Boston Bruins officially miss out on another top UFA, signing announced

What makes it hit harder in Boston is the timing. This past summer, the Bruins didn't land a big-name UFA, and multiple reports framed their patience as a setup for a deeper 2026 market.

Instead, the board keeps shrinking, and Wennberg is the latest name to disappear. He was tracking toward unrestricted free agency at season's end, so the idea of him being available felt real.

From the Boston side, it feels like the board keeps getting erased before Don Sweeney even picks up the pen.

On the ice, Wennberg isn't a flashy badge signing, but he is a clean-fit center for modern hockey. Through 40 games, he has seven goals and 26 points, and both NHL.com and ESPN line up on those numbers.

San Jose also has a very simple reason to do this now. Wennberg has been one of their steadiest two-way pivots, and the Sharks' own site noted he's tied for second on the club with 19 assists.

For the Bruins, it's another reminder that «wait and see» only works if the talent actually reaches the open market. When a center with real minutes, real touch, and a steady defensive profile gets extended in January, that's one fewer lever to pull.

Boston can still improve down the middle through trades, internal growth, or a different UFA tier, but the vibe around this plan changes. Fans were told to look ahead, and now they're watching names get crossed off in permanent ink.

The next milestone is what Boston does with its cap space and urgency, because patience is only a strategy when it doesn't turn into a habit.