The air is getting crisp, the skates are being sharpened, and for the Boston Bruins, the winds of change are blowing with the force of a nor’easter. After a season that saw the club miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, culminating in a trade deadline “firesale” and a mid-season coaching change, this is no ordinary training camp. This is a reckoning. As 50 players descend upon Warrior Ice Arena for medicals on Sept. 17, they aren’t just competing for roster spots; they’re fighting to define the next era of Bruins hockey.
The stakes are immense. Can a new voice behind the bench restore defensive discipline? Can the franchise goaltender bounce back from the worst season of his career? Will youth finally be served, or will veteran contracts create an immovable logjam? The answers will begin to surface as camp unfolds, leading into the first preseason tilt against the Capitals on Sept. 21. Here are the most compelling storylines to watch.
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The Sturm System: A New Voice, A New Philosophy
When Jim Montgomery was dismissed last season, the move signaled a clear dissatisfaction with the team’s direction and, more specifically, its leaky defensive structure. Enter Marco Sturm. The former Bruin forward isn’t just a nostalgic hire; he’s a coach with a specific mandate: restore order. His resume is impressive, featuring an Olympic silver medal with Germany and a successful tenure with the AHL’s Ontario Reign. However, it’s his time as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings that has Bruins management most optimistic.
Sturm was a key part of a staff that preached a disciplined, five-man defensive unit, a philosophy Boston hopes he can import wholesale. Last season, the Bruins’ play in their own zone was, to put it mildly, a “constant struggle.” Breakdowns were common, and structure was often non-existent. Sturm’s primary task will be to implement a system that holds every player accountable, from the first-line center to the third-pairing defenseman. His ability to get buy-in from a roster full of veterans and hopefuls will be the single most important factor in a potential Bruins turnaround.
Assisting him is a retooled staff, notably featuring Steve Spott as the new special teams assistant. Spott is tasked with resuscitating a power play that was anemic last year, a failure that cost the team dearly in tight games. Camp will provide the first glimpse into Sturm’s systems and Spott’s man-advantage schemes. Expect a heavy emphasis on positioning, puck support, and relentless attention to detail from day one.
Crease Crisis or Comeback? The Goaltending Conundrum
Without a doubt, the most intriguing and high-stakes battle of camp will take place in the blue paint. The entire goaltending situation is a tinderbox of potential, frustration, and financial implications.
It all starts with Jeremy Swayman. After a contract holdout led him to miss last year’s camp, Swayman proceeded to have a catastrophic season. His .892 save percentage and league-leading goals against were shocking for a netminder who, from 2021 to 2024, was one of the league’s most promising young talents. Was it the missed camp? The contract pressure? A crisis of confidence? Swayman is betting it was an anomaly. His strong performance for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship this past spring was a vital first step in reclaiming his form. He enters this camp with everything to prove, looking to re-establish himself as the undisputed number one.
Vying for the chair next to him are two goalies on opposite trajectories. Joonas Korpisalo, last year’s backup, was reportedly unhappy with his limited usage and will be eager to push for more starts. Breathing down his neck is Michael DiPietro, who is coming off a stellar season in the AHL. DiPietro garnered serious interest from other NHL clubs this offseason before re-signing with Boston, and he isn’t coming to camp just for the per diem. This head-to-head competition for the backup role is the heavyweight bout of the preseason. Don’t be surprised if General Manager Don Sweeney uses this battle as a showcase; with cap space at a premium, a strong performance from one could prompt a trade of the other to free up valuable dollars.
McAvoy’s Return and the Defensive Dominoes
For all the talk of Sturm’s new defensive system, no tactic is as effective as having your best players on the ice. The Bruins’ blue line gets an immediate, monumental upgrade with the healthy return of Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. McAvoy’s season was derailed by a “medical gaffe,” while Lindholm was felled by a knee fracture. Their absence created a void that the rest of the group simply couldn’t fill.
Sturm is expected to reunite the duo, and for good reason. In their time together from 2021-2024, the Bruins outscored opponents by a staggering 39-20 margin when McAvoy and Lindholm were on the ice. They are a true shutdown pair that tilts the ice in Boston’s favor. Their health is paramount.
Their return creates a fascinating domino effect. Nikita Zadorov, who admirably stepped into the number one role after McAvoy went down, now slots into a more appropriate top-four position. He found surprising chemistry with late-season acquisition Henri Jokiharju, and that duo could provide the Bruins with a formidable second pairing. This leaves the bottom of the defense corps wide open. With 17 defensemen in camp competing for what will likely be seven spots, the battle will be fierce. A player like Mason Lohrei, who finished last season with a league-worst minus-43 rating, will be desperate to prove he can handle NHL duties in a more sheltered, third-pairing role.
Youth Movement or Veteran Blockade?
For years, Bruins fans have been clamoring for a youth movement. This camp will be the ultimate test of the organization’s true commitment to it. On paper, the forward group is a logjam. The top six appears more or less set, but the bottom six is crowded with veteran grinders on established contracts. Players like Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, and Mikey Eyssimont were brought in to provide grit and experience, but their presence leaves precious few openings for the next wave of talent.
This creates a high-pressure environment for a compelling group of prospects. Names like Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, and John Beecher are all knocking on the door, but may find it sealed shut. For a few specific players, this camp feels particularly pivotal. Matt Poitras, who showed flashes of high-end skill last season, needs to prove he can be a consistent contributor and seize a permanent top-nine role. Meanwhile, 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell is facing a make-or-break moment. His immense skill is undeniable, but questions about his maturity and defensive responsibility persist. Another season in the AHL would be a significant disappointment; he needs to force management’s hand with a dominant camp.
Keep an eye on a couple of dark horses as well. Latvian forward Dans Locmelis is coming off a breakout season and could be the out-of-nowhere story of camp. And don’t sleep on Czech sniper Matej Blumel, whose pure goal-scoring ability is a rare commodity that could be too valuable to keep in Providence.
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Ultimately, this camp is about establishing a new identity. The Bruins are no longer the perennial Presidents’ Trophy contenders of recent memory. They are a team in flux, aiming for a rebound and a return to relevance. How Sturm molds this roster, who emerges from the intense positional battles, and whether the core of David Pastrnak, McAvoy, and a redeemed Swayman can carry the load will determine if this season is a renaissance or another year of regression. The puck drops soon, and the questions will finally start getting answers.
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