Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who went to BU, is excited to join a team that he believes has a chance to contend.

GM Don Sweeney took a shot at staying respectable in the present by signing a few veterans to one-year deals.

Boston gives van Riemsdyk a one-year deal, while Lucic returns to the team he spent his first eight seasons with.

The move sends Taylor Hall and his $6 million cap hit for the next two seasons to the Blackhawks.

Goalie Linus Ullmark is the favorite for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie, but the goaltending tandem with Jeremy Swayman – a restricted free agent – might be a luxury the can no longer afford.

Commentary: Brad Marchand has grown into an insightful voice in the dressing room who is as good as anyone in articulating the state of the team.

Linus Ullmark, who did not play Game 7, could not answer whether he’d need offseason surgery until he met with the medical staff again.

After a record-setting regular season, Boston is ousted in the first round of the playoffs, as Florida completes a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

Commentary: Boston will go down as a colossal playoff flop if it doesn’t advance with a win over Florida.