By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
In his first year as Boston Bruins head coach, Marco Sturm orchestrated a successful season behind the bench for the Black and Gold. The Bruins finished with a record of 45-27-10.
Boston’s 100-point season was enough to grab hold of the first wild card slot in the crowded Eastern Conference. While the Buffalo Sabres knocked the Bruins out in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, several positive developments emerged during Boston’s campaign.
But as Sturm and the rest of the Bruins coaching staff prepare for the 2026-2027 season, there are a few aspects Boston will need to better this year. The Bruins’ defense needs to improve in certain areas.
High-Danger Chances
Last season, the Bruins were tied with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs for the most high-danger chances allowed per contest. Boston’s backend was not effective enough at limiting chances in the slot and protecting the middle of the ice.
This season, the Bruins defense will need to do a much better job at protecting the house. Too often last year, Boston conceded too much space and allowed opponents access to prime scoring areas.
Handling the Forecheck
The inability to clear the puck out of the zone, especially when dealing with a stout forecheck, has plagued the Bruins for years now. Too often, Boston defensemen have struggled to break the puck out when the opponent has barreled down with pressure.
The Bruins’ defense will need to limit turnovers when facing an aggressive forecheck. Especially on the penalty kill, Boston’s back end must improve their breakout passes to start a rush the other way.
Offensive Zone Time
The Bruins ranked 27th in the NHL at even-strength offensive zone time percentage. Far too often last season, the Bruins were hemmed into their own zone for extended periods of time.
That certainly is not just on the defensemen, as the Boston forwards will need to be more effective this season at making themselves available for breakouts and sustaining pressure in the offensive zone. Both units will have to mesh more seamlessly this season when it comes to turning defense into offense.
Last season, Jeremy Swayman’s elite play between the pipes was a massive reason why Boston corralled 100 points and earned the first wild card slot in a competitive Eastern Conference. But consistently letting your starting goaltender get peppered with high-danger chances and spending a considerable amount of time in your defensive zone is not a sustainable recipe for success.
Also, the Bruins will be deploying Michael DiPietro as Swayman’s backup netminder. It would not be conducive to his development or the Bruins’ playoff chances for DiPietro to consistently face an avalanche of shot attempts.
The Bruins certainly have some talent in their defensive core. Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov are a solid nucleus of proven NHL talent. But there will have to be improvements from Boston’s backend for the Bruins to return to the postseason in 2027. To succeed, Boston’s defense needs to limit high-danger chances, handle an aggressive forecheck, and spend more time in the offensive zone.
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