This former Chicago Blackhawks forward could be a good player for the Boston Bruins to watch at training camp.

It has been quite a busy offseason for the Boston Bruins. After a solid bridge year, the Bruins made many changes to their group. They notably brought in players like Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Mark Kastelic, Max Jones, and Joonas Korpisalo. They also had a series of departures, including Linus Ullmark, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Pat Maroon, Matt Grzelcyk, James van Riemsdyk, and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Overall, it has been an eventful offseason in Boston, but GM Don Sweeney still has work to do. Most notably, star goaltender Jeremy Swayman remains a restricted free agent, and he is due for a significant raise. While re-signing Swayman is priority No. 1 for the Bruins, that should not be the only move they make before the start of training camp.

As noted above, the Bruins lost multiple players this offseason, several of whom are wingers. While prospects like Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, and Trevor Kuntar are expected to compete for NHL jobs, it also would not hurt for the Bruins to have an experienced forward join them at camp on a PTO. One interesting free agent remaining is Tyler Johnson.

It is a bit surprising that Johnson remains without a home at this juncture of the offseason. The Spokane, Washington native showed this past season with the Chicago Blackhawks that he can still be an effective forward, posting 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games. With numbers like these, he could make a case for a spot on the Bruins’ roster with a strong training camp. This is especially so when noting that he offers great versatility, being able to play both down the middle and on the wing.

It would also not be surprising if the Bruins went down the PTO route, whether it is with Johnson or another forward. The Bruins hit a home run, giving Heinen a PTO last year, as he emerged as one of their key forwards in 2023-24. Perhaps a player like Johnson could be a similar addition.

Ultimately, Johnson is still a solid secondary scorer and can play the wing, so it could be beneficial to give him a tryout. Even if he did not make the team and earn a contract, it would not hurt the Bruins in the slightest.