The Bruins are only a little more than two-and-a-half months from opening night, and the forward group is already taking shape for 2026-27. It’s not completely locked in yet - another move or two to clear out a defenseman is still considered possible - but the picture is clear enough to start sketching out what Boston could roll out when the season begins.
The biggest wrinkle is James Hagens. Right now, the most likely outcome has him starting the year in Providence.
Boston is expected to avoid putting Matt Poitras through waivers, since he is no longer waiver exempt, and Lukas Reichel is in the same boat. The organization also appears to be fairly high on Reichel, which only tightens the squeeze.
That leaves a projected 14-man forward group of David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha, Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Fraser Minten, Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov, Alex Steeves, Matt Poitras and Lukas Reichel.
A projected lineup could look like this:
Peterka - Zacha - Pastrnak
Mittelstadt - Lindholm - Geekie
Khusnutdinov - Minten - Poitras
Jeannot - Kuraly - Kastelic
Steeves, Reichel
Boston has a reason to keep some of the same pieces together, and that starts with the fourth line. That group has been effective, and there’s a real chance the Bruins stick with it for continuity.
The top line is another interesting call. The Bruins moved Pastrnak and Zacha together in the playoffs, and keeping that pair intact might be the cleanest solution.
At the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team separates them again to spread scoring through the lineup. The same idea applies to Peterka and Pastrnak.
For now, the sense is that Boston is close to done adding forwards. If anything else comes in, it likely won’t happen without a meaningful subtraction going the other way.
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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
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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 🡒]