The Bruins are heading toward the 2026-27 season with a roster that still looks unfinished, even after a few summer additions. Boston has already brought in right wing JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth and reunited with Connor Clifton in free agency, but the overall picture remains pretty modest as the NHL prepares to release the 84-game schedule on Wednesday and Thursday. The season is set to begin at the end of September, and the Bruins will open without Charlie McAvoy, who is serving a six-game suspension for his slash on Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson in Game 6 of this past spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That leaves Marco Sturm heading into his second Opening Night as Boston’s head coach with a lineup that still has some obvious questions. Up front, the projected group starts with JJ Petrka, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak on the top line, followed by Casey Mittlestadt, Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie. The next wave includes Marat Khusnutdinov, Fraser Minten and James Hagens, with Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic rounding out the forward mix.
On the blue line, the Bruins’ projected pairings show Hampus Lindholm with Will Borgen, Nikita Zadorov with Henri Jokiharju, and Jonathan Aspirot alongside Clifton. In goal, Jeremy Swayman is slotted in as the starter with Michael DiPietro behind him.
Even with that group mapped out, Boston’s forward depth still looks like it needs help from the outside. Matthew Poitras is an internal option, and Alex Steeves is in that conversation too, but the article’s view is that Don Sweeney would need to make another move to give the offense enough punch to chase a postseason spot in a stronger Eastern Conference.
The defense may be crowded enough to force another decision before camp even gets rolling. Mason Lohrei is viewed as the likeliest name to move, though the larger point is that someone may have to go because there are simply too many defensemen on hand. Boston also may end up looking back at the Darnell Nurse situation with some regret, after a reported trade collapsed on July 1 because a Boston player would not waive his no-movement clause.
In net, the situation is much clearer. Sweeney traded Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers, which opens the door for DiPietro to take over as the NHL backup. The Bruins also appear to have taken a lesson from the Brandon Bussi situation after letting him leave last summer; he later landed with the Carolina Hurricanes and helped them win the Stanley Cup.
For now, the Bruins look like a team still being built rather than one already finished. If Boston wants to be ready when the season opens in early fall, Sweeney probably still has work to do.
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Bruins Costly Offseason Signing Is Suddenly Sparking A Very Different Debate
When Boston signed Tanner Jeannot to a five-year, $17 million deal, the move was framed as the kind of bet that could swing from savvy to expensive in a hurry. A season later, the early returns have been enough to keep the discussion going, because Jeannots first year in black and gold was not just about the contract number. He played in 77 games, chipped in six goals and 16 assists, and settled into a role that kept him on the ice for 12:39 a night.
Jeannot then carried that same steady presence into the playoffs, where he appeared in all six games against Buffalo and added a goal while putting nine shots on net. The bigger question around him now is not whether he can be useful, but what the Bruins should really expect from a player whose value is being judged through a very different lens than it was on signing day. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Opening Night Picture Already Looks Brutal For Three Roster Hopefuls
Bostons offseason has already featured a few moves from Don Sweeney, but the roster picture still feels unfinished with training camp approaching. There is still a sense that more changes are coming before opening night, and that uncertainty has put a few fringe names in a tougher spot than they were a few weeks ago.
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
The leagues schedule release is coming into focus next week, and for Bruins fans it brings the usual mix of anticipation and calendar-watching. Opening night games are set to be announced July 15, with the full 2026-27 slate following on July 16, a reminder that the seasons shape is about to get a lot clearer for both Boston and Providence.
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 🡒]