Boston’s offseason has been a study in one big swing, a couple of smaller moves, and at least one glaring hole that still hasn’t been filled.
That’s the backdrop behind Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet handing the Bruins a B+ for their summer work so far, a grade that should get plenty of pushback from fans in Boston. The Bruins came into the offseason with clear needs after their first-round playoff exit to the Buffalo Sabres in six games: a top-six winger, a top-six center, and a right-shot defenseman. General manager Don Sweeney checked one box in June when he landed JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth for two first-round draft picks right before the NHL Entry Draft.
Peterka is the headliner, and the move is the one Boston is banking on most. He’s coming off what many viewed as a down 2025-26 season in Utah, but the Bruins are clearly betting on upside. If he comes close to his potential, he could be a real upgrade over Viktor Arvidsson, who departed in free agency for the Detroit Red Wings.
Dixon leaned into that idea when assigning his grade.
"Things were really popping off around the NHL at the precise moment Boston acquired Peterka from Utah, and there’s a chance, when the dust settles, we’ll look back and think we should have talked more about that move,'' Dixon wrote. "Borgen helps stabilize the defence as a six-foot-three righty, while Korpisalo’s departure means the backup duties could fall to unproven Michael DiPietro.''
Boston’s other notable additions include defenseman Connor Clifton in free agency and Will Borgen in a trade with the New York Rangers, while goalie Joonas Korpisalo and Arvidsson are gone from last year’s roster. For Dixon, those moves added up to a solid start for the Bruins.
The problem is what’s still missing. The top-six center Sweeney was chasing still isn’t there, and the team also came up short on the blue line after reportedly being close to a deal for Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers. According to the report, a Boston player used a no-movement clause to block that trade.
There is still work to do before Opening Night on Sept. 29 against the Rangers. For now, though, the Bruins have a Peterka-sized swing at the top of the board, some help on defense, and a grade that feels much kinder than what a lot of Boston fans would hand out.
In Other News...
Bruins Enter A Crucial Stretch For Don Sweeneys Long Term Plan
The Bruins are in the middle of an offseason that still has some runway left, but not much room for drift. Rookie camp and training camp dates are already on the calendar, and for Don Sweeneys front office the coming stretch is about more than just getting players back on the ice. It is also a key period for sorting through contract decisions that will shape how Boston looks when the new season starts.
For a team trying to keep its long-term plan pointed in the right direction, these are the kinds of choices that can quietly define a year. The Bruins are not alone in facing big organizational questions around the league, but their situation carries a familiar urgency because every move now has to fit both the immediate roster and what comes next. The calendar is moving, the camps are approaching, and the pressure to get the timing right is starting to build. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Regret This Goalie Decision More Than Ever
When Don Sweeney chose to re-sign Michael DiPietro and let Brandon Bussi walk into free agency, the Bruins were making a bet on depth and familiarity in goal. Boston then moved Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers, leaving DiPietro as the most likely backup option behind Jeremy Swayman heading into the new season, a setup that looked tidy enough at the time.
What makes the decision harder to ignore now is where Bussi ended up after leaving Boston, and what happened once he got there. His path took an unexpected turn from Florida to Carolina, and he wound up playing a meaningful role in the Hurricanes' run to the Stanley Cup, giving the Bruins another reminder that a goaltending move can look very different once the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Feel Pittsburghs Surprise RFA Bet Soon
The Penguins made an eye-catching move by locking up restricted free agent Ville Koivunen on an eight-year, $32 million contract with a $4 million average annual value, signaling far more faith in his future than his modest NHL sample suggests. Koivunen has only 47 games at the top level, but his strong AHL performance has clearly convinced Pittsburgh to bet on upside now rather than wait for a bigger breakout.
For Boston, the deal is worth watching because contracts like this can ripple beyond one roster. Long-term commitments to young, developing players help shape the market for similar restricted free agents, and the Bruins have plenty of reason to track how aggressively teams are willing to invest in talent that has shown more in the minors than in the NHL. If Pittsburghs gamble works, it may look forward-thinking. If it does not, it could become another cautionary marker in a market that never stays quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]