Boston Bruins
“We undoubtedly anticipate these guys upstairs to convey us some assist as nicely and push even more durable for the Stanley Cup.”
Simply two days after the Bruins’ 2025-26 season came to a close, Boston’s gamers, coaches, and workers had been readily available at Warrior Ice Area Sunday to debrief, pack up their issues, and put together for a busy offseason.
Marco Sturm and his gamers touched on quite a few matters throughout Sunday’s “breakup day” with the media, together with expectations for the 2026-27 season, free company, and the membership’s management hierarchy.
Past a rundown of the several injuries that the Bruins handled in the course of the grind of an extended season, listed below are 4 different takeaways from Sunday’s media availability in Brighton.
A necessity for a captain?
The Bruins took a distinct strategy with their management roles this season, opting to play the whole season with out a captain.
After buying and selling former captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers in March 2025, Boston entered the 2025-26 marketing campaign with three alternate captains in David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm.
Different veteran gamers like Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, and Sean Kuraly had been additionally credited for his or her vocal roles within the locker room.
Talking on Sunday, Sturm was requested if the Bruins are higher served with having one designated captain transferring ahead because the crew seems to construct off a few of the progress made this previous season.
“I all the time stated I needed a captain,” Sturm stated. “However now, being by way of it the primary time [with] me as a head coach and never having a captain, I assumed it went rather well. Simply perhaps as a result of guys had been actually shut, the management group.
“I assumed they did a superb job total. Everybody had their enter. There have been no outsiders. We all the time saved it actually tight. So I really didn’t thoughts it. However having stated that, there shall be extra conversations to have with Don [Sweeney] on how we’re going to transfer ahead. However personally, I favored how we dealt with it — particularly the gamers and the way they deal with the scenario all yr lengthy.”
Pastrnak stated he had no qualms with the completely different dynamic in Boston’s locker room this season — with each himself and McAvoy serving as the 2 de facto leaders for a Bruins crew in a state of transition.
“It was a full group effort,” Pastrnak stated. “All people helped us. There’s so many leaders. And in the course of the yr, the season is so lengthy. So early on, you lean extra on sure guys, the older guys and the extra skilled guys. However because the season goes and also you’ve been collectively for some time, there are plenty of guys which can be a youthful age and the middle-aged stepping up, as a frontrunner.”
Because the Bruins proceed to weigh their choices this offseason relating to naming a captain, McAvoy careworn that the precedence this season was for Boston’s leaders to set a brand new normal for a reworked roster — somewhat than determine a captain.
“I believe main into the yr, we met with [Don Sweeney] this time final yr, and we talked quite a bit about how we needed to type of reestablish the tradition, proper? And we spent plenty of time within the offseason doing that and attempting to have an actual strategic sport plan on what we needed to do, how we needed to develop, me and Dave as leaders, getting extra individuals to be part of the management group,” McAvoy stated. “So, one other factor to look again on on the finish of this yr, checked that field.
“I believe we did an amazing job. I believe we put some onus on guys to need to be leaders and be part of it. And all people did wonderful. So we realized quite a bit about ourselves.”
Free-agent plans
The Bruins don’t have many pending free brokers on their present roster, with solely Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke set to hit the open market as unrestricted free brokers.
Boston, which is at present projected to have over $16 million in cap space this summer, has the means to retain each Arvidsson and Peeke.
However with the Bruins probably on the prowl for an improve or two each up entrance and on the blue line, Sweeney and his workers could have some robust choices to make relating to retaining expertise — or transferring different contracts to liberate extra spending energy.
Arvidsson emerged as a key cog for Boston’s ahead corps this season, scoring 25 targets and 54 factors over 69 video games whereas serving as an on-ice sparkplug.
Sturm has sung Arvidsson’s praises on a number of events this season, crediting the 33-year-old ahead for setting the tone each on and off the ice for a crew in transition.
“I believe Arvy gave me precisely what I hoped for,” Sturm stated. “He didn’t disappoint me. He didn’t change in any respect. He was an enormous half — not simply on the ice, but in addition on this room, as a frontrunner, as nicely. Sweens is aware of about it. We all the time speak, and he sees it too.
“However there’s extra to it, too. May very well be the wage cap, could possibly be something. I actually recognize Arvy coming in and being the man he was, and, yeah, will probably be good to have him again, however there’s extra to it.”
Given Arvidsson’s age, surge in manufacturing, and what stands as a largely barren free-agent class, the winger may money on this summer time if he goes to market — securing the final long-term contract of his professional profession.
The Bruins is also the crew prepared to pony up that money, particularly given how nicely he meshed on a second line alongside Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt.
“I had a lot enjoyable and it was an amazing yr and I’m blissful to speak to Sweens about coming again and it’s simply plenty of areas that must be found out with my household and stuff like that. You bought to consider that too,” Arvidsson, who counted $4 million in opposition to the cap this season, stated of doubtless returning to Boston “But it surely’s like I stated, I had enjoyable and I actually prefer it right here, so I’m open to it.”
Peeke — who logged 77 video games with the Bruins this season — additionally expressed an curiosity in returning to Boston.
“There’s choices to make on each side and I’ll have my agent and Sweens chat and type of simply go from there,” Peeke stated. “Love being a Bruin. It’s an unbelievable place to play and we’ll see what occurs right here. So, it’s been superior.”
McAvoy reacts to disciplinary listening to
McAvoy is perhaps sitting out the primary few video games of the 2026-27 season.
