Three games into the 2026-27 NHL season, Marco Sturm has kept the Boston Bruins’ forward groups intact against the New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, and Minnesota Wild. That continuity makes sense; the line combinations have been working, so there’s been no real reason to tinker.
But the one forward still waiting for a crack at the lineup is Mikey Eyssimont.
Eyssimont made the roster out of training camp after a strong preseason, but he has not gotten into a game yet. That was partly tied to Matthew Poitras opening the season on injured reserve after a setback in training camp. Poitras was back on the ice last week before the Bruins headed out on their two-game trip against the Jets and Wild, and that has pushed Eyssimont’s situation into focus.
On Sunday, Boston added another clue that a roster move is coming by placing Eyssimont on waivers.
According to Elliotte Friedman, “Cleared Eyssimont (BOS) & Giles (SJ) on waivers”
October 4, 2026 " target="_blank"
The move strongly suggests the Bruins have something else lined up. General manager Don Sweeney may be hoping another team claims Eyssimont, though that seems unlikely. Still, the waiver placement signals Boston needs room for what’s next.
Eyssimont’s first season in Boston last year gave the Bruins a useful depth option. He appeared in 56 regular-season games and finished with eight goals and 10 assists. In the playoffs, he dressed for only two of Boston’s six first-round games against the Buffalo Sabres.
The larger wrinkle is Poitras. Once he is ready to return, Boston wants to give him a real shot to play. If he doesn’t do enough to stick, the Bruins could try to send him to the AHL, but he would need to clear waivers to get there - and the expectation is that he would be claimed.
That’s why moving Eyssimont now makes more sense for Boston than risking losing Poitras for nothing later. Eyssimont is currently the extra forward while Poitras remains on injured reserve, and Sturm has already made it clear Poitras will get an opportunity. With that in mind, the Bruins appear to be making the obvious roster move in advance.
The next step should become clear by 2 p.m. EST on Monday.
In Other News...
Bruins Still Have One Roster Hole That Could Define Their Ceiling
Don Sweeney checked off one offseason need by landing JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth, a move that cost the Bruins two first-round draft picks and gave the roster another piece up front. Even so, the bigger question hanging over Boston has not changed: the club still lacks a top-six center and is rolling back the same group from last season while the rest of the roster takes shape around it.
That is why the trade market remains worth watching for Boston, especially with names already being floated as possible fits if the right situation opens up. One recent report from Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report put the Bruins among four teams that could make sense for Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele if he becomes available, a reminder that the Bruins may still need one more major swing to push their ceiling higher. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Make Intriguing Lineup Call Ahead Of Senators Game
The Bruins are arriving in Ottawa with a couple of notable roster tweaks as they prepare for a meeting with the Senators. Matthew Poitras is back in the mix after coming off injured reserve, and Boston is also turning to rookie defenseman Frederic Brunet in a fresh look on the blue line. The moves give the lineup a different feel heading into a game where the Bruins will try to keep things steady against a Senators team that will be missing defenseman Jake Sanderson because of injury.
Poitras is slated to slide into the fourth-line center role, giving Boston another option down the middle as it continues to sort out its forward groups. The more intriguing wrinkle is what the Bruins are doing on defense, where Brunet is in position for his first NHL action. For a team still trying to find the right balance between health and depth, this kind of adjustment can say a lot about where the coaching staff thinks the next opportunity might be. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Forwards Suddenly Enter An Oilers Trade Debate
The Oilers have opened the 2026-27 season at 2-0-1 even while dealing with a depleted forward group, and that has already pushed them into trade chatter. Elliotte Friedman reported Edmonton has at least considered dealing from its blue line to bring in help up front, a search that has quickly widened as the roster absences continue to shape how the team can play early.
For Bruins fans, the twist is that two familiar bottom-six names have surfaced as possible fits in the discussion: Mark Kastelic and Michael Eyssimont. Montreals Kirby Dach is also in the mix, though he would present a tougher path because of his cap hit and injury history, and for now the Oilers are still weighing whether a move is worth making at all. [Read more 🡒]