By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
Alex Steeves had a career-best season in his Boston Bruins debut. He played 43 games, recording nine goals and seven assists. This includes one power-play goal and one short-handed goal. In his previous stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he tallied three points (1G, 2A) over a combined 14 games across four seasons.
But despite the increase in his figures this year, the 6’0”, 199-pound forward went largely unnoticed. He was often outshone by his younger teammates, such as Fraser Minten, who was also previously with the Maple Leafs, and James Hagens, whose debut had been long anticipated.
With the Bruins eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, Steeves is one of eight players to represent their country in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. He will be slotting into the Team USA roster, hoping to retain the championship in the company of his fellow B’s, Hagens, and Mason Lohrei.
Ahead of the tournament’s official start, Team USA played a friendly match against Team Germany to get the energy flowing. The American team proved its prowess, claiming a 5-2 victory and building confidence for the competition. Steeves, in particular, showed his versatility on the ice. The Minnesota native recorded one goal and one assist. He supported Sam Lafferty to give Team USA a two-goal lead in the second period, then achieved his own goal before the clock hit zero.
Team USA’s opening game against Team Switzerland didn’t see the same success. Switzerland battered the USA with two goals in the first period and took a 3-1 victory to get the competition underway. The Americans looked to be struggling out of the gate, and will be hoping to bounce back quickly to keep their hold on their title.
Steeves, however, remained in good form on the national team’s third line. Ryan Lindgren and Will Borgen got the puck out, sending it to Steeves, who cleared it into the back of the net. This allowed Team USA to finally find their way onto the board in the third period. By preventing a harsh shutout, the 26-year-old once again assumed his role as a reliable contributor for the Americans.
The Bruins will be eager to see Steeves maintain this pace and demonstrate his potential. The forward was acquired as a free agent in 2025, and his place in Boston was solidified by a two-year, $3.25 million extension. Since then, this contract has been the subject of much scrutiny as his offensive production slowed. This has raised debates as to whether the deal was worth it, if the team should have held out longer to negotiate more favorable terms, and whether the forward should be traded away in an attempt to better the team’s depth.
If Steeves can show consistency and bring this standard of play back with him to the National Hockey League, there will be a keen shift toward keeping his place on the roster. The Bruins’ erratic 2026 season and shaky playoff bid proved that the team is sorely lacking in reliable centers. While Steeves is unlikely to fill the gap in the top line, his presence could provide an offensive spark in the Bruins’ bottom-six production. With experience playing as a center and a left-winger, the Minnesotan forward could be a player to watch, keeping fans and management alike eager to see how the Bruins will approach roster construction for the next season.
Leave a Reply