The Bruins have started the preseason with a clear sense of who is pushing for real jobs, and a few names are already separating themselves from the pack.
After opening with home wins over the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers, Boston rolled into a quick two-game road trip Thursday night against the Flyers and Capitals. With those games serving as the final auditions for some players, second-year head coach Marco Sturm and his staff got a longer look at a roster mix that included both younger players and veterans. But by now, three Bruins have done enough to make the Opening Night roster feel just about settled.
Michael DiPietro is one of them, even if that barely qualifies as a revelation. He has more than secured the backup role behind Jeremy Swayman after two strong showings against Washington and Philadelphia.
DiPietro, the top netminder in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins over the last two seasons, was a big reason why Sweeney traded Joonas Koprisalo to the Rangers on July 1. The move also kept Boston from getting caught in another situation where it loses a young goalie, as happened with Brandon Bussi last year, who went on to become the backbone of the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup last spring if Korpisalo remained.
Now DiPietro has waited, earned his chance, and looks set to be part of the NHL picture this season.
James Hagens has also made the decision easy. The seventh overall pick in the 2025 Entry Draft came into camp with questions, but he has answered them emphatically.
He was one of Boston’s better forwards against the Capitals on Sunday night and again against the Flyers on Thursday night. Hagens, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Fraser Minten had been kept together in camp and in the first preseason game, but Hagens also impressed in Philadelphia without either linemate beside him.
He looked comfortable, productive, and ready for more.
On the blue line, Frederic Brunet has put himself in the mix at exactly the right time. The Bruins have a real opening on defense with Charlie McAvoy serving a six-game suspension to start the season, and that creates room for one more blueliner.
There are options, including Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, and Jonathan Aspirot, but Brunet has been better than all of them in preseason play. With the roster still taking shape, he has made a strong case to be part of it when Boston opens against the New York Rangers next Tuesday night at TD Garden.
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