After six seasons in AHL, Bruins defenseman has become ‘pleasant surprise’

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After six seasons in AHL, Bruins defenseman has become ‘pleasant surprise’

Lauren Campbell · MassLive

Mon, Jan 12, 2026 ·

3 min read

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BOSTON — For six years, Jonathan Aspirot spent his time in the AHL waiting for a call to the NHL that never came.

After spending time with the Belleville Senators and the Calgary Wranglers, Aspriot hit the free agent market on July 1, 2025 and didn’t wait long for a contract.

The Bruins signed the defenseman to a one-year, two-way deal.

Aspirot began the year in Providence, but was called up by the Bruins in October after Hampus Lindholm was placed on injured reserve. He’s been a mainstay in the lineup since , and was rewarded for his strong play Sunday with a two-year contract extension — his first NHL contract.

“It means everything,” Aspirot said prior to Boston’s 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins . “I couldn’t say no to a deal like that.”

Aspirot, who revealed he had a few other offers over the summer, made it difficult to be sent back down to Providence. Going into Sunday’s game the defenseman has two goals and an assist. He’s also logged 42 hits and 29 blocked shots while amassing a team-high plus-15.

The 26-year-old added four more blocked shots and another hit to his totals in Sunday’s win, and have some big shifts for the Bruins as the offense could only muster up one goal.

Aspirot has been reliable since his call-up, filling in for Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy in their absences during the season.

“He took advantage of the opportunity, the opportunity of a new coach coming in and the new system we play. I think it just fit him perfectly,” coach Marco Sturm said. “I’m just very happy. He’s become a pleasant surprise for this hockey team. We know it, the players know it and I’m glad we locked him up for two more years.”

The Bruins have found plenty of value in Aspirot this season with him playing on his natural left side and his right side. He’s been a perfect fit in Sturm’s system.

“I think he’s a guy who’s better without the puck because he closes, and he can skate and keeps things simple, blocks a lot of shots,” Sturm said. “So he does all those things we kind of were looking for. He’s quick enough and strong enough. That you can’t teach.”

Aspirot has played well when paired with Boston’s top defensemen including McAvoy, who he saw time with on Sunday.

“He’s been awesome. He’s been a heck of a story, just a great guy. I’m enjoying playing with him,” McAvoy said. “Before I got to play with him, I was enjoying watching him come in. I’m just so proud of him.”

After 297 games in the AHL, it paid off for Aspirot. His patience was praised by McAvoy.

“I know a lot of guys that played a lot of years in the AHL and they were quick to go to Europe or somewhere else,” he said. “And that’s a guy that just showed up and continued to get better. I don’t think there’s any doubt in anybody that’s watched him, the appreciation we have for him in here, that he’s an NHL hockey player.”

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