Thank you for submitting your questions. I’ve reviewed them carefully and will now do my best to provide thoughtful, informed responses.
Liz asks: Why did the Bruins place Elias Lindholm on injured reserve? Shouldn’t he be on LTIR given that he will miss significant time?
Answer: Thanks for the question, Liz—this one comes up every season. The decision to place him on injured reserve was primarily a roster management move, allowing the team to call up Alex Steeves ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Teams typically prefer to carry two extra forwards on a road trip, and with John Beecher leaving Thursday’s game against the Islanders, there may have been uncertainty around his status for the weekend. And of course, we found out Saturday morning that Casey Mittlestadt did not travel because of an upper body injury.
When it comes to Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), timing is everything. Teams typically avoid placing a player on LTIR unless they’re right up against the salary cap ceiling—maximizing the relief it provides. In the Bruins’ case, they still had enough cap flexibility that activating LTIR wouldn’t have offered any immediate benefit. In fact, Boston had room to accommodate up to two additional call-ups before even needing to consider tapping into LTIR space. LTIR has more to do with cap and roster management then length of injury.
Cory asks: What is your favorite Zdeno Chara moment?
Answer: There have been countless unforgettable moments, Cory, but as a fan, nothing tops the image of Chara hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2011. Still, what defines Chara most is his relentless competitiveness—epitomized in Game 5 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, when he returned to the ice just 48 hours after suffering a jaw fractured in four places. That warrior mentality didn’t fade with retirement; it continues to resonate.
I’ve been fortunate to witness legends like Bobby Orr, Brad Park, Ray Bourque, and Big Z himself. Milt Schmidt once said, “If a better player comes along than Bobby Orr, I hope to be alive to see that.” As far as I’m concerned, we may never see another quite like Chara.
Sammy asks: Is it too early to move on from all the negativity that surrounded Dean Letourneau last season?
Answer: No Sammy, it is not. For a deeper dive, I wrote this on October 22.
Kostas asks: I think it’s time that Sweeney trades Mason Lohrei. He has been terrible and it’s a waste of an asset having him on the 9th floor. They should use him to get someone that can help.
Answer: To be fair to Kostas, his comments came in before news broke that Lohrei would suit up Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The decision followed Charlie McAvoy remaining in Boston to attend to a family matter, opening the door for Lohrei’s return to the lineup.
There is a lot to unpack there and I’m not sure how to respond without coming across as condescending so, I will apologize in advance.
As I noted in my Sunday Summary, now isn’t the time to move Lohrei. There’s still plenty of untapped upside in his game, and trading him now likely means selling short on a developing NHL defenseman. That said, if the right deal presents itself, you have to be willing to listen.
It might not be the popular take, but I still believe Lohrei holds the highest offensive ceiling among Bruins’ defensemen—and frankly, there’s no one in the pipeline who comes close. As Hall of Famer Denis Potvin once said, “It takes defensemen 200 games to develop in the NHL.” Lohrei’s at 130. Let’s give him the runway he needs.
Chris asks: Under the new CBA, Attachment 25-B states: “Performance and/or Games Played Bonuses shall not be included” in calculating a player’s hit to the Playoff Playing Roster Averaged Club Salary, i.e., their playoff cap hit.
As an example, Brent Burns has $4 million in performance bonuses this season. These could, in theory, carry over to Colorado’s cap next season. However, based on Attachment 25-B, they would never see this against their “playoff cap” – unless I’ve missed something.
Do you think this is something other teams could exploit and make it the new “LTIR loophole” that irks fans? Would you ever see Boston utilizing it? We all know they don’t like doing bonus pay-outs when they don’t have to.
Answer: Performance bonuses aren’t likely to become a cap-crunch concern. They’re restricted to players on Entry-Level Contracts—where most thresholds go unreached—or to 35+ contracts, which teams typically use to defer cap hits into the following season. Clubs aren’t about to hand them out recklessly and jeopardize future flexibility; the system is built to prevent that kind of misuse.
It’s also worth noting that performance bonuses don’t factor into a player’s AAV during the current season. Even if a player hits the threshold mid-year, those bonuses are only applied at season’s end—keeping the cap hit clean until the final accounting.
James asks: Any preliminary views on Hagens or Letourneau?
Answer: I shared my thoughts on Letourneau a couple of weeks ago that’s worth revisiting. As for James Hagens, it’s been a slower start and Boston College hasn’t found its rhythm yet—but there’s no cause for concern. The talent is there, and it’s only a matter of time before things click.
Gary asks: Bruins actually look better without Lohrei. Systems issue? Maybe a better fit with Montgomery? Thoughts on including him in a Kyrou trade.
Answer: Thanks, Gary. While preseason predictions were flying, I held firm in my belief that the 20-game mark was the true litmus test—for both the team and individual players. That perspective didn’t waver, even during the six-game skid. You need the full sample size before drawing real conclusions.
Here’s what I do know: the system Marco Sturm is implementing has proven results. Yes, it’s a different level of hockey, but the structure and principles translate—and you don’t have to look far for a blueprint. The London Knights run a nearly identical system and have built a powerhouse on it. The track record speaks for itself.
