Training camp is finally here for the Bruins, and the first on-ice session at Warrior Arena comes Thursday with split-squad practices - one group at 10 AM and the other at 11:45 AM.
The camp roster is loaded in the expected way: a blend of NHL regulars, younger players, and guys under contract with Providence. There are no PTO invites on the list, and there aren’t any real surprises.
Up front, the group includes Joey Abate, Attilio Biasca, Wyatt Bongiovanni, Riley Duran, Mikey Eyssimont, Brendan Gaunce, Morgan Geekie, James Hagens, Brian Halonen, Ivan Ivan, Tanner Jeannot, Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov, Sean Kuraly, Elias Lindholm, Dans Locmelis, Fraser Minten, Casey Mittelstadt, Navrin Mutter, David Pastrnak, JJ Peterka, Matt Poitras, Lukas Reichel, Jake Schmaltz, Alex Steeves, Kalle Vaisanen, and Pavel Zacha.
On defense, the roster features Jonathan Aspirot, Will Borgen, Frederic Brunet, Connor Clifton, Ty Gallagher, Max Guenette, Jordan Harris, Loke Johansson, Henri Jokiharju, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Tobie Paquette-Bisson, Billy Sweezey, Max Wanner, and Nikita Zadorov.
In goal, the Bruins have Luke Cavallin, Michael DiPietro, Max Lundgren, Jiri Patera, Jeremy Swayman, and Simon Zajicek.
That group won’t stay this big for long. The Bruins usually get a few full practices in before trimming the roster, and that process should start taking shape over the next few days.
Compared with last year, this camp ought to be a lot quieter. Jeremy Swayman’s contract situation dominated that one. This time, with Matt Poitras re-signing yesterday, there isn’t much hanging over the team.
Except, of course, the captaincy.
The Bruins have spent plenty of time circling the issue, first saying they weren’t in any hurry to name a captain and then saying at yesterday’s media availability that they plan to name one before the season. At this point, the whole thing is starting to feel a little overcooked.
David Pastrnak should be the captain. That part feels obvious.
He has been the Bruins’ most dependable player for years, the connective tissue between two different eras of the team, and the player they can lean on most when things get messy. He has scored 40 goals in five of the last seven seasons, and his all-around game has grown well beyond the old “goals and power play” label.
Leadership isn’t just about scoring, either. Pastrnak has shown consistency, work ethic, and the ability to set the tone by example. He’s also the team’s most visible player, has been a solid community presence for years, and spent much of last season as the guy skating over to speak with the refs.
Charlie McAvoy is also a strong option. He and Pastrnak have been around the organization for similar stretches and both have worn the alternate captain role at the international level. The main case for McAvoy over Pastrnak would come down to the idea that a captain should be a more gritty, physical player.
Wherever the Bruins land, they’ll be fine. It just feels like the simplest move is the right one.
As for the schedule, the Bruins open preseason on Sunday, when they host the Washington Capitals at TD Garden at 5 PM.
In Other News...
Bruins Just Made Their Matt Poitras Decision More Interesting
Matt Poitras is staying in the Bruins organization a little longer, and the new contract says plenty about where things stand with one of the clubs more intriguing young forwards. Boston signed the 2022 second-round pick to a one-year, two-way extension, a move that keeps him under team control through the 2026-27 season while leaving his immediate role flexible as the Bruins sort out their roster picture.
Poitras has already logged 69 NHL games with Boston, but last season also sent him back to Providence for a long stretch, a reminder that his path to a full-time job still isnt settled. With the Bruins 2026 training camp roster and preseason schedule now in view, his standing becomes one of the more interesting items to watch as camp approaches and the competition for spots starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Leadership Call Is Coming With One Huge Question Attached
Bostons leadership picture got a little clearer at training camp when general manager Don Sweeney said the Bruins will have a captain in place before the season begins. It is a notable step for a team that has leaned on a broader leadership group in recent years, and it puts an official end date on the waiting as camp opens and the roster starts taking shape.
The obvious name in the mix is David Pastrnak, who remains the expected front-runner, but the bigger takeaway is how smoothly the room appears to be handling the conversation. Charlie McAvoy said there would be no friction if the job goes another way, underscoring a collaborative approach that should make the decision easier to manage even if the choice itself still carries real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Face A Pavel Zacha Decision That Just Got Tougher
The Bruins next big roster conversation has shifted from the ice to the contract table, with Don Sweeney acknowledging that the club is still talking with Pavel Zachas representatives about an extension. Boston has valued Zacha as part of its center group, and the discussion now comes with the added pressure of a payroll picture that keeps tightening as salaries rise across the league.
Under the new NHL collective bargaining agreement, the Bruins no longer have the same long-term flexibility they once did with their own players, which changes how they can structure deals for Zacha and other centers. Sweeneys comments made clear that the team is weighing more than one contract issue at once, and the length of the offer may be just as important as the money when it comes to getting something done. [Read more 🡒]