New Additions: F Viktor Arvidsson (from EDM), F Tanner Jeannot (5yr x $3.4M AAV),  F Sean Kuraly (2yr $1.85M AAV), F Michael Eyssimont (2yr x $1.45M AAV), D Jordan Harris (1yr x $825k), F Matej Blumel (1yr x $875k), D Victor Soderstrom (1yr x $775k), HC Marco Sturm 

Subtractions: F Cole Koepke (to WPG), D Parker Wotherspoon (to PIT), F Vinni Lettieri (to TOR), HC Joe Sacco

Retentions/Extensions: D Mason Lohrei (2yr x $3.2M AAV), F Marat Khusnutdinov (2yr x $925k AAV), F Morgan Geekie (6yr x $5.5M AAV), D Henri Jokiharju (3yr x $3M AAV), F John Beecher (1yr x $900k)

Boston had a tough season in 2024-25, they panic fired their coach Jim Montgomery after not getting off to the start they wanted. Things went pretty much the same under interim HC Joe Sacco and Montgomery went on to lead the Blues to a playoff appearance. After a lengthy offseason negotiation process, Jeremy Swayman never looked himself last year. The team opted to sell at the deadline and sell they did, most notably parting ways with captain Brad Marchand who went on to be a crucial piece in another Panthers Cup. Many believed he would return in free agency, but after signing a six year contract extension to keep him in Florida, it appears we may have seen Marchand’s last game as a Bruin.

The direction of this team is unclear, moving on from Marchand would have some people believe they are entering something of a rebuild. However they still have a star player in their prime in all three position groups in David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and the aforementioned Swayman (despite his down year). They also have a handful of impact players all under contract for at least the next five seasons in Elias Lindholm, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Morgan Geekie who resigned this offseason. The rest of the team is where there are lots of question marks, as this version of the Bruins lacks the depth that they had in previous season.

The team hired former player Marco Sturm as head coach, who played in Boston from 2005-2010. A first time NHL bench boss, Sturm has been involved on the coaching side of the game since 2015. He coached the German national team to Olympic silver in 2018, and served as an assistant in Los Angeles from 2018-2022 before taking over as head coach for their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign from 2022-2025. Sturm is the Bruins first European coach in team history, and the first German head coach in the league’s history.

Morgan Geekie, 27, was a rare positive of the tough season, playing alongside Pasta on the top line, he recorded career highs in goals (33), and assists (24). He extended for another six years in Boston at a fairly team friendly price with an AAV of $5.5M, especially if he can continue his production and build on last season. 

Swayman was seen as a fringe top 5 goalie in the league this time last year, and the Bruins were confident enough to pay him like one, and trade Linus Ullmark, only two years removed from winning the Vezina. Perhaps the offseason contract talks distracted Swayman from getting into form heading into the season, as his .892 SV% and 3.11 GAA were both career worsts. He needs to return to form if the Bruins want to even sniff the playoffs, as the team was 29th in scoring last season and did not do much this offseason to give confidence that will improve. 

The main reason they were even able to manage 2.7 goals per game last year was superstar David Pastrnak, who eclipsed 100 points for a third straight season (106 points), and scored over 40 goals for the fifth time in the last six seasons (43 goals). Once again he will have to carry the offense as he had nearly 50 more points than Geekie who was second on the team in points, with 57. If the Bruins are able to make the postseason, best believe Pasta will be one of the leading candidates for the Hart Trophy.

Elias Lindholm was signed last offseason to be the team’s first line center, able to contribute on both ends and play all situations. After Bergeron and Krejci retired, the Bs were desperate for a center, and gave Lindholm a 7 year contract carrying an AAV of $7.75M. He put up a disappointing 47 points in 82 games during his first season in Boston. Once a point per game player (82 points in 2021-22 with the Flames), the Bruins need him to bounce back offensively in year two with the squad.

Having been buyers at the deadline and in the playoffs eight years in a row before missing them last season, the prospect pool is a little thin in Beantown. 2025 7th overall pick James Hagens will play at Boston College this season, where fans will get a close look at a future star. As for youth that will be on the team this season, look for Fabian Lysell, a Swedish winger taken in the first round back in 2021, who debuted with the Bruins last season after three years in the AHL. Another young player that could make an impact is Fraser Minten, acquired at the deadline from Toronto as a part of the Brandon Carlo trade. Lastly, Matthew Poitras who has logged 66 games across the last two seasons, has shown the ability to contribute in a depth role, but that could get expanded with the opportunity available this season.

I do expect Swayman to be better than what he showed last season. On Defence their unit should be above average, with a number one in McAvoy, a great number two in Hampus Lindholm, and a solid supporting cast with Zadorov, Lohrei, Jokiharju and Peeke. The back end will not be what holds this team back, I think they will struggle to score outside the top line, and will once again have a bottom 10 offense in the league. A slight retool is needed in Boston, as they have the foundation, but not the supporting cast to compete, I expect them to sit outside the playoffs all year and their top players to be involved in trade rumours as early as November.