Boston Bruins
· 2026-06-25
The Boston Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 with a 45-27 record, standing 5th in the Eastern Conference, on a W2 streak, but lost 1-4 to the Buffalo Sabres on May 1, 2026.
The Bruins had a strong season with David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy as stars, and Jeremy Swayman's return to form in goal.
The team allowed the fifth-most shots per game, but Swayman's performance helped them finish 10th in the NHL for Goals For Per Game.
The Bruins need to figure out how to put more pucks on net to better support Swayman, and signing a shot-producing forward like Anthony Mantha could be the answer.
Mantha had a standout season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring a career-high 33 goals in 2025-26.
The Bruins could pursue a defenseman, but signing Mantha to replace veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, is a key move.
Mantha's consistency has been an issue, with multiple stretches of five or more games without a goal, but he could be willing to take a shorter-term contract to prove himself.
The Bruins' front office needs to make the right moves this summer to ensure they can keep up with the Eastern Conference heavyweights.
And with the new league year beginning on July 1, the Bruins must act quickly to sign their top targets.
But the Bruins' playoff run in 2026 showed that the front office's decision to retool was correct, and they have a chance to continue contending for the playoffs.
So the Bruins must focus on signing players who can help them generate more shots on goal and support Swayman in net.
The Bruins' offense struggled to generate many shots on goal, but signing a player like Mantha could help them improve in this area.