BOSTON — For six years, Jonathan Aspirot spent his time within the AHL ready for a name to the NHL that by no means got here.
After spending time with the Belleville Senators and the Calgary Wranglers, Aspriot hit the free agent market on July 1, 2025 and didn’t wait lengthy for a contract.
The Bruins signed the defenseman to a one-year, two-way deal.
Aspirot started the 12 months in Windfall, however was referred to as up by the Bruins in October after Hampus Lindholm was positioned on injured reserve. He’s been a mainstay within the lineup since, and was rewarded for his robust play Sunday with a two-year contract extension — his first NHL contract.
“It means the whole lot,” Aspirot stated previous to Boston’s 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. “I couldn’t say no to a deal like that.”
Aspirot, who revealed he had just a few different gives over the summer season, made it tough to be despatched again right down to Windfall. Going into Sunday’s sport the defenseman has two targets and an help. He’s additionally logged 42 hits and 29 blocked pictures whereas amassing a team-high plus-15.
The 26-year-old added 4 extra blocked pictures and one other hit to his totals in Sunday’s win, and have some huge shifts for the Bruins because the offense may solely muster up one purpose.
Aspirot has been dependable since his call-up, filling in for Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy of their absences through the season.
“He took benefit of the chance, the chance of a brand new coach coming in and the brand new system we play. I feel it simply match him completely,” coach Marco Sturm stated. “I’m simply very blissful. He’s change into a nice shock for this hockey staff. We all know it, the gamers realize it and I’m glad we locked him up for 2 extra years.”
The Bruins have discovered loads of worth in Aspirot this season with him taking part in on his pure left facet and his proper facet. He’s been an ideal slot in Sturm’s system.
“I feel he’s a man who’s higher with out the puck as a result of he closes, and he can skate and retains issues easy, blocks a variety of pictures,” Sturm stated. “So he does all these issues we form of had been on the lookout for. He’s fast sufficient and robust sufficient. You could’t educate.”
Aspirot has performed nicely when paired with Boston’s prime defensemen together with McAvoy, who he noticed time with on Sunday.
“He’s been superior. He’s been a heck of a narrative, only a nice man. I’m having fun with taking part in with him,” McAvoy stated. “Earlier than I received to play with him, I used to be having fun with watching him are available in. I’m simply so happy with him.”
After 297 video games within the AHL, it paid off for Aspirot. His endurance was praised by McAvoy.
“I do know a variety of guys that performed a variety of years within the AHL and so they had been fast to go to Europe or someplace else,” he stated. “And that’s a man that simply confirmed up and continued to get higher. I don’t suppose there’s any doubt in anyone that’s watched him, the appreciation we have now for him in right here, that he’s an NHL hockey participant.”
