The Bruins opened camp on Wednesday with a few things already taking shape, and one of the biggest came straight from Don Sweeney: Boston is planning to name a captain before Opening Night.
That news landed a little unexpectedly after the team’s photo shoot, which showed David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm each wearing an “A.” But Sweeney made it clear the leadership picture won’t stay unresolved for long.
By the end of camp, the Bruins will have a captain for the 2026-27 season, leaving the real suspense on whether the choice comes down to Pastrnak or McAvoy. Among fans, Pastrnak appears to be the popular pick.
Sweeney and second-year head coach Marco Sturm met with the media early Wednesday afternoon as the players reported to Warrior Ice Arena, with on-ice work set to begin Thursday. Sturm will divide the group into two separate skating sessions as Boston tries to build toward what it hopes will be a second straight Stanley Cup Playoff berth.
Another notable topic was Pavel Zacha, who is entering the final year of his current deal without an extension in place. Sweeney called Zacha a big part of what the Bruins are trying to accomplish and win, but there was no sign that a new contract is anywhere close. The longer that situation drags on, the more it starts to feel like Boston could eventually have to choose between moving him at the deadline or watching him leave in free agency.
Sweeney was also asked about Chris Kreider after the Anaheim Ducks put the veteran forward on waivers last week so he could become a free agent. Kreider, a Massachusetts native, reportedly wanted to return to the East and be closer to his family, but Sweeney would not commit one way or the other on whether Boston is in the mix.
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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 🡒]