The Boston Bruins are currently undergoing a period of change.
This summer’s free agency frenzy saw them sign Tanner Jeannot, trade for Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers, and extend goaltender Michael DiPietro. Aside from a PTO candidate (or two), solidifying their forward and defensive depth is an essential task. One of the ways they can achieve this is by extending Andrew Peeke.
Peeke was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 8th, 2024. Jakub Zboril and a third-round 2027 draft pick went the other way.
Insider Predicts an Extension For Andrew Peeke
Not many hockey pundits predicted that Brad Marchand would get traded to the Florida Panthers. However, predicting that a team will retain a player they have traded for is easier to forecast.
On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman spoke about all 32 NHL teams. In the Bruins section, he discussed why he thinks Peeke will be extended soon.
“One of the guys I thought they might extend was Andrew Peeke,” Friedman revealed. “Just because he’s a right-hand shot D, and those guys are hard to find. Generally right-hand shot D, especially Peeke’s age, he’s 27/28 years old, if you have any kind of season, you’re going to get a good deal.”
“Boston is going to have some cap flexibility, and I think they want that.”
The 27-year-old defender is in the final year of a three-year $2.75-million deal.
Peeke’s Future With Bruins Tied To Team Performance
According to Bruins analyst Michael DeRosa with The Hockey News, Peeke’s future with the team might not be up to him. In a recent article, he reasoned that, “the Bruins not having the strongest depth on the right side of their blueline, they could very well look to a proven NHL-caliber defenseman like Peeke beyond next season.”
The Bruins currently have right-handed defenders Charlie McAvoy, Henri Jokiharju, and Peeke signed to NHL contracts. Locking up Peeke makes a lot of sense when you phrase it that way.
Conversely, DeRose can foresee a scenario where, “if they find themselves out of a playoff spot again nearing the trade deadline, and he is still not extended by then, he could end up being a solid trade chip.”
Like Friedman alluded to above, right-handed defenders are in high demand in the NHL. A contending team would undoubtedly be interested in Peeke if he became available at the trade deadline – extension or otherwise.
What Does a Peeke Extension Look Like?
As for the actual extension is concerned, according to AFP Analytics, Peeke is projected to receive a three-year $3.129-million deal. That’s pretty good for a defender who recorded 17 points, 80 shots, 105 hits, and 126 blocks while playing 18:37 a night.
If that is the kind of extension that Peeke will be looking for, there is little reason not to get the ball rolling on a new contract sooner rather than later. According to PuckPedia, the Bruins will have just under $20 million in cap space next year. If Peeke is part of the long-term plans, this contract could be signed before the end of the summer.
And if you are an insider (like Friedman), you might be surprised that it took this long to complete.
