Four games into the 2026-27 season, the Boston Bruins are 2-2-0, and truth be told, it's a bit of a surprise that they have even split their first two games.
They opened the season against the New York Rangers with a 3-0 win, then split a two-game road trip in 24 hours, rallying to beat the Winnipeg Jets in overtime last Friday night before falling to the Minnesota Wild, 4-1, on Saturday night. They closed out the week with a dud in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators in the TD Garden on Monday night.
There are several reasons as to why the Black and Gold are in the spot they're in, but truth be told, the play of some players has been disappointing. Sure, you could name some defensemen who haven't been good, but the forward groupings have been a disappointment through the first week. Here are five forwards who have been a disappointment early in the season for coach Marco Sturm.
5 Bruins who have been disappointments early in 2026-27
Morgan Geekie
After putting up career numbers the last couple of seasons, it's been a tough beginning to the season for Morgan Geekie. It's just four games, but if there was a regression candidate this season, Morgan Geekie is your guy. He has had some bad puck luck early in the season, hitting a crossbar against the Rangers and a post against the Senators. However, he had the best chance for Boston against Ottawa when he collected a loose puck, came down the slot alone, and hit Linus Ullmark with a shot. He has zero confidence and needs a fluke goal to get going.
Elias Lindholm
Another player I know you're shocked is on this list. It's been four games, and as far as many Bruins fans are concerned, it's been long enough to have Elias Lindholm centering the first line. Some fans would like to trade him, but good luck with that. Nobody is taking that contract off Don Sweeney's hands. His leash with Sturm as the top-line center should be getting shorter, and it's time to try Fraser Minten or someone else up there. Lindholm can't be there much longer.
Pavel Zacha
Trade rumors are going to be surrounding Pavel Zacha this season, and they're only going to get louder. In a contract year and with no extension anywhere close with the Bruins, he will be the top center available come the trade deadline in a light trade market for pivots. He centered the best second line last season with Casey Mittlestadt and Viktor Arvidsson, but the latter left for the Detroit Red Wings in free agency and is clearly missed for his speed. Zacha isn't exactly raising his trade value for the Bruins through the first week of the season.
Casey Mittlestadt
Another forward that is catching the ire of Bruins fans is Casey Mittlestadt. Like Zacha, he appears to be missing Arvidsson from his line, and he really hasn't been great through the first four games. This is another contract that Sweeney would love to get out of, but like Lindholm, nobody is taking it on until the trade deadline, if at all. He clearly is playing his last season with the Black and Gold, and Boston can't move on quickly enough from him, either through a trade or free agency next summer.
David Pastrnak
Pastrnak hasn't played awful, but man, it seems whenever he makes a mistake, it ends up in the back of the net. That was the case against the Senators. His comments after the game weren't a great look for a first-year captain, blaming three games in four nights. Yikes. On top of that, he's not looking to shoot enough, and he hasn't scored a goal yet. Sure, the passing has been good at times, but he needs to shoot more and start finding the back of the net. He needs to score real soon.
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