The Boston Bruins are in a state of transition following the 2024-25 season. Boston desired to contend for the Stanley Cup in 2025. Nonetheless, the Bruins fell apart early within the season. Jim Montgomery was fired as head coach after a slow start. And while Joe Sacco got some early results, the team ended up falling down the standings reasonably quickly.
Ultimately, Boston didn’t make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. It was the primary time they missed the postseason since 2016. On the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the Bruins traded Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, and Justin Brazeau. They were reasonably reserved within the offseason, as well. The one player who received a long-term contract from Boston was Tanner Jeannot.
Boston is attempting to tow the road between contention and rebuilding. They wish to get younger, but they are not committing to an entire rebuild. Opportunities for younger players will likely be there for the taking this season. And more opportunities might be available once the NHL Trade Deadline comes around in 2026.
The Bruins are going to wish young stars to step up in the event that they wish to succeed. Thankfully, there are players on this roster who’ve the power to grab the bull by the horns, so to talk. Listed below are two breakout candidates on the Boston roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Matt Poitras could find his stride in NHL
Matt Poitras is one among the youngest players within the NHL. He made his debut within the league as a 19-year-old in the course of the 2023-24 season. He won’t turn 22 until mid-March. He has parts of two seasons under his belt now, and he might be on the verge of taking one other step.
Poitras has struggled to attain on the NHL level, which definitely needs to vary. Actually, he managed only a single goal in 33 games in the course of the 2024-25 season. If he desires to succeed on the NHL level, he has to seek out his stride within the offensive zone.
The 21-year-old must have the chance to attain this upcoming season. As things stand, he slots in nicely on the third line alongside Jeannot and Sean Kuraly. Poitras will likely be the playdriver on this line. And this might allow him to seek out one other gear offensively.
Will Poitras rating 20+ goals and 50+ points? Perhaps not this season. However the potential is there, and constructing the inspiration toward that kind of success begins this season. If he can do it, Boston could have something special on their hands.
Bruins’ Mason Lohrei could change into a star
Within the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, few players on the Bruins stood out greater than Mason Lohrei. The young defenseman had already established himself as an NHL regular. But he raised his game to a very other level, especially when the games mattered most.
This past season, he continued to play reasonably well. Lohrei has never lacked confidence, but he’s eliminated a few of his more overconfident tendencies that led to avoidable mistakes. He took advantage of more playing time and showed he belonged within the league.
The Bruins do have two established defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart. Hampus Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov are tough players to knock down the lineup. At the identical time, Lohrei offers more upside on each side of the puck. It would not be a surprise to see him be an everyday top-four defender on the Bruins in reasonably short order.