After the Boston Bruins finished their preseason slate on Friday night with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals, you knew that there were going to be some decisions made when it came to getting the roster down to the numbers needed for Opening Night against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
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It was going to be interesting to see just what those moves were going to be. On Saturday, we got a hint at as the roster is beginning to come more into focus with a pair of moves by the Black and Gold.
Bruins place veterans Lukas Reichel and Alex Steeves on waivers
On Saturday, the Black and Gold place forwards Alex Steeves and Lukas Reichel on waivers for the purpose of getting to the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL). It would be surprising if either player were claimed, but it's unlikely the Bruins would shed a tear if one did.
Steeves was signed as a free agent in the summer of 2025, and after bursting onto the scene and being given an extension that felt rushed, he cooled off, and that deal is looking like a rough one. As for Reichel, he was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks at the trade deadline last year and re-signed in May. Both forwards were outplayed by the younger forwards.
Steeves and Reichel on waivers is one step closer to having James Hagens and Matthew Poitras, who is currently injured, to break camp in the NHL. If we're being honest, those would be the correct decisions if they become reality.
There are more moves likely coming, and defenseman Ty Gallagher was assigned to the P-Bruins, which again isn't a surprise. He could be joined by Steeves and Reichel, as well as some other teammates from Boston's camp.
Hagens has proven to be one of the Bruins' better playmakers this preseason, and who knows, just maybe he'll end up in the middle at center, maybe in the top six? He continued to get shifts on the "Kid Line" with Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten. However, you get the feeling that sooner or later, if things don't work out with Elias Lindholm in the top six, or Pavel Zacha is traded, then Minten just might be sliding up from his two buddies.
There should be some more moves coming in the coming days leading up to the season opener on Tuesday night.
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