The NHL offseason has settled into its quiet stretch, but there’s still plenty moving beneath the surface. The biggest free-agent swings are in the rearview mirror now, and the conversation has shifted to injuries, offer sheets, trade chatter and coaching moves.
For the Bruins, the picture after the first week-plus of free agency is simple enough: they have bodies. A lot of them.
Boston’s updated depth chart now includes 17 forwards and 10 defensemen, with more changes still possible before camp opens. That kind of inventory gives the Bruins options, and it also leaves the door open for another move or two if the front office decides the roster still needs trimming or tweaking.
Providence also got a date on the calendar. The P-Bruins announced their home opener yesterday, and the full schedule is set to follow today. They’ll begin the season against the Utica Comets (NJD) on October 2.
On the mailbag front, questions are still coming in, and this is the final call. The first part will run today, with a second installment coming tomorrow because there were enough submissions to split things up. Any question that doesn’t get answered in either piece - as long as it hasn’t already been covered - will get a response in the replies.
Around the league, the biggest injury news belongs to Connor Bedard. Chicago Hockey Now reported that Bedard was hurt at a summer skate in Vancouver and will miss the start of the 2026-27 regular season.
The 20-year-old is expected back in about four months. Jack Bushman’s reporting includes the rink feed showing Bedard lose his balance and go into the boards.
There was also a notable rumor out of Colorado. Elliotte Friedman reported, without confirming it, that the Avalanche may have taken a run at Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Aarif Deen broke down what that kind of pursuit could mean.
Utah made its own move by holding onto Barrett Hayton. The Mammoth matched the Devils’ one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet, keeping him in Salt Lake City for this season. New Jersey loses a middle-six forward in the process, but the Devils still have cap flexibility as Sunny Mehta handles his first season in charge.
Philadelphia’s offer-sheet storyline is still waiting for its next chapter, but the Flyers’ move is already clear enough. They sent in a five-year, $90 million offer sheet for 21-year-old center Leo Carlsson, and Will James wrote that it reflects Danny Briere’s push to bring the rebuild to an end.
Detroit, meanwhile, is still stuck on the Dylan Larkin situation. The Red Wings and their captain have not moved forward after Larkin’s trade request, and Max Smith points to the biggest complication: Larkin’s three-team trade list, which makes it harder for Detroit to maximize a return for its No. 1 center.
Montreal added a familiar name to its staff, hiring Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach. Lalonde spent three seasons as the Red Wings’ head coach from 2022-24 and finished 89-86-23.
And in a separate note, coachpapas posted a tribute on 𝕏 to Danny Ventura, writing: “Rest in peace, Danny Ventura. His dedication to Massachusetts high school sports will forever be unmatched, and his passion for what he did was evident, especially to the high school athlete.”
In Other News...
Bruins Costly Offseason Signing Is Suddenly Sparking A Very Different Debate
When Boston signed Tanner Jeannot to a five-year, $17 million deal, the move was framed as the kind of bet that could swing from savvy to expensive in a hurry. A season later, the early returns have been enough to keep the discussion going, because Jeannots first year in black and gold was not just about the contract number. He played in 77 games, chipped in six goals and 16 assists, and settled into a role that kept him on the ice for 12:39 a night.
Jeannot then carried that same steady presence into the playoffs, where he appeared in all six games against Buffalo and added a goal while putting nine shots on net. The bigger question around him now is not whether he can be useful, but what the Bruins should really expect from a player whose value is being judged through a very different lens than it was on signing day. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Opening Night Picture Already Looks Brutal For Three Roster Hopefuls
Bostons offseason has already featured a few moves from Don Sweeney, but the roster picture still feels unfinished with training camp approaching. There is still a sense that more changes are coming before opening night, and that uncertainty has put a few fringe names in a tougher spot than they were a few weeks ago.
Among the players feeling that squeeze are Mason Lohrei, Alex Steeves and Henri Jokiharju, all of whom face an uphill climb to stick when the Bruins settle on their opening-night group. Steeves could be pushed out if Boston adds more youth or makes another move, while Jokiharjus case is complicated by a season in which he spent too much time on the sideline, leaving the Bruins with reasons to keep looking elsewhere as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Fans Have A New Reason To Watch This Week Closely
The leagues schedule release is coming into focus next week, and for Bruins fans it brings the usual mix of anticipation and calendar-watching. Opening night games are set to be announced July 15, with the full 2026-27 slate following on July 16, a reminder that the seasons shape is about to get a lot clearer for both Boston and Providence.
There is also a bit of roster housekeeping already underway. The Bruins brought back forward Riley Duran on a one-year, two-way contract, while the Providence Bruins have their home opener circled for Oct. 2 against the Utica Comets. Add in the broader league news cycle, including the latest on Chicagos Connor Bedard, and this is one of those stretches where a few updates can quickly change how fans read the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]