The Bruins are finally on the ice this month, but one of the biggest questions around the team still hasn’t been answered: who wears the captain’s “C” next?
Marco Sturm weighed in on that vacancy last week on the Bruins Beat podcast with New England Hockey Journal’s Evan Marinofsky, and his point was simple enough - Boston’s next leader does not need to be a carbon copy of the men who came before him. Sturm, who has seen plenty of different leadership styles during his career, also singled out David Pastrnak and said his approach looks more like Alex Ovechkin’s than the styles of Zdeno Chara or Patrice Bergeron.
That’s one piece of Bruins business. Another player from the organization has already moved on to his next stop.
Philip Svedebäck, a 2021 fourth-round pick who was not signed by Boston after the August 15 deadline, has landed with the Wheeling Nailers on a one-year ECHL contract for the 2026-27 season. Svedebäck spent four years at Providence College and wanted to remain in North America as he begins his professional career two levels below the NHL.
Around the league, the expansion chatter is heating up in Houston. Mayor John Whitmire said his office has been in talks with the relevant parties about the city’s push for the 33rd franchise, and he made the case for Houston over Austin by pointing to the city’s relationship with its current pro teams.
The defenseman market also got a jolt from Colorado. Cale Makar signed an eight-year, $20.4 million extension on Friday, and he said he “never really wavered off the term,” with the deal giving the Avalanche front office some stability as it keeps building around its core.
That contract matters beyond Denver, too, because Carolina still has Alexander Nikishin to sign, and his situation now sits in the shadow of Makar’s new deal. Nikishin said at the end of July that he wants “more” than $8 million per year, and Rachel Barkley laid out what Makar’s extension could mean for the 24-year-old.
Minnesota’s ongoing Quinn Hughes discussions came up on KFAN, where Bill Guerin joined the station yesterday and talked through the contract negotiations. Dan Barreiro joked with him about either signing Hughes or resigning as POHO, but Guerin said he understands the concern, said negotiations are always difficult, and added that he wants Hughes in Minnesota and has a strong relationship with both Hughes and his agent.
Montreal has some contract work of its own to finish before the season begins. Arber Xhekaj remains unsigned, while Nick Suzuki called him an “important piece” on and off the ice.
The Canadiens could also move on Zachary Bolduc’s extension, and Eric Engels said he’d “be surprised if it wasn’t done before Sept. 16.”
In Pittsburgh, history is not exactly on the Penguins’ side if they’re thinking about a September trade. Dan Kingerski reviewed their September deals dating back to 1984 and found an ugly record, one that suggests any move this month would be a risky proposition.
And in Detroit, Viktor Arvidsson has his number. The Red Wings announced their offseason jersey numbers yesterday, and Arvidsson will wear No. 33 next season. He used that number in Nashville, Los Angeles and Edmonton before switching to No. 71 in Boston.
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 🡒]