The Bruins’ front office shuffle kept rolling this summer, and the latest move sent Evan Gold to the New York Islanders. The former Boston assistant general manager was hired yesterday morning, confirming earlier reports, and will now serve as the fourth assistant GM on Long Island while also taking over the AHL’s Hamilton Hammers. Gold departed Boston in July, effective August 1, to pursue other opportunities, and he didn’t stay available for long.
Gold wasn’t the only Bruins AGM to move on. Jamie Langenbrunner also left this summer, heading to Nashville.
On the roster side, there’s a fresh look back at the 2022-23 Bruins and just how much has changed since that 65-win season. Only six players from that team are still around, and one of them returned this summer. That group also includes a few names who barely made a cup of coffee with the club, and the breakdown shows how much turnover Boston has absorbed in just a few years.
There’s also a report on Bruins seventh-round pick Cullen McCrate. Ryan Sikes reported that the Michigan State commit is set to play for the Brantford Bulldogs next season, with the expectation being the 2026-27 season in the OHL. McCrate remains committed to Michigan State for the 2027-28 season.
Around the league, the Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj is drawing interest. The RFA defenseman still doesn’t have a contract after avoiding arbitration, and teams have been calling Montreal. The Flyers are in the mix, and the Flames have now been added as another possible suitor.
Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler also handed out offseason grades across the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers’ moves included Joonas Korpisalo, while the Devils brought Jesper Boqvist back into the fold.
In New Jersey, James Nichols argued that Sunny Mehta was wiser to work around the Devils’ existing structure than tear it down. The team moved out players with significant negative value, added help up front, and brought in cheaper depth on the blue line.
Pittsburgh’s offseason churn has been even more dramatic. Dan Kingerski noted that 29 players who dressed for the 2024-25 Penguins are no longer with the organization, and his rundown included former Bruins Matt Grzelcyk and Danton Heinen among the players whose new paths have been uneven.
Detroit’s Dylan Larkin-to-Minnesota chatter is still out there, but Kevin Allen pointed out that the idea is easier to float than to execute. The Wild and Red Wings still haven’t found common ground, and Allen also flagged another complication for Minnesota as a trade partner.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are looking ahead to next summer with nearly $36 million in cap space. Jim Cerny laid out an early picture for New York, where Gabe Perreault and Will Cuylle are both in line for raises and Braden Schneider also looms as a major decision point.
In Colorado, Aarif Deen turned to a prospect who could soon affect the goalie picture. Ilya Nabokov has already built a reputation as one of the KHL’s top young netminders, and he’s headed to Colorado to compete for a job in the AHL.
And in Philadelphia, Will James offered a prediction for the Flyers’ 2026-27 season, focusing on young players Denver Barkey and Alex Bump as they head into their first NHL campaign.
In Other News...
Bruins Are Betting Big On JJ Peterka For One Crucial Reason
The Bruins made a significant swing for JJ Peterka, banking on the 24-year-old winger to add a different layer to their attack. He arrives with NHL experience and the kind of speed that fits Marco Sturms transition-heavy approach, which has been a clear part of Bostons thinking as it tries to keep pace in a faster league and reshape its forward group around more than just its established names.
There is plenty riding on the move because Boston did not make it lightly, and Peterka is being asked to help in a role that sits somewhere between immediate contributor and long-term bridge. The hope is that he can supply secondary scoring while also helping connect the Bruins veterans and prospects, but the size of the commitment means the fit will matter almost as much as the production. [Read more 🡒]
Adam McQuaid Sees Something Bruins Fans Will Love In Will Zellers
The Bruins deadline shakeup did more than just change the roster in the short term. When Don Sweeney moved Brandon Carlo to Toronto and Charlie Coyle to Colorado, Boston added a pair of prospects in return, and the one drawing the most intrigue right now is Will Zellers. The 2025 trade deadline was about reshaping the present, but it also gave the organization another look at the kind of forward talent it has been trying to stockpile.
Adam McQuaid, now the Bruins director of player development, sees a player who could fit neatly into the next wave of the teams attack. Zellers put together a strong freshman season at North Dakota and is already on the radar as a potential NHL arrival next season, which is exactly the sort of timeline that makes a deadline addition more than just a bookkeeping move. For a Bruins team that has been searching for more skill up front, that is the part of this deal that stands out. [Read more 🡒]