If there is one thing that we learned about the 2025-26 NHL regular season, it's that the Boston Bruins were one of the biggest surprises in the entire league. They were not expected to be a playoff team, however, they needed some things to go their way for them to get in and those things did go their way.
When the dust settled, the Black and Gold ended up with 100 points in the standings, secured the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot, and a first-round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres, the Atlantic Division champs. Talk about a season that not many, if any, saw coming in multiple ways.
After being dispatched in six games by Buffalo, the Bruins brass met with the media in early May and acknowledged that there needed to be roster upgrades to compete not only in 2026-27 but beyond. Not only was that the hope in Boston, but also around the rest of the league. Some teams made some big moves while the Black and Gold have made a few, but Ryan Dixon of Sportsnet dropped the best- and worst-case scenario for each Atlantic Division, and his for the Bruins would be living the same dream over and over again for fans.
Bruins get familiar best/worst case scenario from NHL writer
Dixon's best-case scenario for the Bruins is a second straight playoff appearance, while the worst-case scenario is finishing just outside the playoffs and getting a boring, mid-first-round selection. Ooof. Sound familiar?
The moves that the Bruins have made to date include adding JJ Peterka in a trade with the Utah Mammoth for two first-round draft picks. Other moves included bringing back Connor Clifton in free agency and acquiring Will Borgen from the New York Rangers. Other teams made what should be considered bigger moves, including the Florida Panthers, who added Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Black and Gold, but maybe one of the bigger questions is whether or not Marco Sturm's system will again be good enough for what some see as an under-talented team to find their way back into the postseason.
There are too many defensemen on the roster entering training camp and way too many bottom-six forwards on the roster. What happens to prospects James Hagens and Matthew Poitras if he signs a new deal?
It feels like the Black and Gold are stuck spinning their wheels as a fringe playoff team and nowhere close to being a contender. Just missing the playoffs and getting a mid-first-round draft pick that is years away from making an impact, if ever at all. Buckle up, Bruins fans; the fun begins next week.
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