September is bringing the Bruins back into focus, and a few storylines are already worth watching as camp approaches.
The biggest one right now is James Hagens. The former first-round pick at No. 7 overall got a taste of the NHL last season, appearing in a handful of regular-season games and the first three games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. Then came the stretch that stuck with him: he was scratched for the final three games.
For Hagens, that experience landed hard.
“It really shows you how hard it is,” Hagens said. “You can’t take a day off.
It’s not easy at all. So, it’s being prepared, especially now using this time in the offseason just to put yourself in the right opportunity to try to make the team.”
That’s the kind of answer Bruins fans want to hear heading into training camp. Hagens sounds locked in, and the next question is where he fits if he does make the roster - center or wing remains open.
There’s also a real sense of the calendar turning now, because hockey is back this month. The Bruins’ September schedule is packed with the usual ramp-up: Rookie Camp opens at Warrior Ice Arena on Sept. 11, then the Prospects Showcase takes place in Western New York in Buffalo on Sept. 13 and 14.
Training camp officially begins on Sept. 16.
The preseason starts almost immediately after that. Boston opens on Sept. 20 at TD Garden against the Washington Capitals, then hosts the Philadelphia Flyers before heading to Philadelphia on Sept.
- The Bruins finish the exhibition slate one night later on the road against the Capitals.
The regular season arrives fast, too. Boston opens at home against the New York Rangers on Sept. 29 at TD Garden, with the Carolina Hurricanes kicking things off for the league and raising the Stanley Cup banner against the Florida Panthers.
One other name to keep on the radar: Connor Hellebuyck. The Winnipeg Jets goalie confirmed through his agent last week that he has requested a trade, and Buffalo has been mentioned as a possible destination. That matters at least a little for Boston because the Bruins visit Winnipeg on Oct. 2 for their first road game of the 2026-27 season.
In Other News...
Bruins Forward Battle Just Got Tougher After Rangers Move
The Bruins are still sorting out their forward group as camp inches toward the season start, with James Hagens, Matthew Poitras, Mikey Eyssimont and Alex Steeves all part of the conversation for available spots. Boston has been weighing depth, upside and fit as it tries to settle a roster that still has some real decisions to make up front.
One path is now off the table after the Rangers grabbed Eeli Tolvanen in free agency, closing the door on a player who would have added another interesting layer to the Bruins competition. Tolvanen is coming off a career-high 23 goals in 2024-25, even if his shooting efficiency dipped the next year, and his name had at least lingered as a possible option for Boston while the club looked for more help among its forwards. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Have Found A New Roster Wild Card Up Front
The Bruins made a quiet but interesting addition up front by bringing in Ivan Ivan, a 24-year-old forward who arrives with limited NHL experience but some real intrigue from his time in the AHL. Boston sees him as a depth option who can move around the lineup, the kind of versatile piece teams often need over the grind of a long season.
Ivans appeal comes from the sense that there may still be more to unlock after his work with the Colorado Eagles, where he showed he could contribute in a heavier role. For a Bruins team always looking for cost-effective help and lineup flexibility, he fits the profile of a player worth keeping an eye on as camp and roster decisions unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Rookie Camp Puts A Murky Defense Battle Into Focus
As rookie camp approaches, the Bruins are getting a first real look at how their defense depth is taking shape behind the NHL roster. The camp is expected to center on young blueliners in the organization, and for a team that has been sorting through its future on the back end, this is a useful checkpoint. It is also one of the first chances to see which prospects are moving forward and which ones might need more time before they can push for more serious opportunities.
The roster picture is a little murky because several of Bostons more intriguing defense prospects are unavailable, either still playing NCAA hockey or already moved up to Providence or Maine. That leaves the camp spotlight on a smaller group of names and makes the evaluation even more important for the Bruins staff. For a franchise trying to map out its next wave of defensemen, this week should at least help clarify who is gaining ground in the pipeline. [Read more 🡒]