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."