The Boston Bruins announced another strategic move on Wednesday. The club inked forward Alex Steeves to a two-year contract extension. The deal came with a $3.25 million price tag, accounting for a $1.625 million cap hit.
The deal is a well-deserved one for the Bruins’ depth forward. Steeves has had his best season, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 33 games this season.
But Steeves’ breakout season would not have been possible with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Steeves was an undrafted player who signed out of college with Toronto. He spent four seasons in the Maple Leafs’ system, getting a chance to play just 14 games in that stretch.
That situation changed when Steeves landed with the Bruins. Steeves became a Group 6 free agent at the end of last season. He was 26 years old and had not played the requisite number of games to become a restricted free agent. The Leafs passed on re-signing him, allowing the forward to sign elsewhere. Had the Leafs offered Steeves another contract, he may have never really gotten the chance to play in the NHL regularly.
So, the Bruins inked him to a one-year, $850K deal. And Steeves has rewarded Boston’s faith by becoming a solid bottom-six forward. That’s why Steeves can thank the Maple Leafs for letting him go. He would haven’t otherwise gotten the chance to prove what he can really do.
What Steeves brings to the Bruins’ table is highly valuable. He’s a gritty, defensively responsible player who’s not afraid to put his physical integrity in harm’s way. That’s the very definition of the quintessential depth forward. That’s why Boston chose to extend him.
Bruins Gave Steeves Chance Maple Leafs Never Did
Alex Steeves saw very limited action with the Maple Leafs. He got a handful of call-ups as an injury replacement. The hope was that Steeves could turn into a decent fourth-liner for the Maple Leafs.
Alas, Toronto felt he just wasn’t there. So, they did not offer him a contract for this season. The Bruins, meanwhile, took a chance on him. His eight points in nine games in Providence were good enough for a call-up.
He hasn’t looked back since.
His two-year extension signals that Steeves will be a meaningful part of the Bruins moving forward. With the team going through a transition, his contributions will be crucial to the team’s return to the postseason.
Steeves Finding Chemistry with Another Former Leaf
Steeves has found a home on the Bruins’ third line. That line features another former Maple Leaf, Fraser Minten. Minten joined Boston at last year’s trade deadline in the Brandon Carlo deal.
Minten, like Steeves, got the opportunity he didn’t really receive in Toronto. It’s worth pointing out that Minten and Steeves knew each other well after playing for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Marlies.
That chemistry carried over to Boston. Steeves and Minten have gelled into solid NHLers, potentially fulfilling their ceiling. Considering how difficult it is to find affordable, reliable depth, Minten and Steeves provide just that.
Then again, this could just be the beginning of Minten and Steeves’ ongoing rise up the Bruins’ ranks. Perhaps there might be a larger role for both forwards down the line. Time will tell just how much of a steal both Minten and Steeves could be.
Bruins Forward Has Maple Leafs to Thank for Extension