There were no Stanley Cup Playoff games last night, but the Boston Bruins were still involved in news yesterday. 

The Bruins exceeded expectations this season, but they know work has to be done. They cannot be desperate for a 1C this offseason, even if Cam Neely says the Bruins do not have one. Neely is also high on two young Bruins, both of whom have the potential to fill that role once they develop. 

A Bruins’ enforcer was also posthumously diagnosed with CTE. 

Elsewhere around the hockey world, the World Championships will have a new champion, and there were two game misconducts handed out during the quarterfinals. The Devils and Blackhawks have trade options to look at, and there are some second-round centers to look at. 

Game 5 between Montreal and Carolina is tonight. 

Happy Friday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

To start, Claude Lemieux passed away at 60 years old yesterday. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide call just after 3:00 AM yesterday morning at a furniture showroom in Lake Park, FL. Lemieux was in Montreal on Monday night, and he lit the torch before Game 3 against Carolina. 

It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it is a tragedy. If you are struggling or need help, reach out to your loved ones or call/text 988. 

Boston Bruins

NO. 1 CENTER: The Bruins want a No. 1 center. Cam Neely mentioned they do not have one. How aggressive should they be, though? 

The Bruins exceeded expectations this season, hitting 100 points and clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They also started a retool in 2025, tearing down to the studs at the deadline, and adding picks, prospects, and young NHL talent. If they become desperate, they will lose the foundation of the retool. 

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Seven Bruins made it to the quarterfinals, but they played each other, and three advanced. 

The United States lost to Canada 4-0, behind a Jet Greaves 34-save shutout. 

Here is how the Bruins did yesterday:

Fraser Minten (CAN): 4C; +1, 3 SOG, 4-of-6 on faceoffs, 13:02 TOI

James Hagens (USA): 2C; 2 SOG, 3-of-6 on faceoffs, 7:09 TOI (DNP in third period)

Alex Steeves (USA): 2LW; 2 SOG, 13:04 TOI

Mason Lohrei (USA): 2LD; -1, 2 SOG, 21:47 TOI

Joonas Korpisalo (FIN): did not play

Henri Jokiharju (FIN): 2RD; +2, 1 SOG, 19:22 TOI

Matej Blümel (CZE): 2LW; 3 SOG; 16:38 TOI

Concussion & CTE Foundation (via 𝕏): Lyndon Byers, who passed away on July 4, 2025, was posthumously diagnosed with CTE. Byers played in Boston from 1983-92, racking up 24 goals, 42 assists, and 959 penalty minutes. 

BREAKING: Former Boston Bruins enforcer Lyndon Byers has been diagnosed with stage 3 CTE by @BU_CTE researchers after his death last year at age 61. His family is sharing the results to raise awareness and help prevent other athletes from suffering. Byers played 10 seasons in the…

— Concussion & CTE Foundation (@ConcussionCTEfn) May 28, 2026

Bruins Trade Talk

Sportsnet: Mason Lohrei appeared on Nick Kypreos’ trade board. He joins names like Jason Robertson, Vincent Trocheck, Dougie Hamilton, and Jake DeBrusk on the trade board ahead of an offseason with a very, very weak UFA class. 

“After getting into just three playoff games, I’ve heard the Bruins are looking into moving the 25-year-old Mason Lohrei. He’s a good player making $3.2 million for another season before he becomes an RFA, but the Bruins are doing their due diligence to see if his upside is appealing enough to another team to allow Boston to get back someone else who will help them in another part of their lineup.”

Hey!

ESPN: Rachel Kryshak listed Matt Poitras as an under-25 player who could benefit from a change-of-scenery trade. Poitras played 33 games in each of his first two seasons, only to see three in this past season. 

Poitras is a center, and the Bruins have added Fraser Minten and James Hagens since his arrival. Minten won the spot at training camp last year, won the Seventh Player Award, and does not seem to be going anywhere soon. 

Poitras is an RFA at the end of this season. 

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Canada won the rematch. They beat the United States 4-0 yesterday, and Jet Greaves was named Canada’s player of the game. Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring, and Dylan Holloway, Connor Brown, and Sidney Crosby added goals in the win. 

There will be a new gold medalist in this year’s World Championships. 

Steven Ellis/NHL News (video via 𝕏): Ryan Lindgren was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head of Evan Bouchard. 

Steven Ellis/NHL News (video via 𝕏): And in the afternoon slate, Switzerland’s Dean Kukan got a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this cross-check on Ivar Stenberg. 

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils have the 12th overall pick. The Sharks pick second. There’s a player, playing for Team Sweden at the IIHF World Championships, whose stock is rising, and it convinced James Nichols that the Devils should trade up. 

Sunny Mehta was brought in to be bold, and this is bold. 

Chicago Hockey Now: Will the Blackhawks use Kevin Korchinski as a trade chip? They may have rushed the development of their seventh-overall pick. After a full season in Chicago, he predominantly played in the AHL in the last two seasons, and now his contract is up. Jack Bushman has more on the Blackhawks’ trade chip.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings traded their first-round pick to the Blues in the Justin Faulk trade. Their first pick is in the second round, so the hope is that one of their targets falls that far. Kevin Allen is looking for a center, and he reached out to Russ Cohen to see if there’s a chance the Red Wings land a center in the second round. 

Spittin’ Chiclets (video via 𝕏): Bruce Cassidy does not seem all that happy with Vegas blocking him from talking to other teams. Kelly McCrimmon, the Golden Knights GM, previously said he talked to Cassidy about this and that they were on the same page. 

“It’s upsetting…There was two teams that asked it’s public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach.”

Bruce Cassidy speaks on Vegas not allowing him to interview for other teams. pic.twitter.com/cXx4ijCKZS

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 28, 2026

Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens are good, and the Hurricanes are great, writes Marc Dumont. But the Canadiens are learning crucial lessons. They have been successful after losses, except for Games 3 and 4, but they are 7-3 on the road in the playoffs, and their backs are against the wall tonight. 

PLAYOFFS

M1 – Hurricanes (3) vs. A3 – Canadiens (1)

C1 – Avalanche (0) vs. P1 – Golden Knights (4)

Chris Johnston (via 𝕏): The NHL released the schedule for the Stanley Cup Finals, though not official as we await the result of Game 5 tonight. If the Hurricanes close out tonight, the series Finals start on June 2. If not, they start on June 4. 

Today’s NHL Schedule

Canadiens at Hurricanes, Game 5 – 8:00 PM (US: TNT, HBO; CA: CBC, SN, TVA)

*win and advance

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