Boston Bruins sign Marat Khusnutdinov to a two-year deal as free agency nears

Fitting into Bostons system quietly and quickly After coming over in a deal that sent Justin Brazeau to Minnesota, with Jakub Lauko coming back as well, Marat Khusnutdinov found his footing fast.

He got into 18 games for the Bruins, posting two goals and three assists, while mostly sliding into third- or fourth-line duty.

His full-year stats included 75 games played, five goals, and seven assists.

More importantly, he didnt sink the ship when he was on the ice.

In fact, he posted a 48.4 CF% and a 4.1 relative Corsi, signs that he handled his matchups well, even with limited help.

From Russia to Boston in one unpredictable season Its easy to forget that Marat Khusnutdinov started the year in the KHL, splitting time between SKA St.

Petersburg and HK Sochi.

He jumped midseason into an entirely different league, system, and pace, and didnt miss a beat.

He plays the right way, and thats what were building toward, one team source said on Sunday.

The team isnt asking for fireworks.

Theyre asking for consistency, and Khusnutdinov gave them that in a small sample.

Michael Callahan re-signs on one-year, two-way deal The Bruins also announced the return of defenseman Michael Callahan.

The 24-year-old inked a one-year contract that will pay him $775,000 at the NHL level.

Hes expected to start in Providence but could be called upon if injuries pile up.

Callahan may not be on the radar of casual fans, but hes trusted internally as a stable, physical presence who can eat minutes if needed.

Smart roster management, nothing more Neither signing makes headlines.

Thats fine, they werent supposed to.

This was about doing the work that often goes unnoticed: locking in depth before prices rise, rewarding players who earned another look, and staying ahead of the curve.

Bostons big swings may still be coming, but for now, the front office is taking care of the foundational pieces.

Marat Khusnutdinov, 22, was essentially an NHL rookie last season and showed off his quick hands, skill and puck abilities in Boston after being acquired from Minnesota.

Like this deal for both sides as Khusnutdinov still has room to grow into a versatile player.

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