Bruins hockey is back, and the first preseason look already gave Don Sweeney a few things to chew on.
With opening night sitting one week away, Boston’s camp battle is starting to take shape. The Bruins have more forwards and defensemen than they have spots to hand out, a captain still to be named, and a handful of young players forcing their way into the conversation.
After one preseason game, nobody has locked up a job or played themselves out of one. But a few guys made it clear they belong in the mix.
James Hagens, Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov gave Boston speed and energy as the “kid line,” and there were moments where that group looked like it could become something real. It wasn’t always clean, but the upside was obvious. Hagens in particular drew plenty of attention and capped things off with a beautiful shootout winner.
Matt Poitras also stood out, and in a different way. He looked stronger, moved the puck with more purpose and made quicker, more decisive reads. That kind of shift matters at this stage of camp, especially with roster spots still up for grabs.
In net, Michael DiPietro made a strong early case with a 30-save performance. He was especially steady when the game got tight, including overtime, where he looked composed under pressure.
Joey Abate made his presence felt too. He was physical, relentless and impossible to ignore, the kind of player who forces his name into the conversation whether the scoreboard likes it or not.
On defense, the numbers game is already looming, and Boston’s competition there figures to get tighter over the final three preseason games. That’s where the real pressure starts to build. The Bruins still have young players who need to prove they can keep this momentum going, and the coaching staff has some hard calls coming.
Charlie McAvoy also flashed strongly before his six-game suspension, giving Boston another reminder of how much he matters when he’s on the ice.
Beyond the Bruins’ own roster squeeze, the bigger picture isn’t getting any easier. The Atlantic Division looks even tougher, and the sense is that internal improvement alone may not be enough to separate Boston from the pack. The division is brutal, and the Bruins are trying to sort themselves out at the same time everyone else is loading up.
There’s also plenty of league-wide noise swirling around the preseason, from the Connor Hellebuyck trade drama to Dylan Larkin’s situation in Detroit, along with major changes under the NHL’s new CBA.
For Boston, though, the focus is simple. Three preseason games remain, and the fight for jobs is only getting sharper.
The kids have made a first impression. Now they have to back it up.
In Other News...
Dorchesters Kevin Hayes Is Calling Time On A Memorable Hockey Career
Kevin Hayes is stepping away from the game after a long run that took him from Dorchester to Boston College and then across the NHL. The 34-year-old forward announced his retirement from professional hockey after a brief five-game stint with AK Bars Kazan in the KHL, closing a career that included stops with multiple NHL teams and a place on the areas long list of accomplished hockey players.
Across 805 NHL games, Hayes scored 185 goals and finished with 446 points, production that reflected both his skill and his staying power in a demanding league. His retirement statement pointed to physical limitations that made it impossible to keep performing at his best, a difficult but familiar end to a career that had already given him a memorable college chapter and a substantial pro rsum. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Captain Mystery May Have Just Been Spoiled In A Bizarre Way
The Bruins are still playing coy about who will wear the captains letter next season, but the direction has been clear enough to keep the conversation going around camp. General manager Don Sweeney and coach Marco Sturm have both confirmed there will be a captain for 2026-27, even if they have not put a name to the job just yet, leaving the teams leadership picture hanging as preseason approaches.
A strange little detour on social media may have added to the intrigue. Tottenham Hotspur posted a clip showing Xavi Simons exchanging jerseys with David Pastrnak, a moment that naturally set off speculation that Pastrnak is the one set to be handed the role. The Bruins are expected to reveal the captaincy before their preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers, so the wait should not last much longer. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Be Near A Tough Call On Matthew Poitras
Matthew Poitras has spent enough time around the Bruins to make his name feel like part of the conversation, but the next stretch of preseason could force a difficult reckoning. Around the league, clubs are already sorting through players who may need to pass through waivers, and Poitras has surfaced in that group as Boston weighs how much room there really is for him after his recent slide between the NHL and AHL.
For the Bruins, the issue is less about talent than fit, and that makes it a tricky call. Poitras still profiles as the kind of young player another team could circle if he becomes available, which is why this situation matters beyond camp inventory. Boston will have to decide whether to keep trying to carve out a place for him or accept that the roster may no longer have a clean path forward. [Read more 🡒]