Morgan Geekie was on the wrong end of hockey business two summers ago. But, while he didn’t put it in so many words, the B’s winger has learned that with the business of hockey, what goes around comes around.

In the summer of 2023, the Seattle Kraken surprised many in the hockey world, including Geekie, by deciding to not qualify the restricted free agent, making him an unrestricted free agent the day before the July 1 opening bell. Geekie had been an effective bottom six player for the Kraken, especially when the second-year expansion club made a surprising run to the playoffs and knocked off the Colorado Avalanche the season before.

But the Kraken’s trash turned into the Bruins’ treasure. On the first day of free agency, the B’s signed Geekie to a two-year deal worth $2 million per season. After a career-high 17-goal season last year, Geekie has obliterated that personal best, hitting the 30-goal plateau on Tuesday night in New Jersey and proving to be a more-than-capable running mate for David Pastrnak.

Now Geekie will be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer and, needless to say, he holds a few more cards than he did two summers ago. His past experience in Seattle has made him more of a clear-eyed pragmatist than some 26-year-old players might be.

“It was huge. The way things ended there (in Seattle), it kind of caught me by surprise and to be in the position I am now, maybe it was a ‘meant to be’ kind of thing,” said Geekie after Wednesday’s practice in Brighton. “But it definitely gets you prepared for those kinds of situations. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s a long summer and lots can happen in a few weeks. Lots can happen in a few hours and I’ll let things play out the way they do and just take it one day at a time.”

His output this season has put him into an enviable situation of being able to more than double his current salary. And if the B’s don’t see it that way immediately, there’s always arbitration that could settle it.

But while Geekie is a confident player who has been a bit hardened by past experience, he’s not eager to go to arbitration, a process that is by nature contentious and one that left goalie Jeremy Swayman with some hard feelings two summers ago.

“Nobody wants to do that,” said Geekie. “I think it’s a tough situation for both parties involved. I’d love for it not to get to that point because that means that negotiations are a little too far apart. But, yeah, it’s a business and I think both sides have to make a decision. I have that right and I’d love not to exercise it. But sometimes, it’s a business, unfortunately.”

The fact that GM Don Sweeney did not move Geekie during his trade deadline fire sale gives the impression that there’s some hope a deal can be worked out that will keep him here, at least for another year or two with an arbitration award. And let’s face it, this team is in no position to jettison top-six wingers that they have under their control.

The caveat in Geekie’s production explosion is that fact he’s had the good fortune of playing much of the season with Pastrnak, who set him up for his milestone goal in Jersey. He’ll readily admit that. But it’s not like all his goals have not been tap-ins. He has a heavy shot, both on wristers and slapshots, and he’s scored on some one-timers that not everyone in the NHL can pull off on a regular basis. He allso goes to the top of the crease, which not every player is willing to do.

Hitting 30 goals has rightly imbued Geekie with another level of self-confidence.

“I think any time you reach a milestone like that, it’s something that you’ll cherish and something that they can’t take away from you,” said Geekie. “I think my game’s evolved, this year especially. and even since I’ve gotten to Boston it’s evolved and I’ve taken even more steps this year. I’m just going to try to keep growing and keep adding to my game and try to be an even more complete player.”

While Geekie said he’d be willing to fit in anywhere, whether that’s riding shotgun with Pastrnak or in more of a checking role that attracted the Bruins to him in the first place, he does feel his working relationship with Pastrnak can still grow.

“Dave’s a great player, obviously. A hundred points in this league is not something to shake your head at and to do it three times in a row speaks to the kind of player he is,” said Geekie. “But from my point of view, we read off each other pretty well and I just try to find spots to get open for him. I think that’s a skill I’ve grown over these past months, just trying to learn to play with him, just where he likes to be and where he likes to put pucks. That’s just a skill you’ve got to learn. I’ve been fortunate enough to play with him enough to figure those things out. And we’ll grow even more together, for sure.”

As for his next contract, he said he’ll lean on his agent to devise a plan and work it out. But he made it clear he wants to stay here.

“I know there was a lot of talk going into the deadline and what was going to happen with me. I was just happy to stick around for another month and half and if that’ as long as I’m here that’s what it’s going to be,” said Geekie. “But I love it here, like I’ve said before. I’d love to stay as long as I can. But it’s a long summer and it’s a business the end of the day. I thank the organization for the opportunity and I’d love to be a part of it moving forward.”…

Pavel Zacha (maintenance) and Nikita Zadorov (family matter) did not practice. Interim coach Joe Sacco expects Zacha to be available for Thursday’s game against Chicago but Zadorov’s return is questionable. Zadorov had to leave the west coast trip a couple of weeks ago because of a family matter and missed the game in Anaheim before rejoining the team on trip finale in Detroit.

Also, the Providence Bruins announced that head coach Ryan Mougenel will be away from the team temporarily to deal with a family matter as well. Assistant Trent Whitfield will take over the duties in Mougenel’s absence….

Joonas Korpisalo is the Bruins’ nominee for the Masterton Trophy, given to the player that best exemplifies the qualities of “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey” as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. All of the 32 teams nominate a player and the winner is named with the NHL Award winners.

Korpisalo, who struggled through a terrible year with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24 after signing a long-term deal, arrived in Boston in the Linus Ullmark trade and worked hard to get his game back. At times he helped keep the B’s flagging playoffs alive when Swayman struggled to find his game.