spence,” writes Garrioch. “But that possibility shouldn’t be ruled out because all options are on the table with all 32 teams trying to make changes.”

Spence, 25, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. The Senators acquired the 5-foot-11 right-shot defenseman from the Los Angeles Kings on day two of the 2025 draft. He cost the Senators a third and a sixth-round pick. 

Spence played in 73 games this season for Ottawa, averaging 18:44 of ice time nightly. He finished with 31 points (7-24–31), a plus-15 rating, and logged the second-most ice time on the Senators’ roster at 5-on-5. 

The Senators dominated 5-on-5 play with Spence on the ice, owning a 60.38% Corsi share throughout the regular season. Shots were 630-431 in favor of the Senators, and they outscored opponents 58-43 with Spence on the ice. 

He also saw a little time on the second power-play unit after Nick Jensen went down with an injury. 

Spence is neither big nor a physical player, but the Bruins have no shortage of that, and it is not a need this summer. He is more than capable defensively, but he also provides offense from the blue line. His 31 points would have ranked second among Bruins defensemen this past season. 

The first four seasons of Spence’s professional career were spent with the Kings organization, going back and forth between Los Angeles and their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. 

Marco Sturm spent three years as the head coach of the Reign. His tenure lines up with the three years Spence played there. By the 2024-25 season, Spence was a regular in the Kings’ lineup. 

His underlying numbers were all positive in Los Angeles, too, but the Kings had a logjam on the right side of their blue line and ultimately moved on from Spence. Though it is not imminent, it appears the Senators are open to moving him just one year later, as they also have a few right-shots in the room.  

Marco Sturm has put his stamp of approval on a roster move before. For a player like Spence, it would be surprising if he did not have a say. Before joining the Bruins, Sturm had previous experience working with players like Viktor Arvidsson and Lukas Reichel and helped both of them find their footing in the Bruins’ lineup. 

After the season, he said he enjoyed his role with Don Sweeney, saying, “By free agency and at the draft, I was at the table and communicated with the scouts. So I felt involved right away, and that’s why maybe certain players ended up in Boston.” 

AFP Analytics has two projections for Spence’s next contract: a one-year deal with a $3.1 million cap hit, or a four-year deal with a $4.9 million cap hit. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2027-28 season. 

He is coming off a two-year bridge deal where he carried an annual cap hit of $1.5 million. Spence is due a qualifying offer of $1.7 million, which Garrioch reported he will receive. He has until July 5 to file for arbitration.

The cost is the question. The Senators are not strapped for cash this summer; they have more room ($16,977,619) than the Bruins ($15,415,417). Spence is one of three RFAs on their NHL roster, and they already have 12 forwards and six defensemen signed next season. 

As an RFA, the Bruins can explore the offer sheet route. However, they cannot exceed an AAV of $4,775,667, as they do not have their third-round pick next year to go along with the first-round pick. Anywhere between $2,387,833 and $4,775,666 only requires a second-round pick in compensation. 

As the Senators are feeling out the market, pursuing a trade is more sensible, but it will likely cost more than the third and sixth-round picks the Senators used to acquire Spence. 

The Bruins have acknowledged their need for speed and skill, but they need more. Spence is not the biggest name on the market this summer, but he checks a lot of boxes. He fits the hole on the right side. He is young, productive on both ends of the ice, and has already worked under Sturm. 

If Steve Staios is not hanging up the phone, Don Sweeney has plenty of reasons to make the call. 

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