By: Mary Olivia Eyears | Follow me on Twitter / X @OliviaEyears
A defenseman’s job doesn’t end when the puck leaves the defensive zone. Sometimes the play that changes a game begins with a breakout pass, a perfectly timed rush, or a defenseman recognizing an opening before others. For the Boston Bruins, these moments have been an incredibly important part of the game.
Through the first 18 games of the season, Boston has a 13-4-1 record and has allowed 41 goals. The goaltending has been doing its job, but an interesting story is also unfolding in front of the crease. Under head coach Marco Sturm, the Bruins are asking more of their defense and encouraging them to get involved in every aspect. This approach has brought a different dimension to Boston’s blue line. It is built on awareness, movement, and knowing when to take a chance on the ice.
For years, defensemen have been judged on how well they protect their end. Their responsibilities haven’t changed, but Boston is focusing more on what happens when possession shifts. Sturm wants his defensemen to recognize opportunities and get involved in joining the rush, supporting their forwards and generating offense. The Bruins want their blue line to remain involved in each play, which means finding open spaces, making quick decisions, and knowing when to leave the defensive zone without risking too much. It’s an approach that requires awareness and communication, but it gives the club more scoring chances and puts more pressure on other teams.
Early results have offered a glimpse of what this could produce. Through Boston’s first seven games, its defensemen had already combined for five goals. This includes production from Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Will Borgen. The offensive production wasn’t a lucky stretch, but something the club had been working hard on.
During a practice in Anaheim on October 15, Sturm said activating the defense had become a regular part of drills. The point was to make joining the play feel natural and second nature, rather than hesitant. Lindholm talked about the importance of knowing when to support the forwards instead of forcing a rush and playing a natural-feeling game.
This adjustment takes more than speed. It requires knowing where the rest of your men are, anticipating how a play might develop, and understanding the risk vs. reward. When they make these decisions correctly, Boston can turn a breakout into a dangerous scoring opportunity. But when they are not, the Bruins can find themselves defending an odd-man rush in the opposite direction. Finding balance will be crucial as Sturm continues to shape the team’s identity defensively.
Few players are better positioned to help put this approach into practice than veterans Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. This pairing brings an understanding of when to hold the line, how to manage responsibilities, when to attack, and the quick, smart thinking that comes with playing against some of the National Hockey League’s most dangerous forwards.
McAvoy made his presence known immediately after returning from a six-game suspension on October 13. In his season debut against the San Jose Sharks, the alternate captain scored in Boston’s 6-3 victory and logged a team-high 24:41 on ice. He scored his first-period goal after joining the play in front of the net and finishing a pass from JJ Peterka, giving the team a 2-1 lead. After missing the first six games of the season, he wasted no time getting back into the action and getting settled into a new season, showing the impact he can have at both ends of the ice.
His return also reunited him with Hampus Lindholm, a partner who brings his own puck-moving ability and support for his teammates. The familiarity matters when both players need to make quick, informed decisions while assessing the risk. During the October 15 practice, Lindholm explained that their experience lets them play naturally without overthinking.
The pairing delivered another great performance on November 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 16:08 of five-on-five, the pair were on the ice for four Boston goals and one against in the 6-2 win. Boston outshot Pittsburgh 8-4 while McAvoy and Lindholm were on the ice together, and the Bruins accounted for 70.25% of expected goals during that stretch.
In one game, they showed what Boston can get from its top defensive pairing. These two aren’t limited to preventing scoring chances; they can also help create them, move the puck through traffic, and give the club another way to generate offense when the forwards need support.
Not every defensive contribution comes with a scoring chance. Sometimes the biggest difference comes from making the opposing team shift a little harder. That is where Nikita Zadorov and Will Borgen come in. At 6-foot-7, Zadorov brings a huge physical presence that is hard to ignore. Borgen stands 6-foot-3 and isn’t afraid to engage the other team. Together, they give Boston a pairing that can challenge opponents along the boards, around the crease, battle for the puck, and make it harder to gain possession in dangerous areas.
