I Have Once Again Convinced Myself The Boston Bruins Will Win The Stanley Cup - 2025-2026 SEASON PREVIEW

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Surely the Bruins won't be as bad last season, right? …. RIGHT? Well, good news, I've talked myself into them winning the Stanley Cup (as I do every year). After firing Jim Montgomery, and Joe Sacco moving on with the Rangers, the Bruins brought in Marco Sturm to help right the ship. Steve Spott has come in from Dallas to help run the dreadful power play. Lots of changes going on in Boston… let's see what's in store for this season.

NEW FACES:

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IN: Tanner Jeannot (5 year deal worth $17 million), Viktor Arvidsson (acquired from Oilers on July 1), Michael Eyssimont (free agency), Jordan Harris (free agency), Sean Kuraly (free agency), Matej Blumel (assigned to Providence), Alex Steeves (assigned to Providence)

OUT: Brad Marchand (traded at deadline, this still hurts to write), Charlie Coyle (traded at deadline), Brandon Carlo (traded at deadline), Trent Frederic (traded at deadline), Justin Brazeau (traded at deadline), Oliver Wahlstrom, Max Jones (traded at deadline), Cole Koepke, Vinni Lettieri, Brandon Bussi, Parker Wotherspoon, Jakub Lauko (signed in Czechia)

FORWARDS:

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Geekie - Lindholm - Pastrnak

Zacha - Mittlestadt - Arvidsson

Jeannot - Minten - Eyssimont

Khusnutdinov - Kuraly - Kastelic

Bubble: Beecher, Viel

The top line stays in tact, for now. We saw Elias Lindholm have a really solid World Championships after struggling at the start of his Bruins career. Geekie (career year with 33G, 24A) and Pastrnak (43G, 63A) started to flourish towards the end of last season and this should be a line that drives the offense (and quite frankly perhaps it is the only line that will do that). Elias had a back injury he was playing through last year and I have higher expectations not only for him, but this line as a whole. The whole gist of the Bruins this training camp and preseason is that goals are going to be hard to come by. So it really starts with this line, no pressure, Pasta. Geekie's career year earned him a nice contract this summer, six years, $33 million with an AAV of $5.5 million. If he can produce like he did last year that contract should age really well.        

I think it's weird they don't have a Captain yet, they keep saying that in the room that it doesn't matter, and that everyone knows who the leaders are, but they have two great choices in David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. They really can't go wrong. Wonder if it's one of those situations where they feel like they are co-Captains, ala Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron for many years. Just slap the C on Pasta and see where it takes us, there's a ton of leaders in the room between him and McAvoy and even Zadorov and Hampus. Regardless, this team goes as far as David Pastrnak goes. So please, Don, get him some scoring help and let's stop wasting his prime years.

The second line may make or break this team. Pavel Zacha started training camp at center but it's Casey Mittelstadt who has earned the 2C job. Mittelstadt's inconsistencies last year were quite evident, but hopefully Marco Sturm can pull the best out of him. I thought he looked good in training camp, more settled in, but you did see some of those turnovers. The 2nd line was productive offensively but they may find themselves more sheltered than everyone else. We know the 3rd line will be hard to play against, so we'll see how Sturm handles their match ups. Viktor Arvidsson was an interesting addition coming over from Edmonton. I think they'll need some time to gel. But out of all the lines to watch for in camp, this was it. Arvidsson has some familiarity with Sturm and Jeannot. Would be great if Sweeney could deal for someone who fits that 2C or 2RW spot better, allowing Arvidsson to drop down with Minten and Jeannot. Honestly, I could see Sweeney even offering up Zacha in a potential trade to upgrade that line. We'l see what happens out of the gate.

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Cam Neely alluded to the bottom 6 needing some more piss and vinegar and boy did they deliver. Tanner Jeannot signed a massive 5 year deal (thank goodness the cap is going up), and Fraser Minten (acquired in the Brandon Carlo trade) earned his 3C spot in camp, making Matt Poitras, the spare (sent down to Providence on Monday). Jeannot's career was derailed a bit by injuries and it's still a big bet to make on him, but if there was ever a player that I think Cam Neely thinks embodies how the Bruins play, it would be him. I love the size he brings and hopefully he can find himself again (had just 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 67 games last year with the Kings. Jeannot plays a hard, physical game, and hopefully Sturm can pull some more offense out of him like we saw in his rookie year. It'll also be nice having him around with Minten getting his first taste of a full season. 

Michael Eyssimont (2 year deal, $1.45 AAV), rounds out the line on the right side. He had a great camp, you saw what he could bring in that preseason game against the Rangers but it's up to him if that's the Eyssimont we'll see every night. Sweeney mentioned when he signed him that he was a pain in the ass to play against, and I love that they have surrounded Minten with these two. If Don can find an offensive winger we may see someone like Arvidsson slide down to this line. Time will tell. I think Jeannot will be much better than he's been in year's past and this should be a punishing line, but they might see tougher match ups with the 2nd line needing some sheltering defensively, and the team looking for more offense as a whole.

Sean Kuraly returns to Boston after a few years in Columbus to center the 4th line with Marat Khusnutdinov on his left and Mark Kastelic on his right. Another heavy line. Johnny Beecher and Jeff Viel are the odd men out. 

