Former Bruins forward signs with Stanley Cup champions (report)

A former Boston Bruins forward will join his third different team in as many seasons.

Tomas Nosek agreed to sign with the Florida Panthers for the league minimum $775,000 on Monday — Day 1 of NHL free agency — TSN’s Darren Dreger reported. Nosek spent last season with the New Jersey Devils after two years with the Bruins.

Nosek provided the Bruins with depth at the center position during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. An underrated part to the forward’s game was his ability to win faceoffs, something the Bruins missed after Patrice Bergeron retired and Nosek left for New Jersey that same offseason.

During the 2021-22 season, Nosek won 53.9% of faceoffs and 59.3 during the 2022-23 season. Last year with the Devils, he won 51.9%, but played in just 36 games.

Nosek struggled with the Devils last season due to injuries. He missed a month at the beginning of last year with a lower-body injury. After a month away from the rink, he returned to the lineup only to suffer another injury in November. After undergoing foot surgery, Nosek returned in February but struggled to find a groove.

The 30-year-old will now look to bounce back with the Stanley Cup champion Panthers and provide them depth for their bottom six forwards.