With the 2026-27 season about to kick off at the end of September, the Boston Bruins are looking forward to another season under the leadership of Marco Sturm. It will be exciting to see if the Black and Gold will make a playoff push once again and if they will be able to get past round one this coming season.
While most fans know of some Bruins players who will meet expectations regularly unless they get injured, these are the five players who need to go above and beyond those expectations, or they may not see another season wearing the Spoked-B.
Mason Lohrei
Mason Lohrei is going into his fourth season with the Bruins, and in a way, this is his make-or-break season with the Black and Gold. This past season, while leading the team at his position in assists, points, and power-play points, he was one of the most inconsistent at his position as well.
He did score a career high in goals with five, assists (28) and points (33) in the 77 games he played this past season. Due to his inconsistency with puck handling and constantly turning over the puck, he was a healthy scratch in multiple games.
If Lohrei wants to make it to his fifth season with the team that drafted him back in 2020, then he is going to need to turn it around and have a breakout season.
Matthew Poitras
Matthew Poitras has had a few stints with the Bruins but has spent the majority of his time with the Providence Bruins, in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has the talent and the ability to become what the Bruins want from him; however, it seems like anytime he comes up to the big leagues, he fizzles out and does not make a mark, which gets him sent back down.
Poitras needs to take a giant step and make his mark coming up in training camp to show that he is ready to be an NHL-caliber player. If he does not, it will more than likely be the end of his tenure with the Bruins.
Lukas Reichel
Lukas Reichel was a trade deadline acquisition who signed a one-year deal through the 2026-27 season. The left winger will need a very strong camp to solidify his spot on the team. Reichel appeared in ten games for the Bruins, where he scored one goal and two assists, after coming over from the Vancouver Canucks.
Camp will be vital for Reichel and will show if he will be a huge contributor to the team or if he gets beaten out by another player looking for their time to shine.
Casey Mittelstadt
This may surprise some fans, but at the same time it may not. Casey Mittelstadt was a key part of the top six last season, however his production did not amount to a top-six performance.
Mittelstadt is coming into the final year of his contract this season and will be looking to really show the Bruins that he belongs in Boston for the long run. However, he faces the internal pressure of the future core that is coming in to take over the Bruins.
If Mittelstadt does not hold his own when it comes to production, then instead of the lucrative extension, he will be a trade piece by the deadline.
Elias Lindholm
The last player that in hot seat this season, is Elias Lindholm. What was supposed to be a big pick up, has not lived up to the hype.
Lindholm's production this past season did not live up to his heavy 7-year, 54.25 million dollar contract. Granted, he was hampered by back issues for a bit of the season; he still had very underwhelming five-on-five play that did not help his production.
The centerman has had some issues with production and consistently driving the offense as the top center when slotted next to David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. He also has the incoming James Hagens and Fraser Minten biting for the opportunity that he holds.
All these players will need to have one of the best seasons of their careers this coming season, and it starts by making it through training camp, and getting a place on the roster. If any of these players do not live up to the expecations, than it may be the last time they suit up for the Bruins.
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