Through his first 17 games, Zadorov has registered 52 hits and 27 blocked shots, while Borgen has recorded 43 hits and 24 blocks through 18 games. These numbers show the physicality both players bring to the game and their willingness to battle for possession and protect their zone.
Physicality alone does not guarantee effective defending. This pairing must also move the puck effectively, avoid extended shifts in their zone, and limit scoring chances against. Finding a balance is an area worth watching. On November 5, against Pittsburgh, Zadorov and Borgen finished without a goal against at five-on-five, and Boston accounted for 42.2% of expected goals during their shared minutes, showing room for improvement.
For the Bruins, the challenge is getting the best out of both sides of their game: wearing opponents down physically while staying disciplined. When the balance is there, the pair gives the team something different from their more offensively inclined defensemen.
While Boston’s veterans provide most of the experience, Mason Lohrei and Frederic Brunet add another layer to the blue line. Lohrei’s confidence with the puck is one of the most noticeable parts of his game. The 6-foot-5 defenseman is willing to carry possession through the neutral zone while looking for opportunities and getting involved offensively when they come up. The willingness to attack fits naturally with what Marco Sturm wants from his defensemen.
Through his first 18 games, Lohrei has recorded three goals and three assists. His offensive ability gives the Bruins another option from the blue line. Finding consistency in his defensive play remains an important part of his development.
Frederic Brunet is navigating a different stage of his NHL career. The 23-year-old has shown strong potential in his rookie season, but Sturm has been deliberate about his development this year. After Brunet sat out three games as a healthy scratch, Sturm explained that the decision was a reset, not punishment. The time away from the lineup gave Brunet the time to regroup and focus on his game.
The young defenseman returned to the lineup against the Penguins on November 5 and assisted Mark Kastelic on a first-period goal. This was a positive reminder of what he can offer and his potential in the lineup. While one game doesn’t define his development, it was a positive step forward as he continues to earn his place on the blue line.
This pairing has plenty of potential, but it also comes with growing pains as the Bruins continue to develop their young players. Lohrei and Brunet are learning how to balance offensive instincts with the responsibilities of defending against some of the league’s best scorers. Their development isn’t measured by points alone, but also by how consistently they can manage the puck, respond, and read pressure situations. For Marco Sturm, finding the right opportunities to challenge both players without overwhelming them will be a huge part of Boston’s season.
Boston has had encouraging signs this season, but the numbers also show the work still to be done. The Bruins have allowed 2.28 goals per game through 18 matchups, which reflects the combined efforts of defense and goaltending. Their penalty kill has been 77%, an area where Boston needs more consistency, especially against opponents who capitalize on special-teams opportunities.
The pairings differ in ways beyond their styles of play. McAvoy and Lindholm have shown how effective they can be when they move the puck confidently and support the forwards. The other pairings have had strong moments but have not produced the same offensive results.
This does not diminish what the organization has accomplished; it just gives them a clearer picture of what they need to focus on. The goal isn’t for every defenseman to play like McAvoy or for every pairing to generate offense in the same way. The goal is to find a structure that lets each player use their strengths and highlight them while playing as a cohesive group. For a team trying to build on a very successful month, these details could matter a lot.
Boston’s defense is developing an identity that goes beyond blocked shots, physical play, and keeping opponents away from the crease. Under Marco Sturm, the Bruins want their defensemen involved in every aspect of the game from one end of the ice to the other. That could mean starting a breakout, joining the rush, or making a defensive play that helps Boston regain control.
McAvoy and Lindholm bring the experience to help lead Boston’s blue line, while Zadorov and Borgen bring a physical edge that can change the pace of play. Meanwhile, Lohrei and Brunet offer a look at the exciting potential of Boston’s next generation of defensemen as they develop with the group.
The challenge now is consistency. Boston has shown what the blue line can do when all the pieces work together, but maintaining that standard against tough competition will reveal what is working and where the improvements are still needed.
For the Bruins, setting the tone doesn’t always begin with a goal or highlight-reel plays. Sometimes it starts with smart defensive reads, winning battles, and getting the puck back up the ice. This is where Boston wants its game to begin.
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