Through the first month of the 2026-27 regular season, anything that could have gone right for the Boston Bruins has. They are 11-4-1 and narrowly on top in the Atlantic Division, which is loaded this season from top to bottom.
So far, they have been the surprise of the NHL season and are going to look to take advantage of a home-heavy schedule in November. However, what grade should the Black and Gold get for their strong start to the season? Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report gave the Bruins a correct grade of an A, but he nailed the main part of why they have had the start to the season they have.
Bleacher Report nails Bruins reason for surprising start to the 2026-27 season
Gretz wrote that there is not a lot to complain about, and he's right. However, it's been the injection of young players who have played a big role in the success the Black and Gold have had over 16 games.
"It's not all falling on goaltender Jeremy Swayman,'' Gretz wrote. "The infusion of young talent with players like Fraser Minten and James Hagens has been a breath of fresh air and is giving this team some much-needed spark.''
Truth be told, Fraser Minten provided a spark last season with a big-time breakout season that nobody saw coming. It earned him a huge payday and will be a trade that haunts the Toronto Maple Leafs for years to come, now that Brandon Carlo has been traded to the St. Louis Blues.
However, when it comes to James Hagens, the breakout has been real and much-needed. For a 19-year-old rookie, who turned 20 years old on Tuesday, he does things that some veteran NHL forwards don't do, including getting to the front of the net to finish. He is certainly winning over his teammates.
One question surrounding the Bruins is whether they can keep it up over an 84-game schedule to make the playoffs. They are not only going to need their goaltenders, Swayman and Michael DiPietro, to continue to play as well as they do, but also the kids to continue to make an impact. Hagens falling to the Black and Gold at No. 7 in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is turning into one of the steals of the draft. Boston has needed an influx of youth into their lineup, and they finally have it and are seeing the results they hoped for.
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