Boston Bruins
· 2026-07-05
The Boston Bruins have made significant moves to bolster their defense, acquiring JJ Peterka, Will Borgen, and Connor Clifton in a five-day span.
The Bruins said goodbye to Viktor Arvidsson, Andrew Peeke, and Joonas Korpisalo, making way for new talent.
General manager Don Sweeney believes these changes will improve upon their 100-point 2025-26 season.
The additions give the Bruins a different look, particularly with Peterka's left-shot ability on the power play.
Peterka averaged 15:59 of ice time per game last season and is expected to exceed that workload with the Bruins.
The Bruins are projecting improvement from Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, who could develop into top-six fixtures.
Minten and Khusnutdinov will be restricted free agents after 2026-27 and are eligible for extensions.
The defense is more uncertain, with nine defensemen on one-way contracts for 2026-27, including 22-year-old Frederic Brunet.
Brunet will require waivers to be assigned to the AHL and has a chance to make the NHL roster.
Sweeney appears intent on keeping Brunet up in the NHL, citing his mobility and puck skill.
The Bruins are currently on a W2 streak, standing 5th in the Eastern Conference with a 45-27 record as of July 5, 2026.
The team's goal is to improve their power play, which showed improvement last season.
The Bruins have a new look with Peterka's acquisition, and his speed will be an asset at five-on-five.
Assistant coach Steve Spott will have another shooter to complement David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie on the power play.
The Bruins' moves have set them up for success, and they will look to build on their current standing.
With the new signings, the Bruins are poised to make a strong run in the upcoming season.
The team's focus is on improving their defense, and the recent signings are a step in the right direction.
The Bruins' 100-point season was a testament to the team's hard work, and they will look to replicate that success.