The Bruins defenseman was supplied an in-person listening to by the NHL’s Division of Participant Security on Saturday after McAvoy was assessed a sport misconduct within the last minutes of Friday’s season-ending loss to Buffalo.
With Buffalo up, 4-1, within the third interval, McAvoy was slew-footed by Sabres ahead Zach Beson whereas the 2 had been racing for the puck. An incensed McAvoy crashed into the boards, acquired up, and swung his stick in opposition to Benson, hitting him within the arm.
McAvoy stated that each he and the NHL have but to agree on a time and date for the listening to. An in-person listening to signifies that McAvoy may face a suspension of six or extra video games going into a brand new season of hockey.
“I didn’t give it an excessive amount of thought in any respect. I used to be caught up ultimately of the season and shedding. That was extra the place my focus was,” McAvoy stated when requested if he was stunned to get the decision from the Division of Participant Security. “With all the things associated to that, out of respect for the method, I’m not going to remark something on that till I’ve an opportunity to talk with them.”
Benson didn’t face any self-discipline from the NHL for the slew foot in opposition to McAvoy.
“Clearly it bothers me,” Nikita Zadorov stated of Benson’s play in opposition to McAvoy. “I imply, it’s certainly one of our greatest gamers getting slew-footed like that. … I don’t assume it’s robust. I’m undecided if that man did it on function or not on function. But it surely’s nonetheless a grimy play and our participant may’ve gotten damage.”
Hagens heads to Worlds
After logging 5 complete video games with the Bruins this season, together with three playoff video games in opposition to Buffalo, James Hagens isn’t packing up his gear fairly but.
Hagens will signify Workforce USA on the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland, which shall be held from Could 15 by way of Could 31. It’s going to give Boston’s prime prospect extra of a runway to get acclimated to professional hockey whereas enjoying on a Workforce USA roster that may largely be comprised of NHLers.
Very similar to how Jeremy Swayman credited his participation at Worlds last May for the springboard he wanted forward of a bounce-back marketing campaign in Boston, Sturm believes Hagens can profit from extra hockey reps on the worldwide stage.
“I simply talked to James, and I’m so excited he has that likelihood to play. That was certainly one of my first questions after we acquired kicked out: Is he going? I do know the significance, being with Workforce Germany, and even teaching and going by way of the method with Leon Draisaitl. I defined to him that scenario — it was huge, huge,” Sturm stated. “These sorts of tournaments and experiences are simply the most effective.
“I’m actually blissful that he has an opportunity to go there to play in opposition to males, too. Coming from faculty, enjoying regular-season video games, enjoying in Windfall, playoff expertise and now this – it might probably’t get any higher. So good for him.”
Hagens, who was scratched for Boston’s last three playoff video games, was requested about his prime offseason priorities forward of what needs to be his first full season within the NHL ranks.
“I actually need to work on my velocity. You’ve got to have the ability to transfer. These are the most effective guys on the earth,” the 19-year-old ahead stated. “I additionally need to get stronger, I would like to have the ability to maintain my very own once I go within the nook with guys. You need to have the ability to use your physique, to create house for your self. Simply attempting to work on that over the summer time.”
Shifting expectations
The Bruins went from a possible cellar-dwelling membership to a shock playoff participant in 2025-26 throughout Sturm’s first yr as head coach.
There needs to be loads of room for Boston to construct upon the strides remodeled the previous couple of months — particularly if youthful gamers like Hagens, Fraser Minten, and Marat Khusnutdinov proceed to turn into lineup regulars.
Boston may enter the offseason with both the No. 6 or No. 7 decide within the 2026 NHL Draft if Toronto’s first-round choice falls out of the highest 5 throughout Tuesday’s draft lottery, whereas the Bruins’ prospect pipeline is deeper than it’s been in years, with gamers like Dean Letourneau, Will Zellers, and Cooper Simpson showcasing loads of potential.
Nonetheless, Sturm harped on loads of urgency for a Bruins crew that may’t simply persist with the established order this offseason if it needs to take one other step ahead as a reputable contender.
“I used to be disillusioned yesterday, clearly, not profitable the sport and never transferring ahead. On the finish of the day, it’s like, okay, we’ve acquired to maintain it actual right here. We all know we’ve got work to do, and we all know we in all probability must get higher and add items total,” Sturm stated. “We’re not going to be a shock crew anymore. That’s why it’s going to be actually vital how we come out of the gate. And that for me is coaching camp, it’s going to begin already.”
Even when extra assistance is on the best way with an inflow of youthful skaters, each Pastrnak and Zadorov harped on the necessity for the Bruins to additional bolster a present roster that might use an improve or two on the NHL roster.
“I imply, you heard David — he’s nearly 30 and my window is open proper now and Hampus [Lindholm], Elias [Lindholm] and Charlie [McAvoy], like we’re not getting youthful,” Zadorov stated. “So we undoubtedly anticipate these guys upstairs to convey us some assist as nicely and push even more durable for the Stanley Cup.”
For Pastrnak, the objective transferring ahead is identical because it was getting into the 2025-26 season.
“There’s going to be the identical expectations,” Pastrnak stated. “There’s two steps: make a playoff after which make a run on the Stanley Cup and that’s what I’m pondering of once I’m understanding within the summers and that’s my psychological expectation.
”And that’s the one two, actually, expectations you need to have coming into the season. And that’s not going to alter.”
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