If you had asked me after the two Rookie Camp games whether Dans Locmelis would make the Boston Bruins' opening-night roster, my heart would've said yes. He looked NHL-ready in those games despite not facing any NHL talent, and it felt like the only thing standing in his way was a heap of depth forwards. There was plenty of excitement to see him in a preseason game against the best of the best.
Locmelis has been playing with two depth forwards from the Bruins' roster in camp: Tanner Jeannot and Michael Eyssimont. If nothing else, it shows how close he is to making the NHL, as Marco Sturm was clearly trying to get a look at potential combinations early in camp. In fact, an early trio of Locmelis with those two NHLers and Matthew Poitras with two AHLers made it seem like the Latvian center was ahead of Poitras on the depth chart.
The roster for exhibition No. 2 pic.twitter.com/xpNiCQBptW
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 21, 2026
Poitras got the first game of the preseason schedule, and he took the opportunity and ran with it, clearly earning the chance to start the season in Boston. The problem for Locmelis is that even if he goes blow-for-blow with his competitor for the final spot, the nod will likely go to Poitras because he isn't eligible to avoid waivers. Locmelis really needed Poitras to have a poor camp to break camp in Boston, because there likely isn't room for both of them.
Dans Locmelis may not break camp in Boston, but that's okay
Locmelis wouldn't be the first player to miss out on his NHL chance at some point because of a roster crunch above him. Poitras' situation may cost Locmelis a spot, but that doesn't mean he can't impress in the preseason and put himself in a position to join the Bruins mid-season.
Casey Mittelstadt seemed to have one foot out the door earlier in this training camp with some of his comments, and it wouldn't be too surprising if he is on the trade block at some point this season to avoid losing him for nothing at season's end. If Mittelstadt leaves the organization, Locmelis can put himself at the top of the list as the next man up.
I'll be the president of the Locmelis fan club whether or not he starts the year in Boston. Even if it's not his time yet, the Latvian center has a bright future in the NHL thanks to his mix of skill, tenacity, and two-way play. If the future of the Bruins' center-ice position is James Hagens, Dean Letourneau, Fraser Minten, and Dans Locmelis, the franchise is in good hands. If Poitras earns the opportunity to join that group, all the better.
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