The Boston Bruins have placed veteran forward Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers with the intention of terminating his contract, as reported by Chris Johnston on Thursday. If Johnson clears waivers on Friday, he will become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any NHL team or pursue opportunities overseas.
Johnson, 34, initially joined the Bruins on a professional tryout during training camp but did not make the opening-night roster due to the team’s salary cap constraints. Instead of signing elsewhere, Johnson opted to wait for Boston to clear cap space. This led to him signing a one-year deal in early November, carrying a prorated cap hit of $775,000.
Since signing, Johnson has played in just nine games for the Bruins. During that time, he recorded two assists, including one in a 2–1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 29. Over 117:42 of ice time, he also posted a minus-1 plus/minus rating.
A seasoned two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Johnson has enjoyed a noteworthy NHL career spanning 13 seasons. In 747 regular-season games, he has accumulated 193 goals and 240 assists for a total of 433 points. Additionally, he has contributed 65 points in 116 playoff appearances.
Johnson’s stint with the Bruins marked the third stop in his career, following nine years with the Lightning and three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Bruins, currently in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 17-13-4 record, remain in a competitive race. They are four points behind the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, and tied at 38 points with the Lightning. Johnson’s departure reflects the team’s ongoing adjustments as they navigate the season.
