Penguins' Eastern Conference rival places former first-round pick on waivers

Facing a roster crunch ahead of an upcoming California road trip, the Bruins made their first waiver move of the 2025-26 NHL season on Monday, with fourth-line forward and former first-rounder Johnny Beecher placed on waivers by the club.

Beecher's move to the waiver wire comes with the 6-foot-3 forward out of action for the last four games due to an upper-body injury, and he has played in just six contests through the first 20 games of the season.

In his six games this year, Beecher recorded just one goal on six shots, along with four blocks and seven hits, while averaging 10:24 of ice time per game.

Drafted by the Bruins with a first-round pick in 2019, Beecher has spent his entire pro career with the Black and Gold and has compiled an NHL resume that includes 11 goals and 22 points in 136 games with Boston.

Beecher was at his best during the 2023-24 NHL season, where he ultimately emerged as a constant fourth-line player and had seven goals and 10 points in 52 games.

But despite a hot start, Beecher struggled for the majority of the 2024-25 campaign, and began this year as a healthy scratch following Boston's offseason additions of Sean Kuraly, who is a lefty-shooting, faceoff, and penalty-kill specialist, much like Beecher, and the very physical Mikey Eyssimont.

If unclaimed within the next 24 hours, Beecher will report to the AHL's Providence Bruins and continue his season there.