It’s time to answer your questions about the Boston Bruins.
Boston Hockey Now opened up the bag, and you all responded with plenty of great questions, points, and conversation starters. Thank you all, and we will have a second part coming out on Friday.
In this part, we start with James Hagens, why he was not at development camp, and where he should start next season. We also talk about Pavel Zacha, both extension and trade value, this summer’s moves, opening night lineups and an early stab at the eight playoff teams.
We’ll start with the first question that rolled in:
Bruins Q&A
“What are the chances Hagens starts the season in the AHL?” –bruins
“What was the reasoning behind Hagens skipping rookie development camp, was the front office in agreement, and is there a chance he starts the year in Providence?” –Gus TheGardener
Yes, there is absolutely a chance Hagens starts the season in Providence. It’s the Boston Bruins. They are not afraid to utilize Providence, and there is a logjam of forwards. I look at his BC teammate, Gabe Perreault, as an example (played for AHL-Hartford to start last season), but I do not think the Bruins should start the season that way.
The Bruins have a stockpile of NHL-caliber forwards, and Hagens is among the pack of 17. He’s young in his pro career, but his ceiling is much higher than the other options the Bruins have; that’s not breaking news. Also, Marco Sturm loves working with younger players. Let him. We watched both Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov take major strides with a full season under their belts.
Gus, Hagens was not at development camp partly due to the tenacious schedule he had this season. After Day 1 of camp, Adam McQuaid said they viewed players on an individual basis and wanted to put him in the best spot come September. I would not read too much into that one.
“What is the minimum trade package you’d need if you were GM of the Bruins to trade Zacha, and what is the highest you’d go term/AAV wise if you were making a contract offer?” –Eamonn McLean (via 𝕏)
Hey, Eamonn. We both know that the market is thin and centers have value. It’s the issue teams, including the Bruins, are running into if they are looking to upgrade. Look what just happened to Philly’s attempt to land a center. That’s the reason I am reluctant to move Zacha if I am GM. He poses too much value to a Bruins team that so desperately needs a pivot in between David Pastrnak and JJ Peterka, and even if he is not the “bona fide” No. 1 center Cam Neely wants, he is the one the Bruins have.
I would expect Zacha’s next contract to top Elias Lindholm’s $7.75 million AAV. I would be surprised if his ask is less than $8M per year, but if I’m the Bruins, I am not going any more than $9M, especially when looking at other 1C contracts league-wide. Seven 1Cs command greater than $10 million annually, and Zacha is not among that group of elite centers.
“Zacha’s trade value is probably at all time high..but he’s in 30’s and will want a no-trade clause..it feels like Larkin deal and Philly offer to Carlsson is holding up movement, but is Zacha like Jaylen Brown and may not be worth as much in trade as we think? Don’t really want another 30’s contract at 8/9 mill with no trade clauses for 5 years…he should go to a top contender looking for a 2 line center” –td
Yes, his value is at an all-time high, especially around the league with a depleted center market. His career-high season inflates his value as well, as does his current $4.75 million cap hit. Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic ($) projected his value to be multiple picks – possibly a first – and a roster player. Possibly a first stands out there, as a Zacha move is not worth it to the Bruins unless they can get one back, and is it really worth it to land a pick in the mid-20s?
I have always wondered about Minnesota as a landing spot for Zacha, but they fit into the category of a late first-round pick.
Zacha already has a no-trade list in his contract, as well… and the Brown trade still hurts. I don’t envision the Bruins trading him for a 36-year-old.
“Who do you think (hypothetically) will be on the opening night roster?” –Tumbling Muffin
This one is fun. Hypothetically, of course. There are 10 defensemen who all have cases to play NHL minutes, so I see more moves coming to the blue line.
Forwards: Geekie, Hagens, Jeannot, Kastelic, Khusnutdinov, Kuraly, E. Lindholm, Mittelstadt, Minten, Peterka, Pastrnak, Zacha, Steeves, Reichel
Defensemen: Aspirot, Borgen, Clifton, H. Lindholm, McAvoy (sspd), Zadorov, Jokiharju
Goalies: Swayman, DiPietro
Mason Lohrei is interesting. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that the Bruins were looking at moving the 6-foot-5 defenseman, and he appeared on a few national media trade boards. Don Sweeney did not move him, filled the right side, which he previously praised Lohrei’s ability to play, and followed that by saying Lohrei may move back to the left side as defensive partners get sorted. His latest remarks make it seem as if Lohrei is sticking around, but your guess is as good as mine.
“Season starts today, who rides with McAvoy (1 pairing), who rides with Lindholm (2 pairing)?” –Joe
In a perfect world, the Bruins would find their ideal partner for Charlie McAvoy this summer (not named Darnell Nurse), but more pressing needs were addressed. I still think Hampus Lindholm can be that ideal partner, and their small sample size last season showed well, and they have worked well in previous seasons. In 137:20 (at 5-on-5) together during 2025-26, they owned a 55.6% Corsi share, and the Bruins outscored opponents 10-3.
But that’s not what Joe asked. If they are running on separate pairs again, I think Jonathan Aspirot proved his worth alongside McAvoy as a short-term fit. For Hampus, Will Borgen seems like the fit. He played second-pair minutes in NY alongside the likes of Carson Soucy and Urho Vaakanainen… Lindholm is a step up from both of those players. Leaving Zadorov and Clifton as a threatening third pair.
“Would you like the Bruins to go after another top 6 UFA winger (Tarasenko, E Kane or P Kane) or would you rather them let younger guys play? And if they did go after a veteran and land P Kane, who gets bumped down a line?” –Looch17
No. Let the younger guys play. And Looch, your follow-up question about who gets bumped down a line answers it. The Bruins are not a Tarasenko/Kane/Kane away from a Stanley Cup, so it’s not worth it to bring in a UFA who will get in the way of any of the Bruins’ younger guys.
I am not opposed to the Bruins making a move for a top-six forward, but that would need to come at the cost of moving one out.
“When are the Bruins going to get someone that can help the team?” –Rick W. Murray
Hi, Rick. Always enjoy your comments, as do many here, it seems.
I’ll point to JJ Peterka, 24, who is signed through 2030 with a comfortable $7.7 million cap hit. He was not a fit in Utah, but still rattled off 25 goals, and he projects to play alongside Pastrnak on the first line. Will Borgen and Connor Clifton are also upgrades over Andrew Peeke (Happy Trails?) and Henri Jokiharju, with the latter struggling to fit into Marco Sturm’s system.
“The Eastern Conference will be very competitive. It looks like the following are locks for the playoffs, Carolina, TB, Montreal and Florida. Who do you think will be the other 4 teams that make the playoffs?” –Sr
I completely agree that it’s going to be competitive, which makes it another uphill battle for the Bruins. I won’t write off Buffalo, and I think Washington made the right moves, so that’s six. The last two spots are anyone’s best guess. I’ll lean towards Philadelphia for the third Metro spot. Leaving the Bruins, Devils, Penguins, and Senators for the last spot.
The Bruins are a better team than they were last season, but so are the teams around them. I’m not high on Toronto, and I think Ottawa may benefit from Tkachuk’s departure.
Side note (not that it means much): the Bruins have the lowest betting odds in the Eastern Conference to make the playoffs.
“Does Ivan Ivan have his first name or his last name on the back of his jersey?” –Nosek_Lover_92
Middle name is an option, too.
Thank you, all! Stay tuned for the second bag of questions tomorrow.
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