BOSTON — If rising tides lift all boats, then theoretically the Boston Bruins should be a better team in 2026-27.
But the reality is while they could actually be improved with a more talented, cohesive group — with the first of their 84 regular season games taking place Tuesday night against the Rangers at TD Garden — the Bruins could actually be worse in the standings and miss the playoffs.
With virtually every other team in the Atlantic Division having improved its roster during the offseason, the Black-and-Gold might not have the necessary firepower to remain in the battle when the regular season concludes April 10 in Tampa.
Will the Bruins have the correct answers to the myriad of questions that will inevitably pop up over the next six-and-a-half months? There are many that must be answered for a postseason dance card to be awarded in this, the organization’s 103rd season as an NHL entity.
Will they remain relatively injury-free and risk having any of their cornerstone guys on the shelf for extended periods of time? Can they use the $6 million in cap space they current have to bring in an impact player — or could they finagle a trade for a Dylan Larkin or an impending unrestricted free agent by willingly dealing away some of their own players/prospects/draft picks?
Is the defense better with the addition of Will Borgen and getting Connor Clifton back for a second stint on the back end? They asked an awful lot of goaltender Jeremy Swayman a year ago, and if the blueliners are as leaky as a group as they were a year ago, his 31 wins and third place finish in the Vezina Trophy voting last winter will be a distant memory. They’ve got to tighten up.
David Pastrnak finally (and rightfully) now has the ‘C’ stitched onto his sweater. Still in the prime of his career, he’ll carry more responsibility than ever. Is a fifth straight 100-point season out of the 30-year-old needle mover on the horizon? Pastrnak can do a lot but can’t do it alone.
So what does 25-year-old JJ Peterka bring? He’s certainly not a savior-type, but he’s an upgrade over Viktor Arvidsson and should solidify himself a spot in the top six. Remaining on the port side of Pastrnak’s line should provide plenty of changes to get on the scoresheet, no matter who the center is.
Can we pencil in Morgan Geekie for another 30-plus goals, be it at center and/or on the wing? Will Pavel Zacha be moved or remain a part of the team’s core? Does the same thing apply to Casey Middlestadt, or does Boston truly believe he can be a contributing left wing on the second line? Will Boston ever get anything evenly remotely of value from center Elias Lindholm?
Can 25-year-old rookie keeper Michael DiPietro ease Swayman’s load and play 25-30 games in net while giving his team a chance to win each time out? If so, their odds of returning to the postseason grow exponentially.
The young guys are going to have a huge say in how things shake out this season, too. While they likely won’t start beginning to hit their peak years until two, three or perhaps even further down the road, these youngbloods — center Fraser Minten (and his massive new contract), winger Marat Khusnutdinov, defenseman Frederic Brunet and, most notably, 20-year-old first round wunderkind James Hagens, who can play on the left side or in the middle — will all have their opportunity to shine. And if things go sour for the team in the first few months, let the kids continue to play meaningful minutes to develop at the NHL level.
Florida, Montreal and Toronto are all better than they were a year ago. Buffalo is still faster than Boston and can give them a run in the physicality department. Tampa Bay should never be counted out. Ottawa and Detroit want in, too.
Can the Bruins put it all together over the next 192 days, defy the oddsmakers that say they can’t, and return to the Stanley Cup playoffs? If they can keep the S.S. Black-and-Gold afloat without being capsized by a storm or two, they’ve got a shot.
Phil Stacey, the Executive Sports Editor of The Salem News, covers the Boston Bruins for CNHI Sports Boston. He has covered the Bruins since the 1990s for the newspaper. Contact him at pstacey@salemnews.com and follow him on X @PhilStacey_SN.