Bruins UFA Expresses His Love For Boston And States He Wants To Stick Around

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Austin Sabourin
May 30, 2023 (8:31)

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In this installment, we turn our attention to Tomas Nosek, the unsung hero known for his penalty-killing prowess and face-off expertise.

Since joining the Boston Bruins as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2020-21 season, Nosek has been an invaluable asset to the team. Having inked a two-year, $3.5 million ($1.7M AAV) deal on July 28, 2021, one could argue that he has more than lived up to his contract.

Over the course of the recent season, Nosek notched seven goals and 11 assists in 66 regular season games. Despite the Bruins' unfortunate first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Florida Panthers, Nosek chipped in with two assists during that seven-game series. In his inaugural season donning the black and gold, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound pivot registered three goals and 14 assists in 75 games, and he added two helpers in the Bruins' seven-game first-round defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Although Nosek's offensive statistics may not immediately jump off the page, it is important to recognize that his role with the team extends far beyond scoring goals. The Czech center was specifically brought in to stifle opponents' scoring opportunities, and he accomplished exactly that. With a plus 9 rating and an impressive faceoff win percentage of 59.3%, Nosek demonstrated his defensive prowess and cemented his importance on the ice.

Looking ahead, it is clear that both Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery and general manager Don Sweeney highly value Nosek's contributions to the team. There appears to be a mutual desire between the two parties to reach a new contract agreement before the upcoming July 1 deadline.

"I really like the group of guys here, so I would love to stay. Hopefully, we can work something out, and I can continue to call Boston home. It's my number one priority,"

Nosek expressed to reporters on May 2.

"We love Boston. My family loves Boston. If given the opportunity, I would gladly commit to staying here. However, the final decision is not up to me. We'll have to wait and see what unfolds."

Realistically, the prevailing belief is that Nosek could secure a more lucrative deal on the open market if he decides to test unrestricted free agency. Unfortunately, the Bruins' salary cap constraints may force them to bid farewell and express their gratitude to Nosek, unless he chooses to take a significant pay cut to remain in Boston.