The Bruins’ first two preseason games have already started sorting the camp picture, and a few names are standing out in a hurry. With Boston set to finish the four-game slate on the road against the Flyers on Thursday and the Capitals on Friday before the regular season opens Sept. 29 at TD Garden against the New York Rangers, the early takeaways are coming into focus.
Some players have helped their case. Others have made life harder on themselves. Here are four winners and two losers from Boston’s opening pair of preseason games.
Matthew Poitras has been one of the biggest bright spots so far. After signing his new contract as a restricted free agent last Wednesday, he jumped into camp and made an impression in the Bruins’ overtime win over the Capitals.
Poitras looked strong in all three zones against Washington and showed he belongs in the NHL. He has already done everything he can in the American Hockey League, and if Boston decides to send him down, waivers would be required.
James Hagens also turned heads against Washington. Boston’s seventh overall pick in the 2025 Entry Draft had already made noise at the Prospect Showcase in Buffalo a couple of weeks ago, scoring six goals in two games, including all four in a 4-3 overtime win over the Sabres on Day 2.
In the Capitals game, he backed that up with another strong showing. Watching that one, you’d come away thinking Poitras and Hagens were two of the Bruins’ best offensive playmakers, both capable of making things happen with the puck.
At this point, sending Hagens to the AHL would be a mistake.
Michael DiPietro made the most of his first preseason chance, and the backup job behind Jeremy Swayman looks settled. Once Joonas Korpisalo was traded to the Rangers on July 1, the path opened for DiPietro, and he took it.
Against Washington, he stopped 30 of 32 shots and then turned away all three shootout attempts to help preserve the win after Hagens scored. There doesn’t appear to be much drama at all in the backup battle, and DiPietro’s play suggests he can handle around 25 games this season to give Swayman a breather.
Frederic Brunet has also been one of the early camp winners on the back end. The Bruins have a crowded blue line situation, but Brunet has looked sharp through the first two preseason games.
He had his moments against the Capitals, then was noticeably better in the 5-1 win over Philadelphia. Like Poitras, he would need waivers to reach the AHL if Boston goes that route.
Brunet drew a comparison from Charlie McAvoy to Matt Grzelcyk, McAvoy’s former partner, and some of the reasons were on display against the Flyers. He moved the puck well on breakouts and picked up assists on the Bruins’ first and third goals.
He set up Mikey Eyssimont’s first-period goal with the primary assist, then later got credit for an assist when his point shot was stopped and Brian Halonen buried the rebound.
Not everyone has helped their cause. Alex Steeves struggled against Washington and is making it difficult for Marco Sturm to keep him around.
He played well during his call-up last November, but once the Bruins gave him a contract extension, his momentum faded and he wound up sitting out plenty of games as a healthy scratch. There are several forwards fighting for spots with the younger players, and Steeves is not making a strong enough case to stay over them.
Lukas Reichel is in a similar spot. If Poitras and Hagens are going to stick, there may not be room for everyone, and Reichel looks like one of the forwards who could end up on the outside looking in. He is an NHL player, but the Bruins seem poised to lean into a youth movement, and unless an injury changes the picture before camp ends, Reichel does not appear likely to beat out the two young forwards.
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