The Boston Bruins began training camp on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. This season, there are only 12 days between the Black and Gold's first official on-ice workout and the season opener against the New York Rangers on Sept. 29 at TD Garden.
With the shorter preseason, which was cut down to just four preseason games instead of six, and the regular season going from 82 games to 84, there is very little time for some players on teh bubble to make an impression on second-year head coach Marco Sturm and his staff. It's going to be a quick turnaround for some of the younger players looking to make a name for themselves and the roster for the season opener.
When it comes to prospect Dans Locmelis, making the roster is going to be difficult, but when it comes down to some decisions, sending him to the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) is an option that could become reality for one reason.
Bruins Dans Locmelis facing obstables to making roster out of training camp
Locmelis is finally healthy to begin the season after his 2025-26 season in the AHL was cut short due to shoulder surgery. However, he played well at the Prospect Showcase in Buffalo last week, but James Hagens got all the headlines from the event.
However, he is a candidate to be part of the final cuts, but when push comes to shove, there is one obstacle that he doesn't need to clear that another player might. Waivers.
Never mind that there are a handful of veteran forwards who are fighting to make the roster with Locmeils. Another prospect who needs to clear waivers before going down to the AHL is Matthew Poitras. It would be stunning if Boston took a risk right out of training camp and placed the 2022 second-round pick on waivers to send him to Providence. He likely wouldn't make it.
Poitras was signed on Wednesday to a one-year, two-way contract for $850,000 and is facing a big season in Boston. Keeping him in Boston to break camp as an extra forward makes sense rather than risking losing him to waivers. That makes the decision to send Locmelis down to Providence somewhat of a no-brainer. You have to think that James Hagens breaks camp in Boston.
There are going to be some decisions coming up in terms of the roster after the preseason games and the season opener. However, when it comes to Locmelis, sending him down over Poitras makes sense to at least begin the season.
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