By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The third defensive pairing is where things could get a little shaky for the Boston Bruins. There’s a blend of struggling youth and simple physicality with this pairing. Anyone struggling to defend their own zone on this team will need to get on track quickly, as the organization wants to see defensive structure prioritized early and often as part of the new regime.
This pairing refers, of course, to the mix of Mason Lohrei and Andrew Peeke, who have already built some familiarity over the offseason. After winning the Ice Hockey World Championship over the offseason, the two will look to carry added motivation and chemistry into their 2025–26 season.
Skating at 6’5” and 220 pounds, Mason Lohrei endured an unfortunate season last year. His defensive game was far from where it needed to be, and although plus-minus doesn’t tell the whole story, he finished with a -43 in that category.
Lohrei consistently shows spurts of offensive brilliance. He has an offensive versatility the National Hockey League values in today’s game, but it’s time for him to clean up the defensive inefficiencies.
He is far too statured and physically built to be falling short in his own zone so frequently, so expect him to try and use his body more effectively. While he’s tried to do this before, he needs to be more successful in boxing out in front of the net and less superficial with his stick-checking.
Peeke, at 6’3” and 214 pounds, plays a simple game that could rub off on Lohrei, improving his defensive play. He is one of the few defensemen left in the NHL who pride themselves on making the smart play that’s available, and getting the puck away from their net.
He is also a shining example for the team in consistently clearing opponents from the net-front, an issue that has plagued Bruins defensemen both tall and short. A simple player like this makes a lot of sense alongside Lohrei, but Peeke cannot make up for everything and needs his partner to hold up. You hope Peeke can take him under his wing, showing how simple defending can be mentally for a player who is probably overthinking at times.
Lohrei’s development will make or break this pairing, and poor play could send Peeke packing at the trade deadline. If the pairing goes well, Lohrei will have prioritized his defensive game and picked up a few nuances from his partner. If the pairing doesn’t go well, it will likely be because he has remained an offense-first player mentally.
There is always the possibility of Head Coach Marco Sturm reaching young players like Lohrei and unlocking something in their game, which will be another situation to monitor come training camp. The Bruins will have to balance punishing fatal mistakes with accepting those that are part of growth.
Check out my other Bruins Defensive Pairing Breakdowns in this offseason series below as I continue to give my thoughts on the potential 2025-26 regular season lineup. Thanks in advance!
1. https://blackngoldhockey.com/2025/08/bruins-line-breakdown-first-defensive-pairing-analysis/
2. https://blackngoldhockey.com/2025/08/bruins-line-breakdown-second-defensive-pairing-analysis/
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