There are 47 days left until the Boston Bruins’ home opener, and the betting markets still aren’t giving them much love.
FanDuel has the Bruins at the very bottom of the East, with the longest odds to make the playoffs and to win the division, conference, and Stanley Cup. The book has Boston at +12500 to win it all, which ranks 28th in the NHL.
The consensus across major sportsbooks isn’t much kinder, with the Bruins generally sitting near the bottom of the division. Their point totals are being set between 86.5 and 89.5, a sharp drop from last season’s 100-point finish that made them the top wild card in the East.
The Senators grabbed the second wild card with 99 points.
Around the league, one of the more interesting summer storylines is how many moves have flown under the radar. Sportsnet’s David Morassutti put together a list of 12 acquisitions that might end up mattering more than the headlines they generated.
There was also a major development from Hockey Canada, which said in a release that it accepted an independent appeal board’s recommended continued suspensions from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs for the five players acquitted in last year’s sexual assault trial. Alex Formenton is eligible for immediate reinstatement. Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, and Michael McLeod will each become eligible on November 10 of different years: Foote in 2026, Hart in 2027, Dube in 2028, and McLeod in 2030.
Elsewhere in the hockey world, Kirill Marchenko remains a name to watch. NHLTradeRumors.me noted that Kevin Weekes said at the draft he was not going to extend in Columbus, while Jeff Marek has said it could come down to one thing: how good the Blue Jackets are next season. If Columbus struggles, the 26-year-old could try to force his way out.
Detroit has its own contract watch going on, too. NHL contracts signed since the July 1 window opened now sit at 301, and Patrick Kane is the only Red Wings UFA to land a deal so far. The other four, including JVR, are still waiting.
In the Metro, the talent level has shifted enough to make the grades worth a look. Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski handed out evaluations for all eight teams in the division, and the range included two A+ marks, an A, and an F.
And in Edmonton, the offseason conversation continues to circle around Babcock. TSN recapped the Oilers’ summer moves, including the reaction from the stars, the addition of Milton native Ryan Shea, the move out of Darnell Nurse, and some of Babcock’s comments on his new role.
In Other News...
Bruins Have 3 Contracts That Could Shape Next Season
David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Jeremy Swayman give the Bruins three very different kinds of value as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season, and each contract helps explain why the roster remains built around a few carefully chosen core pieces. Pastrnaks $11.25 million annual hit still looks reasonable for a winger who can drive scoring and create for others, while Zachas $4.75 million average annual value stands out even more after a career season that boosted his standing within the lineup.
Swaymans $8.25 million deal also fits the same theme, especially for a goalie whose price compares favorably with the market around the league. The wrinkle for Boston is Zacha, whose future with the team remains uncertain even as his contract continues to look like one of the better bargains on the roster, leaving the Bruins with one more decision to sort through as they map out what next season will look like. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Fans May Not Agree On Michael Buntings Fit In Boston
The Bruins have kept their offseason relatively quiet, with Connor Clifton re-signed and goaltender Michael DiPietro moving up into the organizations picture. That leaves the forward group largely intact in the bottom six, but it has also left room for the kind of low-risk, depth-minded addition Boston often weighs as training camp approaches.
Michael Bunting is one name that fits that discussion. The unrestricted free agents production has trended down since leaving Toronto, but he could still appeal to the Bruins as a professional tryout option and a reserve forward who might give them another call-up possibility. For a team that already has most of its depth chart mapped out, the question is less about need than whether Buntings profile is enough to carve out a place in Bostons mix. [Read more 🡒]