The Bruins may have a clearer path back to the playoffs than some around the league want to admit.
With the 2026-27 NHL season approaching and roster movement reshaping the Eastern Conference, Boston sits in an odd spot. A handful of teams that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season made meaningful upgrades, and several others around the Atlantic Division have also improved. The Bruins, by contrast, have mostly stood still.
General manager Don Sweeney did bring in JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in a draft-day deal, but that has been the lone notable addition in an otherwise quiet offseason. That’s why Boston stands out as a team whose outlook may be getting overlooked.
Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report recently named 10 teams most likely to disappoint in 2026-27, and four of them came from the Atlantic Division: the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have been a disappointment for years, while the others come with their own set of questions. If even a couple of those teams stumble, the door could open for the Bruins to put together another season that beats expectations.
The Sabres, in particular, could change the picture fast if they manage to land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in a trade. Their offense might take a small step back, but adding a goalie of that caliber would make life tougher for everyone else in the division.
The Senators also carry plenty of uncertainty, while the Canadiens and Lightning were not included on Yerdon’s list even though both are expected to be good again. That leaves Boston in a strange middle ground: a team that surprised plenty of people last season by grabbing the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 100 points, but one that has not clearly upgraded the roster enough to make another run feel automatic.
There’s still time for more movement before training camp begins this month, and Sweeney could still add or subtract from the roster. But for now, with Boston’s limited offseason work and the way other teams in the conference have shifted, the Bruins look like a notable omission from Yerdon’s list.
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 Captain Debate Just Took A Clear New-Era Turn
With training camp and the captaincy conversation still hanging over the Bruins, Marco Sturm made it clear the next leader in Boston does not have to be cut from the same cloth as Patrice Bergeron or Zdeno Chara. The new coach framed the discussion around where the team is now, not where it used to be, pointing to David Pastrnak as a reminder that leadership can look different from one era to the next.
Sturm did say he values having a captain in place, but he also stressed that the Bruins are not lacking voices in the room. In other words, the badge matters, but it is not the only thing holding the locker room together, and Boston could still move into the season without settling the question first. [Read more 🡒]