Billy Sweezey signs two-year deal with Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins have signed right-handed defenseman Billy Sweezey to a two-year deal worth $775,000 per season.

Sweezey played all of last season with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, with the physical blueliner putting up four points and 73 penalty minutes in 57 games. It came a year after he made his NHL debut, registering one assist in nine games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Originally an unsigned free agent signing by the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2020, Sweezey had four assists in 22 games with the club before joining Clevland the following year. On March 7, 2022, Sweezey signed his first NHL contract with the Blue Jackets.

His dad, Ken, spent three years as a player with Providence College of the NCAA. His mother, Lorie, played for the womens team athe the same time.

Sweezey likely won’t impact Boston’s NHL plans, but will give the Providence Bruins some toughness. The team already has some size with Ryan Mast (6-foot-5), Jackson Edward and Frederic Brunet (both 6-foot-3), so having as a 6-foot-2, 205-pound blueliner who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves will make them even more difficult to play against.

According to CapFriendly, the Bruins have $7.861 million in projected cap space with 22 players under contract. Starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman still needs a new deal as an RFA, but everyone else is accounted for.