The biggest knock on this forward group is who will be able to generate offense, on paper it's very bottom six heavy. Like I said, that second line might make or break them but I think Sweeney gets this team help either at the deadline or before via trade. They're going to be hard to play against, but at what cost?

Bubble players we'll likely see soon: Matej Blumel, Dans Locmelis, Matt Poitras

Matej Blumel was signed by Boston on July 1 after he led the AHL with 39 goals in just 67 games last year, but unfortunately he did not make the opening night roster. For a team that struggled offensively, it's a little jarring that they didn't give Blumel a chance right away. But again, maybe that's a player that comes up sooner than later. It gets frustrating when it feels like this roster has a ton of bottom sixers who get chance after chance but Blumel will start in Providence. But hey, you need to make the most of your training camp.

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Dans Locmelis is another player who we may see soon, the UMass standout had himself a time at World Championships (4G, 2A) after a brief appearance in the Calder Cup playoffs (3G, 9A). So there may be scoring help available in Providence, I think he needs more time to develop and getting to play every game in the AHL is more beneficial than sitting on the 9th floor.

Matt Poitras, to me, was the most surprising cut from camp. He may still be getting legs under him after shoulder surgery sidelined him last year, but for a team that again, needs offense, I've said this maybe 2305923045 times in this blog (yes they will still win Cup), keeping him off doesn't help, but I'll reserve judgement until the season actually gets underway. But it sounds like Marco Sturm really wanted him at center, and with Fraser Minten winning the job and the Bruins having a million bottom sixers, it probably serves Poitras well to go down to the AHL. Any 3 of these players we could see as early as a few weeks into the season, though, is my point. 

DEFENSE:

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Lohrei - McAvoy

Lindholm - Peeke

Zadorov - Jokiharju

Bubble: Harris

Charlie McAvoy was sidelined last season after suffering a shoulder injury (and then complications from that injury) in the 4 Nations Face-Off. So he should be roaring to go. As it stands he'll be paired with Mason Lohrei (-43 last year even though it's a stupid stat), who will make mistakes, and you will get angry or frustrated, but then he'll do something amazing offensively to make up for it. It's growing pains for Lohrei, who is still a youngster in this league. Hopefully McAvoy can cover up or limit any of those and together they make up the top pair. Need McAvoy to continue to make strides, not only as a leader on this team but in the league itself, I've said he should be in the conversation for the Norris for like 3 straight years, it's gotta be time. 

Hampus Lindholm returns from a knee injury and he has looked great in camp, doesn't seem to be hindered in any shape or form. Looks like he can still skate well. He'll carry the third 'A', as one of the leaders on this team. Will eat a ton of minutes just like McAvoy, he was SORELY missed last year. I'm sure at times we will see Lindholm and McAvoy paired up together, but as of opening night they are spreading the wealth. Especially with no more Brandon Carlo. Andrew Peeke on the right side of Hampus plays a physical game, but he'll lean on Hampus to get pucks out.

Nikita Zadorov and Henri Jokiharju round out the third pairing. Zadorov led the leage with 145 PIMs last year, so if he can clean that up in a more sheltered role with Hampus back, would be great. We saw him chip in offensively this preseason, but like I mentioned with McAvoy and Hampus, he can also eat minutes. Just has to stay out of the box to be effective. He's another leader on this team, could've easily given him an 'A' as well. Jokiharju came in last year at the deadline from Buffalo and re-upped in the offseason. I really like the makeup of this defense, and if the offense isn't contributing then it's going to be up to them to help keep the puck out of the net. 

The Hometown Kid Jordan Harris will be the 6th defenseman, for now. 

GOALIES:

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Swayman

Korpisalo

Last training camp we had the drama of Jeremy Swayman's hold out, and subsequently, like the team, he had a not-so-great-year (and that's putting it nicely). Many thought he'd be a trade option (despite his value being so low)… but I think Swayman is due for a bounce back year, with no more drama, just hockey. It helps his blue line gets bolstered by Hampus Lindholm returning as well. The Bruins will only be successful if Swayman plays up to the standard we have seen before. 

As for Joonas Korpisalo, I think they need to trade him. I've said it the second they acquired him but that cap hit is not worth it. Michael DiPietro (AHL's goalie of the year last year) slipped through waivers somehow, and maybe this is something Don explores as the season starts. That being said, if Korpisalo is going to play, play him more. He had a solid preseason game against Washington. Swayman got the net even as he was struggling last year and I think you'll see a more 60-40 split or even 55-45 with Korpi to start the year until Swayman gets into a solid rhythm. 

I thought it was interesting that several players on the team had mentioned that this training camp was harder, more intense and more focused than in year's past. The Bruins have the framework… they have Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman, but will they be enough this year? That's the question. I refuse to believe the Bruins have another down year like we just saw. We'll see some 2-1 games, sure, but the retool trajectory will go up, not down. I weirdly enjoy being the underdog this year. Time to prove some people wrong.

Other news, notes and quotes:

- The Bruins will retire Zdeno Chara's #33 in January, and he will be around the team this year as an Advisor

- No Captain has been named yet, Hampus, Pasta and McAvoy will rock the 'A's'

- Quick back to back to start the season, tonight on the road in Washington and tomorrow at home in Boston

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It's a great night to win a hockey game.