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NHL rumors: The defenseman Bruins are trying to find a new home for
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- NHL rumors: The defenseman Bruins are trying to find a new home for
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The Boston Bruins are mere hours away from puck drop on their 2026-27 season, and with a surplus of NHL-caliber defensemen on the roster, one of them could get a change of scenery soon.
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As Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday, Boston is trying to find a new home for Henri Jokiharju . The 27-year-old was placed on waivers over the weekend for the purpose of assignment to the AHL's Providence Bruins and went unclaimed.
"Boston is trying to find a new home for Henri Jokiharju, who cleared waivers," Friedman wrote. "There are teams curious to see what they do with Matthew Poitras , who avoided them for the time being."
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Poitras suffered a lower-body injury in practice last week and is listed as Injured Non-Roster on Boston's opening-day roster.
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Jokiharju's subpar preseason didn't help his case on a blue line flush with NHL talent. Once Charlie McAvoy returns from his six-game suspension, he, Hampus Lindholm , Nikita Zadorov , Will Borgen , Mason Lohrei and Connor Clifton figure to occupy six spots.
That's with Jonathan Aspirot and Frederic Brunet also in the mix.
Jokiharju is entering the second season of a three-year, $9 million contract he signed in 2025 after the Buffalo Sabres traded him to Boston for a fourth-round pick.
At the time, the Bruins had just traded defensive defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs , opening a spot on the blue line. Carlo has since joined the St. Louis Blues .
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Originally selected 29th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Draft, Jokiharju recorded 12 assists in 38 games as a rookie in 2018-19. He was traded to Buffalo in exchange for Alex Nylander the following summer. He spent six seasons in Western New York, chipping in 81 points in 351 games.
The Finn appeared in just 41 games for Boston in 2025-26, managing two goals and 15 points. He had more success internationally, representing Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and the Winter Olympics in Milan this past February. He also helped his country win gold at the IIHF World Championship in May, recording eight points in 10 games.
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Jokiharju's future in Massachusetts now looks uncertain, and it makes sense for Boston to seek a return with so many NHL-ready defensemen in the organization.
The Bruins kick off their 2026-27 schedule against the New York Rangers at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
