By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
The 2024-25 season saw the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins miss the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Fans were left heartbroken as the team was hit with a painful 5-4 overtime defeat against the New Jersey Devils in the last game of the regular season, made worse by the loss of several key veteran players at the trade deadline.
Going into the 2025-26 season, there were few expectations of what the Bruins would deliver. Rumors of a rebuild swirled, suggesting a foreseeable slump in the long-term. The team had invested in some young talent, but they remained inexperienced and locked in the college system, and there was also no captain to lead the helm. Instead, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm were named a unit of alternate captains while Marco Sturm took on the daunting role of Head Coach.
According to MoneyPuck, predictions at the start of the season saw Boston have a slim 14.5 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. Yet, beyond belief, the Bruins are now gearing up for the first round.
Goaltending has been a joy to watch this season, continuously making big saves and rarely showing struggle in the crease. Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo have stood tall in the net, posting a shared 3.27 GAA and .899 SV% for the team. They have also achieved three shutouts between them.
While offensive production has been slow at some points, the Bruins’ second line has emerged as a surprise force. Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt have been an effective combination in creating scoring chances and maintaining possession of the puck. This has provided the team with dependable secondary scoring that has kept them competitive.
Likewise, the back end has been able to turn around efforts when it matters. Nikita Zadorov has seen the most penalty minutes in the league, racking up 152 across the season. He’s followed closely by Mark Kastelic, who takes second with 140. Willing to drop the gloves and bring some grit to the game, they’ve set the tone physically and helped to swing critical shifts in key moments.
Hindsight continues to prove to be sweet for the Bruins. The trades made last year have allowed a turnaround in team depth, pushing forward young talent where energy was much-needed. Fraser Minten – who was acquired alongside a conditional first-round draft pick for Brandon Carlo in a swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs – has had a stellar rookie season. The 6’2”, 204-pound center has shown an unexpected maturity on the ice, and his efforts have earned him much praise and recognition, including the NESN 7th Player Award.
James Hagens has also made his highly anticipated debut in the National Hockey League, recording an assist in his opening game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 19-year-old also posed a new threat as he played on home ice for the first time in the team’s last matchup, fast on his feet and heavy on the forecheck.
These performances saw the Bruins take home a final win in the regular season against the New Jersey Devils, reaching 100 points with the 4-0 shutout. A stark contrast to the disappointing end of last year’s campaign. Claiming a second win in a row, the Bruins have managed to keep momentum as they head into the playoffs this weekend. The postseason will prove a grueling test of skill and resilience – as it always does – but for a team that was expected to be out for the count, cautious hope has turned into a tangible chance.
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