Today marks the start of a much anticipated free agent period for the Bruins. The big prize, Marian Hossa, is waiting for a new home and is looking at any where from 7-10 million a year. The Bruins were thought to be in the hunt but they don’t appear to have the cap space as we stand right now. The Bruins may in fact be setting their sights on second tier free agents to help with their scoring. The Bruins just don’t have the money to pay what Hossa, who reportedly rejected about $7M per year from the Penguins, can get on the market. Boston has only about $7M in cap space.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said yesterday a broad range of options is conceivable, and there is a good chance the B’s will bag at least one free agent today. But he indicated it’s unlikely the team will make a “huge splash” in the market.

“I’d say it’s better than 50 percent that we’ll sign someone (today),” Chiarelli said. “We have a lot of flexibility. (Today) we’re out to buttress our scoring. We’re going to look at all options that are out there.”

Although free agency doesn’t start until July 1st, the Bruins will have a deal in place on free agent Blake Wheeler.  Wheeler was a 2004 first round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes became a free agent after he opted out of his contract. The 21 year old  forward stands at 6-4 220 pounds and had more the 20 NHL teams interested in him. Wheeler just had completed his junior year at the University of Minnesota.

Wheeler told his agent to complete a deal to join the Bruins because he like the way the organization was heading. He especially liked the way Boston develops its prospects along to the NHL much like David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Mark Stuart all had done in recent years.

Of course, we can’t sign him until July 1, but we look forward to getting him in the mix," Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told The Globe. "Anytime you can get a young player of Blake’s caliber with that blend of size and skill, you are very fortunate."