The Bruins are into the real work now.
Training camp in Brighton opened last week, and after a 3-2 preseason win over Washington, Marco Sturm’s group is heading into a stretch where the roster picture should start coming into focus. With camp cuts already underway and exhibition games piling up fast, this week is about two things: who stays in the mix, and who starts sliding toward Providence.
Don Sweeney has already begun trimming the roster after Providence opened its American Hockey League camp, sending a batch of young prospects and minor-league veterans down to the AHL. That leaves a smaller group of bubble players fighting for the spots that still matter, and the pressure is obvious.
Matthew Poitras and Mason Lohrei are right in the middle of it. Both got top-four and top-six minutes in the exhibition opener, and both are trying to turn that usage into something more permanent instead of bouncing between Boston and the minors. James Hagens is another name drawing attention, with the top 2025 draft pick showing poise in early scrimmages and positioning himself for a longer preseason look.
Down the lineup, the battle is just as tight. The Bruins still have energy roles to sort out on the third and fourth lines, and players such as Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Lukas Reichel are all in the mix for those limited depth jobs.
The encouraging part for Boston is that camp opened with the roster in good health. Last spring’s playoff exit left the team dealing with a long list of injury concerns, but several core pieces are now back and available.
Nikita Zadorov is participating without restrictions after working through a torn knee ligament in the postseason and avoiding surgery. Charlie McAvoy has fully recovered from the fractured hand he suffered late last spring, and he logged top minutes in Sunday’s opener alongside Mason Lohrei.
Elias Lindholm spent the summer addressing a back issue that affected him last season, and he is fully active in camp drills as he looks to anchor the top two lines. David Pastrnak, dealing with a groin strain, and Hampus Lindholm, coming back from a foot fracture, both passed their physicals last week and are on track for standard preseason workloads.
The schedule now turns to a busy four-day run, with three exhibition games on tap between Sept. 21 and 27, 2026. The Bruins will see Philadelphia twice in a home-and-home set, first Tuesday at TD Garden and then Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, before wrapping the week Friday at Washington’s Capital One Arena. Expect plenty of lineup turnover across those games, with veterans likely sitting out at least one of the road back-to-back contests and fringe players getting one more shot to make a case before the regular season prep begins next week.
Bruins schedule for Sept. 21-27, 2026:
Tuesday, Sept. 22 vs. Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden, 7:00 PM ET
Thursday, Sept. 24 at Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena, 7:00 PM ET
Friday, Sept. 25 at Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena, 7:00 PM ET
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 🡒]