There’s no question the system comes with a learning curve, and some players will naturally take longer to adjust. Factor in a condensed schedule and limited practice time, and it is clear why early growing pains have surfaced. That said, the group is trending in the right direction—both collectively and individually—and I’m not ready to count out Lohrei. Progress is happening, and there will still be some hiccups.
Would I move him in a deal for Jordan Kyrou? If the pieces line up, absolutely. But here’s the catch: while plenty of Bruins’ fans are eager to see Kyrou in black and gold, the cap math just doesn’t add up. Finding a workable path under the current structure remains the biggest hurdle.
Joe asks: 1) Poitras seems to be playing a more physical game this season. More hits and his first pro fight. Do you think Sweeney and Ryan Mougenel told him he needed to be more physical or is this his own doing? Will it make a difference at all?
2) I’m still at a loss where Poitras fits on this roster. They want him to play C and the ideal opportunity came up with E Lindholm out to try him in a top 6 role or at least showcase him for a trade, but no call up. What do they do with him if E Lindholm is locked in at 1C due to his contract, same goes for Mittelstadt at 2C and Minten seems locked in at 3C unless the wheels come off.
Answer: When it comes to Matthew Poitras, I know this is something he’s taken on personally. That’s not to say there wasn’t guidance from management or the coaching staff—there almost certainly was—but Poitras knows what it takes and has long been one of the most driven players when it comes to self-improvement.
As for the second question, there is a similar question, so you’ll find my response just below.
Liz asks: Great to see Lohrei play well, but I still feel it’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. To me, he’s not a good fit for this “piss and vinegar” system. Same can be said for Poitras. Do you expect the Bruins to try and package them in a deal to a younger team that could use their talents?
Answer: Thanks, Liz. No, I don’t see the Bruins actively shopping either player. That said, if the right deal comes along—one that strengthens the roster both now and down the line—they won’t hesitate to pull the trigger. But make no mistake: the organization believes in both players and isn’t looking to move them just for the sake of it.
Sam asks: [Elias]Lindholm was already out, but today we found out Mittelstadt will be out for awhile too. Sturm has made it clear he wants Poitras only playing center, so isn’t this the ideal scenario to bring him up, see how he does at 1C or 2C and possibly showcase him for a trade? I truly want him to be a long-term Bruin, but I don’t see where he fits into this roster this year or next, with the contracts/players already in place. Thank you for your time, Sam.
Answer: Appreciate it, Sam. Let’s flip the order here. First off, the Bruins’ roster outlook for next season is far from settled. If things go sideways, it’s entirely plausible that names like Mittelstadt or Pavel Zacha could be off the board—among others. And if Poitras earns his spot, Sturm will find a way to make it work.
As for the idea of showcasing Poitras in a trade, that’s largely outdated these days. NHL teams have elevated their pro scouting to the point where they’ve got detailed evaluations on virtually every player. Trades aren’t made based on a brief call-up anymore. Fraser Minten and Will Zellers are two examples. The Bruins targeted them at last year’s trade deadline hard and didn’t need a showcase.
Lastly, with Boston battling injuries, now might not be the right moment to bring Poitras up. He’s off to a slower start by his own standards and hasn’t quite hit his stride. Better to wait until he’s firing on all cylinders before making that move.
Ryan asks: You mentioned Jonathon Morello as a long shot to make Team Canada’s WJC roster, to which I agree. However, I haven’t heard anyone talk about Dean Letourneau as having a chance to be in that lineup. Canada is always stacked and I may be biased as a Bruins fan, but the way Letourneau has played to start the season he at least deserves an invite to camp, no?
Answer: It’s certainly a long shot for both Morello and Letourneau, though for very different reasons. The two would be vying for roster spots against entirely different player profiles—Morello facing off against shutdown specialists, while Letourneau would be battling a deep pool of high-end offensive talent. And when it comes to scoring forwards, Canada’s depth chart is stacked with names currently ahead of Letourneau at this stage in his development.
Ben asks: I’ve watched most of the BC games this season and while Hagens has been good, I haven’t been wowed like I was when watching Leonard. I don’t think Hagens is a lock for 2C next season with the Bruins do you? I think he’ll eventually get there, but I think he might need some time in Providence first. Thoughts?
Answer: Nothing’s set in stone, and I’m not one to lean into speculation this far out—there’s still 11 months between now and then, and plenty can shift. Sure, his production hasn’t jumped off the page early on, but it’s still the opening stretch of the season. As for Providence, I’ve got no issue with a player needing time in the AHL. Development isn’t linear, and there’s a long road ahead before any decisions need to be made. For now, keep watching and enjoy the games and we can talk about this next September.
TDan asks: I’m all for trading for Owen Tippett. But be tough unless they would take Lohrei and Mittlestadt for Tippett and a pick/prospect. Need to ship out some money. Tippett his no trade is just 10 teams so not to scary. Then flip Arvidsson to Vancouver for Mancini…Tippett fits going foreword maybe aside of Hagens. Arvidsson has no trade so that could be problem. Like Zacha/Hagens/Tippett second line.
Answer: I’m not convinced any of that materializes, and the Tippett chatter feels more like media speculation than something with real traction. It’s the kind of storyline that fills columns, but doesn’t necessarily reflect what’s happening behind the scenes
Dom - Hockey 