The Bruins are making a notable change on the blue line ahead of Saturday night’s matchup with the Wild, and it comes with Mason Lohrei heading to the press box for the first time this season.
Frederic Brunet, who briefly looked like he might be the odd man out after Friday’s practice setup, is staying in the lineup. But Lohrei will sit, with Connor Clifton stepping in for him. It’s a sharp turn for a 25-year-old who opened the season well, even if the last couple of weeks have gone sideways.
The move also fits with how Marco Sturm has viewed Lohrei before. Last season, he was scratched twice, including in the postseason when he struggled against the Buffalo Sabres’ forecheck. With Lohrei’s play drifting back toward that version of himself, Sturm didn’t wait long to make another change.
Marco Sturm on the decision to scratch Mason Lohrei for the first time this season:
“We felt like the pair in general spent way too much time in our end. A lot of turnovers.”
Added: “He's not the young, young kid anymore, so it's a little bit higher standard now.” pic.twitter.com/bCrmZfWquK
- Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) November 14, 2026
Clifton now gets a real opening. With Lohrei out, the Bruins can line up their defense with the proper handedness instead of forcing Lohrei onto his off side just to keep both him and Brunet in the mix. That gives Sturm cleaner pairings and a look that should feel more natural.
There’s still a chance this is only a short stay in the press box. If Boston drops a second straight game on Saturday, Lohrei could be right back in for the next one. But if the Bruins beat one of the league’s hottest teams with Brunet and Clifton together, it would be tough to imagine Sturm rushing to change it again.
For Clifton, it’s a chance to make his case. For Lohrei, it’s a reminder that the leash is getting shorter.
It’s not ideal for Lohrei, either. After the way he started the season, getting scratched again is a setback, and it raises questions about whether he’s slipping back into the inconsistency that hurt him before. The Bruins had reason to believe he’d found his footing, but that confidence looks a little shakier now.
And if Lohrei stays out for a stretch while Boston keeps looking for ways to improve, his name could surface in trade talk again. That was part of the noise around him last season, and it may not be gone for good.
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