2025-26 Should Be a Season of Experiments for the Boston Bruins

Help is on the way, but don’t expect it overnight.

James Hagens could make his debut as early as spring 2026, bringing a fresh spark to the lineup. Two additional first-round draft picks are slated to be selected in June 2026—assuming the Bruins make the smart move. Meanwhile, Fraser Minten and Matthew Poitras are projected to elevate their game during this period, with Will Moore and William Zellers also showing strong potential on the horizon. But it’s going to take time and more importantly, patience.

General Manager Don Sweeney has publicly stated that making the playoffs is the ultimate goal this season. But does he truly believe it? Only Sweeney can answer that. For a team in transition, the Bruins have a long road ahead. So why not aim for both—progress and a playoff push?

The core players for the future are clear. It’s the rest of the roster that raises more questions than answers. And what better time than a transitional phase to discover who truly belongs on the team in the years to come?

Let’s start in net. Jeremy Swayman is signed through 2032, and all eyes are on him for a bounce-back season. Behind him, Joonas Korpisalo has three years left on his deal, while Michael DiPietro just inked a two-year, one-way contract this offseason. It’s tough to move on from Korpisalo when DiPietro remains an unknown at the NHL level.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Korpisalo’s contract gets renewed once it expires—assuming he’s still with the organization by then. That makes it all the more important for the team to evaluate whether DiPietro can handle the role of an NHL backup. The only way to find out is by giving him actual NHL starts. Some believe that placing DiPietro on waivers for a Providence assignment would lead to another NHL team claiming him. That’s possible, but ultimately, it’s a gamble with no guarantees.

The Bruins have both time and cap flexibility to carry three goaltenders through October, giving DiPietro a chance to start and prove whether he’s a viable option moving forward. Once they’ve seen enough, they’ll be in a position to make an informed decision.

On the blue line, much of the Bruins’ flexibility hinges on the health of Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy—and whether the late-season version of Nikita Zadorov resurfaces. Mason Lohrei was thrust into challenging situations last season before he was fully ready, but to his credit, he handled the pressure with poise and never lost confidence.

Granting Lohrei, the first-unit power play responsibilities could serve the team well, easing the workload on McAvoy and Lindholm. However, it shouldn’t be a case of ‘it’s yours until you mess up.’ With a new coach and system in place, Lohrei deserves the same runway as the rest of the unit to adapt and grow. If adjustments are needed, a transition to McAvoy by November remains a viable option.

But the uncertainties go beyond surface-level decisions. Henri Jokiharju, acquired at last season’s trade deadline, was signed to a three-year extension with the expectation that he can anchor the second-pairing right-shot role. If he falters, Andrew Peeke stands as the fallback option. Early wins will be crucial for this group, and it’s fair to question whether the organization will have the patience to stay the course if results don’t materialize right away.

The Bruins added Jordan Harris in the offseason—a versatile defenseman with NHL experience who can play both sides. His presence raises questions about how short the leash might be for others on the blue line. Victor Soderstrom, last season’s SHL Defenseman of the Year, remains a long shot, but his $350,000 AHL salary hints that the organization intends to give him a real opportunity. Michael Callahan stepped in sporadically last season and held his own. Beyond that, however, the depth chart thins out quickly. Any significant injury to McAvoy or Lindholm could leave the team dangerously exposed.

Whether it’s one of the defensemen already mentioned or Frederic Brunet, now is the time to evaluate who truly belongs on the roster two or three years down the line. Give them a meaningful look and assess whether they have a legitimate shot at being part of the team’s future. If not, the sooner they move on the better.

Beyond David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, and Morgan Geekie, the Bruins’ forward group is a patchwork of stopgaps and uncertainties. Trade rumors continue to swirl around Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, refusing to fade. The five-year contract to Tanner Jeannot raises eyebrows, while John Beecher is on a one-year ‘prove-it’ deal.

Up front is where the Bruins need to focus most of their experimentation. Minten and Poitras should be given every chance to show they’re not only future Bruins, but capable contributors. Then there’s 22-year-old Fabian Lysell, whose contract expires at season’s end, making him a restricted free agent. After five seasons under team control, it’s time to find out whether he’s an NHL-caliber player with a future in Boston. If not, then it is time to move on.

Sweeney and the Bruins struck gold with the free-agent signing of Geekie two seasons ago. Now, with the additions of Matej Blumel and Alex Steeves, plus the extension of Marat Khusnutdinov following last season’s trade deadline acquisition, it seems they’re hoping for another spark.  Mittelstadt could be part of that gamble too. But how long is the leash if things go sideways early? The Bruins aren’t exactly known for offering players extended runway to prove they belong. In fact, they have a reputation for doing the opposite.

Let me circle back to Beecher for a moment. Beecher told Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe “At the end of the day, it’s a go-out-and-earn-it deal.”

With Mark Kastelic signed for three years and both Michael Eyssimont and Sean Kuraly brought in on two-year deals, where does that leave Beecher’s chance to earn meaningful ice time? For him to get a real opportunity, someone would need to shift to the third line—where Jeannot is already penciled in—leaving little room for others to showcase their potential.

I haven’t even touched on Viktor Arvidsson yet.

Unless a trade shakes things up, I see Beecher, Lysell, Poitras, Minten, Blumel, Khusnutdinov, and Steeves all battling for just two roster spots—likely in the bottom six, which doesn’t suit players like Poitras or Lysell. Say what you will, the Bruins thrive on internal competition. That’s fine—if you’re putting players in roles that match their strengths. But right now, Boston isn’t doing that.

I’m typically pretty patient when it comes to lineup projections. I prefer to wait for training camp and preseason before diving into those discussions. Sure, everyone’s already sharing their lineup predictions, but without seeing how things unfold, it’s mostly guesswork. You never know who’s going to turn heads in camp—just look at Poitras two years ago. Hardly anyone had him pegged to crack the roster, though I did say not to sleep on him.

But the vibe this year strongly suggest someone who should be on the roster won’t be.