Meet the 2026-27 Bruins: New Captain, New Faces, Same Standard
Seven games into the season, the Bruins are 5-2-0, and the shape of this team is really starting to come into focus. Whether you've been watching every shift or you're just tuning in now, here's your guide to who's who on this year's squad, and why we're so excited about it.
The captain
It all starts with David Pastrnak. He's wearing the C this season, and after a slow first week, he's back to doing what he does best: scoring goals and making everyone around him better. His four-point night against Utah tied him with Brad Marchand for fourth on the franchise goals list. Having a captain who can take over a game is a pretty great place to start.
The new guys
JJ Peterka arrived from the Utah Mammoth in a June 26 trade, and he's already made himself a fan favorite. Two games, two game-winners: the opener against the Rangers and the overtime winner in Winnipeg. He's been skating on a line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, and that trio has been a joy to watch.
On the blue line, Will Borgen came over from the Rangers in exchange for draft picks. He's slotted in on the second pair with Nikita Zadorov, and he's already scored his first goal as a Bruin, an empty-netter banked off the boards from his own zone in San Jose.
The young core
This is the part that gets us really excited. Fraser Minten, 22, leads the team with four goals. He signed a seven-year extension on Sept. 8 that kicks in next season at $7.2 million a year, and so far he's playing like he wants to prove it was a bargain.
Rookie James Hagens has two goals and is learning the ropes on the third line with veterans Casey Mittelstadt and Elias Lindholm. Defenseman Frederic Brunet picked up his first NHL point against Utah. Matthew Poitras centers the fourth line and has already shown he's as tough as they come, scoring against Utah after needing stitches from a puck to the face. And Marat Khusnutdinov has been a valuable middle-six piece, chipping in on that line with Minten and Peterka.
The goalies
Jeremy Swayman is 5-1 with a shutout, and he's been making the big save every single night. When your number one goalie is playing like this, you've always got a chance. Michael DiPietro is the backup, and he made his first NHL start in more than four years earlier this month in Minnesota. We love that story.
The blue line
With Charlie McAvoy back from his suspension and paired with Hampus Lindholm, the defense looks deep and dangerous. Zadorov and Borgen form a solid second pair, and Brunet and Mason Lohrei round it out, with Lohrei already chipping in two goals.
Behind the bench
Marco Sturm is in his second season as head coach, and his team plays the way he wants: structured, hard to play against and dangerous in transition.
The early numbers
Through seven games, the Bruins have scored 26 goals and allowed just 16, one of the lowest goals-against totals in the league. The power play started 0-for-10 before exploding for three goals on four chances against Utah.
Our take
It's early, and there's a long way to go. But this group has a star captain, a goalie who can steal games, real depth up front and on the back end, and a young center who's rising fast. That's a recipe for a really fun season. Buckle up, Bruins fans. 🐻