A preseason ranking that puts the Bruins at No. 13 is bound to raise eyebrows, especially after the way Boston’s last season unfolded.
One year ago, the Bruins came into camp with Marco Sturm taking over as head coach for the first time, and the outlook was much murkier. It looked like the front office was starting over, and the expectation was that it would take a couple of years before Boston was back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Instead, the Bruins turned into one of the more unexpected teams in the East. After a slow start, they pushed all the way to 100 points and grabbed the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot. That earned them a matchup with Atlantic Division champion Buffalo, and the Sabres ended Boston’s run in six games.
Even with that playoff appearance in the rearview mirror, the Bruins haven’t done much this offseason to convince everyone they’re ready to keep pace with the rest of the conference. Still, Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson saw enough to slot Boston at No. 13 in his preseason rankings for 2026-27, with six Eastern Conference teams placed ahead of them.
Boston did make a few additions. The Bruins landed JJ Peterka in a trade with the Utah Mammoth, brought in defenseman Will Borgen from the New York Rangers, and signed free-agent defenseman Connor Clifton, who is back after stops with the Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Those moves add even more traffic to a crowded blue line, and sorting that out will be one of the big tasks when training camp opens in a couple of weeks.
Last season’s playoff loss also laid bare the same basic truth: the Bruins were good enough to get in, but not built to keep climbing once the postseason started. Their roster had enough to make the field, but Buffalo exposed the weak spots over the series.
Boston never fully tore it down. This was more of a retool, and Richardson pointed to the way the team bought into Sturm’s system as a big reason for the climb after New Year’s last season. That buy-in is going to matter again in Sturm’s second year behind the bench, because the Bruins will need the system to hold up a second straight season while the rest of the division and conference have gotten stronger.
Whether these offseason moves are enough to secure another spot in the East’s eight-team field is still an open question. If they fall short, Don Sweeney could find his job under serious pressure after the season.
In Other News...
Bruins Fans Will Love Why JJ Peterka Could Fit Fast
The Bruins added a quick, skilled winger in JJ Peterka when they swung a deal with the Utah Mammoth that cost them two first-round picks, and the fit already sounds promising from Peterkas side. After stops in Buffalo and a run with Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics, he spoke positively about landing in Boston, pointing to a comfort level with the coaching staff and some of the people around the room as reasons the transition could come fast.
Don Sweeney made it clear why the Bruins paid that price, emphasizing Peterkas speed and skill as traits that can help a team trying to stay competitive. For Boston, the appeal is obvious: Peterka brings a different gear to the lineup, and the next question is how quickly he can translate that burst into the kind of role the Bruins have in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bruins Still Waiting As Training Camp Gets Closer
With Bostons season opener against the Rangers coming on Sept. 29, the calendar is starting to work against a few familiar names still on the market. New Yorks recent addition of Eeli Tolvanen gave the Eastern Conference contender another piece, while several former Bruins continue to wait for their next NHL landing spot as training camp approaches.
Among the veterans still unsigned are Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly and James van Riemsdyk, all of whom remain in free agency with camp drawing closer. If they are going to crack an NHL roster in the coming weeks, a professional tryout contract could wind up being the most realistic route back into a camp setting. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Playoff Hopes Suddenly Feel More Fragile In The Atlantic
As the Atlantic Division retools around bigger swings and louder headlines, Boston has taken a far quieter approach. Florida has already changed the conversation by adding Brady Tkachuk and reshuffling its goaltending, while other teams in the division are being sized up for bounce-back or backslide seasons. Against that backdrop, the Bruins have made only modest offseason noise, with Don Sweeneys biggest move coming in the draft-day deal for JJ Peterka, leaving the roster looking more familiar than transformed.
That is why a recent look at the teams most likely to disappoint in 2026-27 felt a little telling for Boston, even in absence. Joe Yerdons list included Buffalo, Florida, Ottawa and Detroit, but the Bruins were not on it at all, despite the limited upgrades and the broader uncertainty hanging over the division. For a club trying to stay in the playoff mix, being overlooked as a possible underperformer can be its own kind of warning sign. [Read more 🡒]