The Bruins are headed into training camp next week with a roster crunch that could force some uncomfortable choices on the blue line, and Mason Lohrei’s name is once again floating near the center of the conversation.
Boston opens the season on Sept. 29 against the New York Rangers at TD Garden, and second-year head coach Marco Sturm has more defensemen than spots. That means the Bruins will have to sort out who stays, who goes to the Providence Bruins in the AHL, who might land on waivers and who could become trade bait.
Lohrei is one of the names drawing the most attention. The youngster has been tied to trade speculation for a while, and Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report thinks that possibility is growing.
“The Bruins may not be shopping Lohrei, but they could be open to trade offers. They also have a crowded blue line this season, which could make him a trade chip to address other roster issues, such as depth at center,'' wrote Richardson.
That center issue is the other major piece of the puzzle. Some fans want Frederic Brunet to win a job on defense, and the Bruins will also be without Charlie McAvoy for the first six games because of his suspension for slashing Zach Benson at the end of Game 6 of last season’s playoff series.
Even with those moving parts, Boston still has a clear need down the middle. If the Bruins decide to add another center, Lohrei could become part of the solution in a trade. But before that happens, there’s another big question hanging over the roster: what Boston plans to do with Pavel Zacha.
Zacha is set to become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, and if the Bruins do not view him as a long-term fit, keeping him could get expensive, with a price tag in the $8 million to $9 million range. That would be a hefty commitment, especially with Fraser Minten and Elias Lindholm already making more than $7 million apiece.
Lohrei is in the final season of a contract with a $3.2 million AAV, and he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights. Those situations have not always gone smoothly with Don Sweeney in the past.
For now, though, the more realistic expectation is that Lohrei starts camp in Boston. In fact, it would be stunning if he is not on the Opening Night roster. A trade can’t be ruled out entirely, but moving him right now still feels like a long shot.
In Other News...
Bruins Get An Early Look At A Prospect Ready To Push Forward
The Bruins have their prospects back in the building this week at Warrior Ice Arena, where Providence players and invitees are going through rookie camp before heading to Buffalo for games against Sabres prospects. It is a familiar September setup, but one with a little more intrigue around Dans Locmelis, who already has NHL experience and has added international play to his resume as he tries to keep pushing his way up the organizational ladder.
Providence coach Trent Whitfield has spoken highly of Locmelis even after the shoulder surgery that interrupted his momentum, and the next few days should offer the first real chance to see where he stands now. He is set to get game action against Buffalo and then carry that into the shortened training camp, which makes this an early test worth watching for a player the Bruins clearly view as more than just another camp body. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Camp Opens With Two Leadership Questions That Could Matter Fast
As Bruins camp gets rolling, one of the quieter storylines around Warrior Ice Arena is the leadership picture. Boston is weighing whether to name a captain before the 2026-27 season, and the early read is that the choice will come down to David Pastrnak or Charlie McAvoy, two players who already sit at the center of everything the club does on and off the ice.
McAvoy has already made clear there would be no friction if the decision goes another way, while coach Marco Sturm said the process is still ongoing and will be revisited once the full group is together. Another subplot worth watching is Matthew Poitras, who was on the ice for captains' practice even though he remains unsigned, leaving his status with the organization as one more item the Bruins need to sort through as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Interest In Chris Kreider Could Force A Tough Decision
Chris Kreiders free-agent market is moving into the part of the calendar where preference starts to matter as much as opportunity. His agent, Matt Keator, said the veteran winger is weighing his options and hopes to settle on his next NHL team within the next few days, with Kreider leaning toward the Eastern Conference and a club that still has playoff potential. For Boston, that keeps the conversation alive for a player whose track record and style would fit a team looking to add more finishing punch.
The Bruins have been mentioned as a possible landing spot because they reached the playoffs and have a roster that could use another established scorer, but there has been no public sign of negotiations or a decision. The next step will be figuring out whether Boston can make the fit work, both on the ice and under the cap, and whether Kreider sees enough there to make it his choice before the market tightens further. [Read more 🡒]