Can the Bruins Return to the Playoffs in 2025-26?
The Boston Bruins enter the 2025-26 NHL season in a strange and fascinating place. They're still highly competitive, still anchored by elite talent, still moving on from the Brad Marchand trade, but surrounded by a cast of newcomers and question marks that make them one of the more unpredictable contenders in the league. Down the middle, the team suddenly finds itself with an unusual abundance of centers. Elias Lindholm and Casey Mittelstadt are expected to shoulder the bulk of the top-six responsibilities. Lindholm brings a strong two-way game and faceoff prowess, while Mittelstadt has steadily grown into a creative playmaker who can complement high-end wingers. Pavel Zacha likely moves into a hybrid role, able to slot in as a center or wing depending on how the rest of the lineup shakes out. Beneath them, players like Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly offer solid minutes and playoff-style grit, while younger names like Marat Khusnutdinov, John Beecher, and Mark Kastelic bring energy, speed, and the potential to push for expanded roles. Some of these centers could, should, and probably will end up playing at the wing. It’s not a traditional setup, but it gives the Bruins a kind of modular depth that could quietly pay off.
The wings are a bit thinner but still pack a punch. David Pastrnak remains the engine of Boston’s offense, one of the most electric scorers in the league, and a threat to change the game every time he touches the puck. Viktor Arvidsson, assuming health, is a gritty and productive complementary piece who should fit well in the top six. Tanner Jeannot adds size and physicality, giving the Bruins a more punishing presence on the forecheck, while Alex Steeves and Jeffrey Viel are likely to battle for ice time in the bottom six. Matej Blümel is something of a wild card. If he can find his stride, he may inject some needed youth and scoring into the mix. Still, it’s clear that Boston’s top-heavy wing depth will hinge heavily on Pastrnak's consistency and health, as well as whether some of the young or depth players can rise to the moment.
On the blue line, Boston remains solid, if not spectacular. Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm continue to carry the top pair with poise and skill, both capable of eating minutes in all situations. Mason Lohrei is a name to watch. Mason's young, big, and mobile, with the potential to blossom into a real impact defenseman this year. Nikita Zadorov and Andrew Peeke add heaviness and edge, though they’ll need to be managed carefully against faster teams. Henri Jokiharju and Victor Söderström offer mobility and transitional play, while Jordan Harris provides calm, positional reliability. The group is deep, and the Bruins have clearly invested in defense that can play a playoff-style game, but how well they generate offense from the back end will remain a key question.
Between the pipes, the tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo might end up being the most crucial piece of this entire puzzle. Swayman is expected to take full control of the net following his breakout over the past couple of seasons. Calm, technical, and mentally sharp, he’s become one of the better young goaltenders in the league. Korpisalo, while inconsistent in recent years, is a capable veteran who can spell Swayman and steal the occasional game when needed. Goaltending is one area where Boston seems well-positioned, and in tight games, that edge could be the difference.
All told, the Bruins are entering a new phase of not quite the veteran-laden juggernaut of the past decade, but not a rebuilding team either. They’re in the in-between. They’ve got the backbone: Pastrnak’s brilliance, McAvoy’s leadership, Swayman’s calm. Success this season will depend on how well the supporting cast gels. If their center depth holds and the defense plays with purpose, Boston could very well push deep into the playoffs again. If not, and if the scoring dries up behind Pastrnak, they might find themselves caught in the league’s most frustrating space. That space is good enough to contend, but just short of going all the way.
