Navrin Mutter stayed in Boston's plans Thursday, and Marco Sturm now has another depth forward locked in for next season.

The Bruins signed Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension for 2026-27, keeping the 25-year-old in the organization after his late-season arrival.

It's not a move that shakes the NHL roster today. It does matter in Providence, where Boston needs signed bodies and a little more structure up front.

Mutter came over from the Nashville Predators near the trade deadline in the deal that sent Massimo Rizzo and Dalton Bancroft the other way.

He finished the regular season with Providence and scored 1 goal in 12 games. He was then held scoreless in 4 Calder Cup playoff games.

That stat line won't grab much attention. The value here is more about roster control, size, and giving the Bruins another forward option under contract.

Boston adds organizational depth, not instant offense

At the NHL level, the deal carries an $850,000 cap hit. That keeps the contract light and easy for Boston to manage through the summer.

Mutter is listed at 6-foot-3, and that alone gives him a lane to stay in the mix. Big forwards who can handle a checking role usually get longer looks in camp.

Before the trade, he had 1 assist in 27 games this season. He also posted 5 points in 40 games with Milwaukee in 2024-25, so this isn't a signing built on offensive output.

It's a depth bet. Boston is securing a player it already knows instead of reopening that slot later in the offseason.

That matters because the Bruins don't have many non-roster forwards already signed for next year. The extension gives the organization one less hole to fill in Providence.

The bigger picture is simple. Mutter still has to fight for his place, but this contract gives him another year to push for a role and gives Boston another controllable piece in the system.