Bruins’ projected 2025-26 roster brings the beef, but what about the goals?
The Boston Bruins had one of the more disappointing NHL seasons in 2024-25. After watching their campaign go completely off the rails, GM Don Sweeney took an axe to his roster, putting up the “for sale” sign with very few exceptions. Swinging significant trades that landed his team large returns, the Bruins moved on from forwards Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand, along with defenseman Brandon Carlo (who may be flipped again by the Toronto Maple Leafs).
Despite an aggressive sell-off approach leading up to the Trade Deadline, the plan was never for the Bruins to embark on a rebuild or retool. Speaking with team sources, the Bruins’ long term commitments to the likes of Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman (among others) prohibited them from tearing this thing down even further.
Landing James Hagens seventh overall a few weeks back at the NHL Draft proved that lady luck was on the side of the Bruins with how the draft order fell in front of them. Hagens, who was once projected to be the first overall pick in 2025, could be the eventual top-line pivot the Bruins have been missing since the retirement of former captain Patrice Bergeron.
The Bruins need centers in their top six in the long term, making Hagens’ potential impact that much more significant. Internally, Fraser Minten (acquired in the Carlo trade) is arguably the team’s second-best center prospect (and very well may be on the opening night roster in 2025-26), though he may be more of a third-line pivot when all is said and done. Matthew Poitras’ skillset may be that of a potential top-six center, but there are no guarantees that he can put it all together, either; he projects to start on the wing for the Bruins’ this coming season.
The Bruins took a big swing in free agency last summer to plug the gaping hole at center atop their lineup when they handed out a seven year contract to Elias Lindholm; his arrival in Boston was nothing short of disappointing in his first season in the black and gold. Casey Mittlestadt (acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Coyle deal) got a look in the middle last season and will likely get a similar opportunity again. Though he certainly has the pedigree of a top-six guy, there is a reason why he has been traded twice in the last two seasons. Pavel Zacha has been bounced between the middle and the wing since his arrival from the New Jersey Devils, but after being exposed in the 2024 playoffs by the Florida Panthers, I don’t imagine he is an ideal option as a center for the Bruins.
The top six is still a work in progress for Boston, but their bottom-six has the makings of one that could be very strong. Though it could be argued that Sweeney was too aggressive in his approach on July 1 with targeting depth forwards, the Bruins brought in Michael Eyssimont, Sean Kuraly and Tanner Jeannot, who collectively make up half of the bottom six. The Jeannot contract (five years, $3.4 million AAV with significant trade protection) did get a lot of blowback, but a source did tell me yesterday that there were upwards of 20 teams vying for the player’s services. But should the Bruins have been the team to outbid everyone for his services? That much is a fair question.
Looking at Daily Faceoff’s line combinations (though these are simply projections as it’s early summer), the aforementioned three signees would join John Beecher, Minten and Poitras to make up the Bruins’ bottom two trios. Yes, a top six is what drives your team’s offense, but there is no denying the Bruins’ potential bottom-six forwards could rate among the best in the NHL.
On the back end, health will be paramount for the Bruins. Hampus Lindholm played in just 17 games last season; getting him back to full health and availability is essential for the Bruins’ top four, especially with the departure of Carlo. McAvoy will once again be looked towards to be the alpha dog, while Nikita Zadorov will likely need to take on a more significant role than he had upon his arrival.
Mason Lohrei is by far the biggest X-factor in my eyes for what could be for the Bruins’ back end. After getting significant playing time alongside McAvoy for large stretches of the season, Lohrei landed himself a two-year, $6.8 million contract this summer; the Bruins will need the 24-yea- old to step into a much more prominent role this season on a consistent basis.
Above all else, the $66 million man between the pipes will need to be far better than what he was this season. Swayman missed all of training camp after holding out last summer in a contract negotiation – his play never got to where it needed to be as a result. Yes, I think Swayman deserves the benefit of the doubt that last season was a mulligan given his pedigree, but the pressure is turned up tenfold entering the second year of his monster extension. Joonas Korpisalo was good in his backup role, but there is only so much you can ask of your No. 2 if you plan on being a team contending for the playoffs.
Does this Bruin team have the makings of one that is postseason bound in 2026? It is hard to be optimistic, especially given their powerhouse compatriots in the Atlantic Division. With so much uncertainty in their top six, it’s hard to envision the Bruins being able to produce offense – even with Pastrnak in the fold. Their defense still has the top-end talent and their bottom six up front could prove to be very good, but the offense needs to come from somewhere. And more than anything, they will need Swayman to revert to his 2024 form, or else all else will be for naught.
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