Viktor Arvidsson and Marco Sturm may be heading toward a real summer split in Boston.

That is the tension around the Bruins right now.

Arvidsson is Boston's biggest unrestricted free agent up front, and after the season he just had, there is no reason to think the market will stay quiet if talks drag toward July 1.

He put up 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games in his first year with the Bruins.

For a team that still needs more offense, that kind of production is not easy to replace.

That is why this story matters more than a basic free-agent note.

If Boston cannot get Arvidsson signed, it is not only losing a useful winger. It is opening the door for teams that can offer him a cleaner role and maybe a better path.

Detroit stands out first.

The Red Wings still need more scoring depth, and Arvidsson fits the kind of top-nine winger who can help their power play and add pace without forcing a total lineup rewrite.

Boston cannot afford to lose Viktor Arvidsson without a backup plan

The Devils are the other obvious fit.

They need another winger who can play high in the lineup, and Arvidsson just showed he can still give top-six offense when healthy. Put him next to skill and that move becomes easy to understand.

Then there is Los Angeles.

That one has history behind it.

Arvidsson already knows the Kings, already played good hockey there, and they still look like a team that could use more offense in the middle of the lineup. Reunion logic is never enough by itself, but in this case it tracks.

For Boston, that is the warning.

If Arvidsson gets to market, this will not be a situation where the Bruins can casually circle back and expect the field to wait. There are clean fits out there, and they are not hard to find.

That puts pressure on Don Sweeney.

The Bruins already have enough roster questions going into this offseason. They do not need to create another one by letting one of their better scorers walk without a firm backup plan.

Arvidsson is 33, so Boston cannot lose its mind on term.

But it also cannot pretend a 25-goal winger is easy to swap out with bargain shopping and hope.

That is the balancing act here.

The Bruins should want him back, and they should know the danger if this drifts too long. Because once July opens, Detroit, New Jersey, and Los Angeles all look like teams that could make this a lot more uncomfortable for Boston.

Source : 3 NHL Landing Spots For Bruins' Viktor Arvidsson If He Leaves Boston