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A PLAYER FROM THE ISLANDERS IS NOW ON THE BRUINS!!!11!1!
...It’s just not the one you’re expecting.
Walpole, MA Native Chris Wagner comes to the team as a free agent according to Andy Strickland, and corraborated by Mark Divver:
Hearing Chris Wagner to #Bruins 2yr deal
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 1, 2018
Chris Wagner deal with #NHLBruins is for $1.25 million per year for 2 years. A dozen teams, including NYI, were interested. Brings compete & bottom six versatility at center & wing. 3rd in NHL with 253 hits last season
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) July 1, 2018
As for the fancy numbers. Wagner at 5-on-5 had a middling CF% (46%) and FF% (45.77%) amongst his compatriots in Anaheim, making him the 11th most effective forward on the team. and Anaheim was pretty bad this year at the whole “possession hockey” thing because Carlyle hockey is like that. On the isle? He was even worse.
Thankfully, the Bruins don’t quite play those styles of hockey, so...progress?
Wagner is almost certainly an option for one of the spots open on the 4th line right now, especially if Tim Schaller finds himself exploring greener pastures. Which is odd, because Tim Schaller himself would probably command that price....right now. Hmm. This signing is kinda...weird.
Regardless, please welcome Chris Wagner to the Boston Bruins.