Free agency may have opened a week ago, but the league’s rumor mill is still humming, and one of the biggest talking points from Monday came from Elliotte Friedman. On the season-ending episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas spent four and a half hours breaking down all 32 teams, and Friedman singled out Pavel Zacha’s extension as “ one of the most fascinating things that’s going to happen this offseason. ”
That conversation was part of a wider league rundown that also touched on free agents, extensions, and possible trade fits. Friedman’s comments helped frame a busy stretch of summer speculation, even as the pace of signings has started to slow.
There’s also a date to circle for the NHL calendar. The league’s 84-game schedule will be released on July 16 at 1:00 PM, with opening night matchups set to be announced the day before. ESPN and Sportsnet will carry that announcement.
Elsewhere, the process to unban Russia from the Olympics is underway, and ESPN reported that Russia’s ban from the Olympics has been lifted, putting the country on track to return for the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs announced additions to their coaching staff. Former Bruins assistant coach John Gruden, who was with Boston in 2022-23, will move up from AHL-Toronto.
The Leafs also hired Brad Werenka as an assistant, and Daniel Alfredsson was named associate coach. Ottawa Senators president Michael Andlauer responded with a statement after Alfredsson’s move to Toronto.
Back in the Bruins orbit, Andre Gasseau is making noise at Sharks development camp. The Bruins’ seventh-round pick met with reporters in San Jose and said the Sharks were a team “always in the headlight.” He did not go into detail about what happened with Boston.
There was also a notable update for the Boston Fleet, who confirmed Lydia Murray’s report that the team is moving to Agganis Arena. The Fleet have already played six home games there and will now make Comm Ave their permanent home.
And if you’re looking for more Bruins coverage, the first summer mailbag is open. Questions on the offseason, the draft, development camp, or anything else Bruins-related are being collected now.
In Other News...
Bruins Linked To Another Risky Center Swing Fans Will Debate
Bostons search for a top-six center is still very much alive after the club already sent away its first-round pick to land JJ Peterka, and that has kept the focus on younger, high-upside names who could grow with the rest of the roster. Shane Wright is one of the more intriguing possibilities in that conversation, mostly because he still carries the sheen of a former No. 4 overall pick even as his NHL path has been anything but linear.
The appeal is obvious for a Bruins team trying to add skill without losing sight of the future, but Wrights uneven development is exactly why this kind of swing would spark debate. Boston has been weighing whether another bet on upside is the right move alongside Peterka and the other younger pieces already in place, and any serious pursuit would likely require a hefty price to make Seattle listen. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Blue Line Squeeze Has Put Another Sweeney Move In Play
The Bruins spent part of the offseason reinforcing the blue line, bringing back Connor Clifton and adding Will Borgen to a group that already had plenty of bodies in the mix. Its the kind of accumulation that can look like depth on paper and like a roster puzzle in practice, especially with training camp approaching and spots becoming harder to sort out.
For Don Sweeney, the challenge now is turning that surplus into the right balance for the coming season. One recent development could help on that front: Jokiharjus gold-medal run at the IIHF World Championship has only sharpened the sense that he could carry real value if Boston decides to keep reshaping its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Offseason Still Feels Incomplete For One Frustrating Reason
Don Sweeney has been busy trying to reshape the Bruins roster, starting with the splashy addition of JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth at the cost of two first-round picks. Boston also moved to shore up the blue line by bringing in Will Borgen from the New York Rangers, and it added Connor Clifton as another defense option, giving the front office a few more pieces to work with as the offseason rolls on.
Even with those moves, the work still does not feel finished. The Bruins continue to look short on defense and still need help at top-six center, which is why the overall summer has drawn a mixed review from around the league. Bleacher Reports Sara Civian called it a wanting offseason, and the bigger question now is whether Boston can find the kind of high-end blue-line help it still appears to need to stay in the mix. [Read more 🡒]