The Bruins’ offseason calendar got a little more concrete this week, and the biggest item on it is a familiar one: Buffalo.
Boston announced its 2026 Prospects Showcase schedule, marking the 11th straight year the club will head to Buffalo for the event. This time, though, the setup is trimmed down. It’s just the Bruins and the Sabres, and Boston will still play its two games.
The Bruins’ dates are set for Sunday, September 13 at 5:00 PM and Monday, September 14 at 12:00 PM.
Around the hockey world, the IIHF made its stance clear again on Russia and Belarus. Russia’s ban from international competition remains in place, with the federation citing “ongoing safety, security, and sporting integrity concerns.” The IIHF said it will keep reviewing Russia on an event-by-event basis.
That means Russia will not take part in the 2027 Men’s World Championship, 2027 World Junior Championship, 2027 U18 Women’s World Championship, or 2027 U18 Men’s World Championship. Russia also asked to be included in the 2027 Women’s World Championship, and that request will be reviewed in November 2026.
Belarus got a similar update. The IIHF said it requested spots in five tournaments, but it will be kept out of two because of “ongoing safety and security concerns.” Belarus will not play in the 2027 Men’s World Championship or the 2027 World Junior Championship.
There was also a quick roster-related update out of San Jose. Macklin Celebrini is signed, but the Sharks still have work to do with Lincoln native Collin Graf and Lexington native Will Smith. Sharks GM Mike Grier said Graf is “pretty close,” while Smith is in the same boat as Celebrini.
Elsewhere, Färjestad BK in the SHL cut ties with Cal Foote just two days after signing him. The club said it heard “concerns, disappointment, and questions” from a wide range of people. Foote was one of five members of Team Canada’s 2018 WJC team who were acquitted on sexual assault charges last summer.
The trade market also has a new name bubbling up. Alexander Nikishin has been drawing attention this summer, and the St.
Louis Blues are still in the mix. According to Jim Rutherford of The Athletic, the Blues are trying to land him at the right price, but they want the 24-year-old left shot defenseman.
The complication, Rutherford said, is Robert Thomas, who the Hurricanes had interest in at the last trade deadline.
In New Jersey, the Devils’ recent signing of Arseny Gritsyuk came with a fresh look back at his path to the NHL. Gritsyuk, who agreed to a 3x$3.25M deal that keeps him in Newark through the 2028-29 season, said his time with Bob Hartley and Avangard Omsk shaped him. He said Hartley “was probably the coach who truly transformed the player in me.”
And on the media front, Marty Walsh weighed in on the MLB’s looming labor situation during an appearance on Sportsnet’s The Fan Pregame. The former Mayor and current NHLPA executive director said a lockout is “bad for sports.” Walsh also reflected on his experience during the last MLB CBA negotiations, when he was serving as Secretary of Labor.
One more note from Detroit: yesterday was Dylan Larkin’s 30th birthday, and while the Red Wings highlighted him on social media, the reaction from fans wasn’t exactly warm.
In Other News...
Bruins Free Agency Leaves One Tough Question About This Roster
Free agency has given Boston a different look already, with the Bruins adding Will Borgen and Connor Clifton as they try to steady the roster and sharpen the blue line. The front office has been active enough to keep the conversation moving, and the numbers reflect a team still sorting out where it stands, with Dom Luszczyszyns contract-efficiency model placing Boston 18th in the league.
There is also the familiar churn around the edges of the organization, from Providence signing forward Max Andreev to a one-year AHL deal to former Bruin Tomas Nosek heading to HC Dynamo Pardubice. For a team that wants to keep improving without losing flexibility, the real question now is whether these moves are enough to address the biggest remaining issue on the roster or just the first step in a longer fix. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Just Gave Bruins Fans A Perfect First Impression
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Even his first brush with NHL life delivered the kind of detail that makes a prospect feel instantly relatable. In ESPNs rookie roundtable, Hagens said his first paycheck went to food, specifically Chipotle, a harmless and almost perfect answer for a player still adjusting to life as a pro. It is a small moment, but for Bruins followers looking for a first impression, it fits neatly with the idea of a young player who seems comfortable, grounded and easy to root for. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Prospect Michael DiPietro Suddenly Has A Real Opening
After Bostons playoff exit, the Bruins made a move that quietly shifted the depth chart in a meaningful way, dealing Joonas Korpisalo and clearing a path for Michael DiPietro to move into the conversation at the NHL level. For a prospect who has spent the past two seasons turning in strong work in Providence, it is the kind of opening that can change the tone of an offseason, especially for a team that needs dependable goaltending depth behind its starter.
Providence coach Trent Whitfield has been especially vocal in backing DiPietro, and the organizational sentiment around him has only grown after his recent AHL performances. The Bruins do not need him to become a savior, just a viable backup option who can handle the job if called upon, and now he finally appears to have a real chance to show he belongs in that role. [Read more 🡒]