Bruins avoid arbitration with Ian Mitchell, sign defenseman to 1-year contract

Ian Mitchell played in 35 games with the Blackhawks in 2022-23.The Bruins settled one of their three arbitration cases ahead of a potentially contentious hearing, with Boston announcing Monday that it signed defenseman Ian Mitchell to a one-year NHL contract with an annual cap hit of $775,000.

The 24-year-old blueliner was acquired by the Bruins last month from the Blackhawks in a trade centered on Taylor Hall. Mitchell was one of three Bruins to file for arbitration last week, joining goaltender Jeremy Swayman and forward Trent Frederic.

Although arbitration hearings are set to begin later this month, teams still have the ability to negotiate contracts between now and whenever said hearings…