Bruins Sign Best Available Free Agent Forward To PTO Contract

The Boston Bruins have signed veteran forward and former Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson to a professional tryout (PTO) agreement for their upcoming training camp, the franchise announced on August 31 .

The 34-year-old, who last played for the Chicago Blackhawks, brings both a wealth of experience and a winning pedigree to the Bruins as they will try to get further in the playoffs next season compared to last year's disappointing second-round exit.

Johnson, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, scored 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games with the lowly Blackhawks during the 2023–24 season.

Over his 12-year NHL career, Johnson has amassed 193 goals and 431 points in 738 games, with an additional 65 points in 116 playoff matchups.

Luke Fox of Sportsnet ranked Johnson as the best unrestricted free agent available on August 23.

"Battling injury and playing for a tanking team, Johnson still put up 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games for the Blackhawks," Fox wrote. "The two-time Cup champ will need to accept a reduced salary on his next team, but he brings character, experience and the versatility of playing wing or centre."

According to Fox, Johnson could be the "third-line centre on a playoff team," and the analyst offered some intel that turned out to be true in writing Johnson "would prefer (signing with a contender) to another rebuilding group."

By signing a PTO deal, Johnson's place on the Bruins regular-season roster is not guaranteed. That said, his Stanley Cup-winning experience and 738-game career could be more than enough for Boston to find him a spot in their final 23-man roster.

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