The Boston Bruins reportedly won’t tender Jakub Lauko a qualifying offer, leaving the 25-year-old winger set to hit the open market once again.
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Just months after his return, Lauko’s back out the door
It didn’t take long for things to change.
Jakub Lauko was supposed to bring energy and bite back to Boston’s bottom six. The Bruins brought him back at the trade deadline, shipping Justin Brazeau to Minnesota in a quiet move that felt more emotional than strategic.
It made sense.
Lauko was familiar. He’d been through the grind. Fans liked him. But hockey’s a business, and this one’s closing the book fast.
According to a report from Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, Lauko’s agent JP Barry says the Bruins won’t be sending a qualifying offer his way. That means Lauko becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, free to sign wherever he can find a fit.
He only got 18 games this time around—scored twice, added three helpers, laid down 50 hits. He played hard, the way he always does. Still, he finished a minus-8 and never fully carved out a role.
The writing’s been on the wall. Lauko’s game is built on speed and edge, but there just wasn’t enough of the “next step” the team was hoping for. Boston’s depth is in flux, and it seems like the front office wants something different from the fourth line going forward.
It’s not a cap decision. It’s a direction decision.
Lauko won’t go down as a core piece of the Bruins’ recent run, but he was always willing. He leaves with 101 NHL games under his belt, all with Boston, plus 8 goals, 22 points, and 270 hits. Not flashy, not game-breaking. But honest hockey. Some team will value that.
And at 25, his story in the NHL probably isn’t over.
Boston’s message is clear: it’s time to move on
The Bruins aren’t keeping fringe players around for nostalgia. This move suggests they’ve got other names in mind for that role—maybe prospects, maybe different vets. Either way, Lauko won’t be part of that mix.
He did what he could. It wasn’t enough this time.
He’s young, cheap, and plays with a chip on his shoulder. There’s a decent chance a team gives him a look, maybe a short-term deal, maybe a PTO in camp. Guys like Lauko often bounce around a bit before finding the right situation.
This wasn’t the ending he hoped for in Boston. But it doesn’t mean his NHL days are done.
