The are hoping to build off last year’s somewhat surprising playoff appearance and demonstrate that they are a team that has a legitimate chance to fight for the Stanley Cup. The Bruins exceeded expectations last year because many observers thought they were in the early phases of a down cycle, as evidenced by their last-place finish in 2024-25.
However, the B’s quickly dismissed those thoughts because new head coach Marco Sturm had breathed new life into the team, and they had a strong core with , Chalie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. They also received solid contributions from several unknowns/newcomers, including Marat Khustnutdinov, Fraser Minten and Casey Mittlestadt were solid contributors.
in the offseason from the Utah Mammoth and they are expecting significant production from rookie forward James Hagens. The contributions of these two could go a long way towards determining the ceiling the Bruins will have in the upcoming season.
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The Bruins have to determine where Hagens fits this season — either at center or wing — and Peterka has to show he fits in on the first line with Pastrnak and center Pavel Zacha.
The moves the Bruins have to make in training camp have to do with determining their in-house positioning. In addition to assessing Peterka, can Minten move up and play the role of the team’s No. 2 center? Can Morgan Geekie continue his development? Does defenseman Mason Lohrei have a future with this team?
Sturm has to figure out his team’s best alternatives, and while all are important decisions, none are major moves. However, general manager Don Sweeney could be considering one trade that could be earth-shattering.
Depth chart shows a big donut at the center position
Zacha is an overachiever who has been a mainstay in the Boston lineup for the last four seasons. He is coming off a 30-goal season and he plays with maximum effort on an every-night basis. However, is Zacha truly a No. 1 center? He is clearly productive, but he does not compare with the top-10 centers in the league. He is probably a better fit as a No. 2 center.
Elias Lindholm has not been anything close to a top-level center since coming over from the Vancouver Canucks. The 31-year-old scored 17 goals and 30 assists in 2024-25 and he followed that with 17 goals and 31 assists last year. That demonstrates consistency, but it is also a major disappointment. The Bruins had their eye on the 2021-22 season when Lindholm scored 42-40-82 for the Calgary Flames.
Those kind of numbers are out of reach for Lindholm at this point, and if Bruins management doesn’t believe that, they are just fooling themselves.
So, what the Bruins need to do is make a bold move. Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings still wants to be traded, and while the Bruins are not on his list of desired teams, he would be a perfect fit as the No. 1 center. That would allow them to move Zacha to the No. 2 center position.
Sweeney would need to put together a solid package for the Red Wings. The back-channel negotiations would have to convince Larkin that going to Boston would be the right move for him.
It would be a huge deal and it is unlikely. However, it could be one that brings about huge rewards.
Early-season blue-line issues
When the Bruins concluded their first-round loss to the Buffalo Sabres in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, they were left with a serious issue.Top defenseman lost his cool following an entanglement with feisty Zach Benson of the Sabres. McAvoy reached the boiling point after he said Benson slew-footed him. With the series about to end in defeat, McAvoy slashed at Benson with a tw0-handed swing that resulted in a game misconduct and a 6-game suspension by the NHL.
McAvoy is regretful of the move, but the team is going to have to play the first six games of the season without him. It is going to be up to Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Connor Clifton to hold the defense together.
That trio will be joined by former New York Ranger Will Borgen, Mason Lohrei and Henri Jokiharju. They are all question marks.
The return of McAvoy should allow the Bruins to regain their defensive punch, but their first six games could be quite risky without him.
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