The NHL season kicks off today September 29, and the Bruins will host the New York Rangers on home ice at the TD Garden at 8pm led by newly appointed captain David Pastrnak!

The Bruins made a few minor changes to last year’s roster that finished with a 45-27-10 record for 100 points, good enough for 4th in the Atlantic Division and a playoff berth after a disappointing year in 2024-25.

Additions:
– JJ Peterka, F/LW acquired via trade from the Utah Mammoth (in exchange for two 1st round picks ’26, ’28)
– Will Borgen, D acquired via trade from the New York Rangers ( in exchange for 2nd round pick in ’27 and a conditional 3rd round pick in ’28)
– Connor Clifton, D acquired via free agency
– James Hagens, F drafted 7th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft
– Michael DiPietro, G promoted from AHL affiliate

Departures:
– Joonas Korpisalo, G traded to the New York Rangers (acquired F Kalle Väisänen and ’28 4th round pick)
– Viktor Arvidsson, F left in free agency (signed with the Detroit Red Wings)
– Andrew Peeke, D left in free agency (signed with the Utah Mammoth)
– Fabian Lysell, F traded to the Colorado Avalanche (acquired F Ivan Ivan)

Overall I believe this is an improved team from last year’s group. I think they improved on the backend, and added Peterka who could blossom into a very nice top 6 scoring threat alongside Pastrnak. Peterka has shown he can score with 25+ goals in the past 3 seasons. Not the right fit in Utah led to a down year in total points, but Peterka comes to Boston with the hopes of being the right puzzle piece to play opposite of Pasta on the first line wing. The German born forward has a great rapport with head coach, and fellow countryman Marco Sturm who has coached Peterka at the national team level in the past. Defensively the Bruins have a bit of a log jam, one I am sure they will be looking to figure out in early part of the season. With Charlie MacAvoy sidelined for the first 6 games due to a suspension from last season’s game 6 of the playoffs, the Bruins will dress the following D:

Hampus Lindholm – Will Borgen
Nikita Zadorov – Connor Clifton
Jonathan Aspirot – Mason Lohrei

With Jordan Harris assigned to Providence, Henri Jokiharju currently on waivers and Frederic Brunet listed as the 7th D-man to start the season. When MacAvoy returns after his 6 games, Aspirot or Mason Lohrei will be vying for the final spot in the top 6. If their play is anything like last year, Aspirot should take that final spot leaving Lohrei an odd man out. This is a situation the Bruins will need to tend to, but could sort itself out fairly early on if Jokiharju leaves via waivers or trade, and either Lohrei or Brunet returns to Providence. This is an improved unit, Borgen adds physicality, penalty killing ability and strong defensive play that the Bs hope will fill the hole left by Brandon Carlo when he was traded. Connor Clifton, a familiar face will slide into a nice bottom pair depth role once MacAvoy returns. He will be efficient, physical and has a nice skating ability to gets pucks out. Zadorov is the most intimidating player on the ice, he brings a large physical presence and has decent puck handling and skating ability for a man of his stature. He needs to stay out of the box, he was the top penalty getter last year which will hopefully improve. Hampus Lindholm, who came under pretty intense criticism during last year’s playoff run for his less than stellar play, he’ll need to return to form circa 2022 season if the Bruins are going to make a meaningful jump. The Bruins are without a true number 2 defenseman, a hole they tried to fill over the summer but were unsuccessful. Aspirot and Lohrei will likely be in and out throughout the early part of the year until a decision is made on the direction of those players. Finally, MacAvoy leads this group. A bonafide top 10, maybe even top 5 defenseman at his peak. He will need to replicate his offensive display that he showed at the end of last season to be in the conversation for a Norris trophy, a conversation I believe he firmly belongs to be in.

The Bruins forward group will be an interesting one. Peterka is a nice addition to the top line, but comes with expectations he produces at that level. Pasta who of course will lead the group with hopefully another 100+ point season. Geekie who we’re all counting on to maintain a 30+ goal pace and a line of “young guns” between Marat Khustidinov, highly touted rookie James Hagens who has high expectations to become an immediate impact player, and Fraser Minten who the Bruins recently signed to a 7-year $50.4M deal ($7.2M AAV), and are hoping continues to develop into a formidable two-way center. Outside of Minten concerns remain up the middle with Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm, who the Bruins hoped could be a number one. Lindholm needs a big year, the fan base has gone cold on him and the Bruins desperately need support in the form of a number one center. Zacha’s contract is expiring at the end of the season and the Bruins will have to make a decision one way or another whether to extend or trade him. I expect this decision could be made either a few weeks into the season if Zacha and the team start hot, or at the trade deadline if the Bruins are in a position to sell.

Finally, the goaltending. After two years of calling for the trade of Joonas Korpisalo and the promotion of AHL Goaltender of the Year, Michael DiPietro, I have gotten my wish. DiPietro will come in to support Jeremy Swayman who bounced back with a very solid year between the pipes last season finishing in the top 3 of Vezina trophy voting. While I expect Swayman to get the bulk of the work, DiPietro can continue to earn more looks if he shows reliability at the NHL level. I do think this is an improved tandem not only in potential on-ice performance, but DiPietro carries a $850K cap hit instead of Korpi’s $3M.

While I do believe the Bruins are an improved roster from last year, the division has gotten significantly tougher as well. The Florida Panther who spent the 2025-26 plagued with injuries will begin the season fully healthy and with a shiny new addition with Brady Tkachuk joining his brother Matthew in South Beach. They’re tough, skilled and have a championship pedigree already so expect them to make a splash. Another team hoping to bounce back from a down year in the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs overhauled their front office and coaching staff, controversially hiring former Coyotes GM John Chayka and Leafs legend Mats Sundin in GM and hockey ops roles, and hiring Jim Hiller as head coach. The Leafs landed the first overall pick selecting Penn State’s Gavin McKenna, recently traded for Kirill Marchenko from the Blue Jackets, and added 2-time cup winner Segei Bobrovsky between the pipes. All of this is in addition to the rumors that Auston Matthews is coming with a chip on his shoulder given an atypical down year for him last season. Montreal and Buffalo are both young, emerging teams that made playoff runs last season, I would expect that will continue this season, and the Lightning who consistently contend in the division year over year with a talented, experienced team. Detroit and Ottawa may not have the same fire power, but both have contended for playoff berths over the last few years.

The Bruins have improved, but have they improved at a greater margin than the division as a whole? That is the biggest question for this team. I expect solid goaltending and a front loaded offense to be the keys to success, and lead them back to a playoff appearance yet again.