Regular-season hockey is finally back for the Boston Bruins. The locals provided the opposition for the Washington Capitals’ home opener (Wednesday, 10/8).. On Monday, Bruins management: Charlie Jacobs, Cam Neely and Don Sweeney previewed the 2025-26 campaign. GM Sweeney opened with, “Head coach Marco Sturm ran a really competitive, structured [camp]. Was really designed to reestablish and build the foundation that he expects our guys to play with. Refreshing to see the skills be a little different and bring a new perspective that he incorporated into games.” Sturm joined the Bruins as the 30th head coach in franchise history on June 5 and has worked to swiftly make his mark as his group forms its identity. Boston’s latest preseason performances showed an understanding of the systems from the players, which will all continue to develop in the next 82 games.
On the blue line the Bruins will have the luxury of reinforcements, with both Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm back from injuries, joining Jordan Harris, who is expected to be the team’s seventh defenseman. In goal, Jeremy Swayman has displayed a possible return to form, posting 30 saves in his final pre-season showing on Saturday’s win over the New York Rangers. “I think we are going to have to play tight defense if we’re going to be one of the eight [teams in the Eastern Conference to make playoffs],” Neely said. “We got guys who are going to be tough to play against, hard to play against. I think teams are going to circle playing against the Bruins and go, ‘Oh damn, we have to play them tonight.’ That is the type of lineup we put together.” The offense is expected to be produced by top-six forwards, David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie, while the additions of Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont providing the bottom six with the ‘hard to play against’ format that this year’s team is built with.
The opening night roster included: Forwards: Viktor Arvidsson, Johnny Beecher, Eyssimont, Geekie, Jeannot, Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov, Sean Kuraly, Elias Lindholm, the 21-year-old Fraser Minten who made the roster in his first camp with Boston, Casey Mittelstadt, Pastrnak, Jeffrey Viel, and Pavel Zacha. Defensemen: Harris, Henri Jokiharju, Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, McAvoy, Andrew Peeke, and Nikita Zadorov. The tandem of Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo will again provide the goaltending.
The Boston Bruins have announced that they will bestow the club’s highest honor upon captain and defenseman Zdeno Chara (2006-2020) by retiring his No. 33 Thursday, January 15 at TD Garden. The number retirement ceremony will be held prior to the team’s game against the Seattle Kraken, currently scheduled for 7 p.m. “The Rafters are a fitting home for 33, because there will never be another Zdeno Chara,” said Bruins Owner and Governor, Jeremy M. Jacobs. “From his skill, size and physical dominance on the ice, to his leadership in the locker room and impact on the Boston community, Zee is a legend of the game and the ultimate Bruin. There is no greater embodiment of what it means to be a Boston Bruin than Chara, Zdeno brought a special brand of leadership to the Boston Bruins by challenging and empowering his teammates every day. Over his 14 years as a captain, Zdeno helped define Boston Bruins hockey with his drive for on-ice excellence and sportsmanship, along with his off-ice commitment to serve the greater Boston community. Chara. who currently serves as a Hockey Operations Advisor and Mentor for the Bruins, responded with, “It is truly beyond words to see my jersey, number 33, raised to the rafters at TD Garden. This honor is greater than anything I could have imagined when I first came to Boston. I am forever grateful to the Bruins organization for trusting me to lead, to all my teammates past and present, to the fans whose passion and energy made Boston feel like home, and to my family who made everything possible. This moment is not just mine – it belongs to all of us.” Chara will be inducted this November, into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Bruins upcoming schedule, will have the locals returning to TD Garden for Boston’s home opener, tonight (Thursday, 7:00pm), to take on the Connor Bedard-led Chicago Blackhawks. A pair of Atlantic Division rivals will invade the Garden, on Saturday, 7:00pm, the Buffalo Sabres, and in a Monday, 1:00pm matinee, the Tampa Bay Lightning will provide the opposition. The Bruins will then travel to Vegas to face the Pacific Division’s Golden Knights on Thursday, for a 10:00pm puck drop.