The Boston Bruins have finalized a two-year contract extension with restricted free agent defenseman Mason Lohrei, setting his average annual value at $3.2 million. This agreement was part of a broader negotiation involving multiple restricted free agents, including players such as Morgan Geekie, Johnny Beecher, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Jakub Lauko. The Bruins aim to retain Lohrei as they anticipate his continued growth and contribution on their defense line.
Lohrei’s Impactful Initial Seasons and Role Development
Mason Lohrei, drafted 58th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, began his pro career after two seasons at Ohio State, fully stepping into the NHL during the 2023-24 season. Standing 6-foot-5, Lohrei split time between the Boston Bruins and their AHL affiliate, Providence, playing 41 games with Boston and 21 with Providence that season. By the 2024-25 campaign, Lohrei had established himself as a full-time NHL player, appearing in 77 regular-season games for Boston, reflecting the team’s confidence in his abilities.
During this period, Lohrei showed notable promise as an offensive defenseman. He seized significant power-play opportunities, especially following injuries to key players Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. His performance on the power play earned him 16 points, second only to David Pastrnak among Bruins skaters. Overall, Lohrei led the Bruins’ defensemen with 28 assists and 33 points at just 24 years old, highlighting his offensive upside and potential in the team’s blue line group.
Challenges in Defensive Play and Areas for Improvement
Despite his offensive strengths, Lohrei faced challenges defensively, with his plus-minus rating at minus-43—the lowest in the NHL. This statistic largely reflects frequent turnovers and inconsistent defensive positioning, especially within the Bruins’ defensive zone. The Bruins’ need to rely on Lohrei as a top-pair defenseman following McAvoy’s injury during the Four Nations Face-Off intensified these issues, exposing Lohrei to matchups against opponents’ top forwards unpreparedly.
In the last 25 games of the 2024-25 season, Lohrei’s plus-minus dipped to minus-31, indicating struggles in containment and defensive responsibility under pressure. Turnovers were a recurring problem throughout his NHL tenure, occasionally leading to costly goals against Boston. The team likely sees these issues as areas for Lohrei to address as he matures, holding off on offering a long-term contract until his defensive reliability improves. At 24, however, optimism remains high for Lohrei’s ability to refine his game and become a dependable top-four defenseman.
Prospects for Lohrei’s Role and Future Contributions with the Bruins
Mason Lohrei’s career is marked by promising early development, especially on offense, where he has maintained a half-point-per-game average as a defenseman—an achievement that stands out for a young player. With McAvoy and Lindholm expected to return to full health, Lohrei should transition into a second-pair role more suited to his current experience and skillset. His role will likely involve quarterbacking the second power-play unit and logging significant minutes alongside Boston’s other defensemen.
The recently signed contract indicates that the Bruins view Lohrei as a key part of their defensive future and expect his continued improvement over the next two seasons. If he can shore up his defensive weaknesses, Lohrei is positioned to earn a more substantial contract extension during the 2027 offseason, signaling the team’s long-term commitment to his development and impact.
“He was able to capitalize on this elevated role. His 16 power-play points trailed only David Pastrnak for the most on the team.”
—Source
“His minus-43 plus/minus was the worst of anyone in the NHL; this is largely due to careless turnovers around the ice and sloppy defensive play in the Bruins’ half.”
—Source
“In the final 25 games of the 2024-25 season, Lohrei’s plus/minus was minus-31; he was clearly outmatched when having to go up against opposing teams’ top players.”
—Source
“Stepping into the NHL and averaging a half point per game as a defenseman is nothing to scoff at.”
—Source
“The deal the Bruins just signed him to reflects that role, and the team is certainly expecting him to grow as a player over the next two seasons.”
—Source