The Boston Bruins made the playoffs but were eliminated by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round. They need significant improvements to compete for the Stanley Cup, focusing on acquiring high-end talent and addressing roster gaps.
At the end of the 2025-26 regular season, the Bruins had the NHLâs 10th-best offense at an average of 3.27 goals-for per game. That number fell off a cliff against the Sabres, as Boston averaged only an even 2.00 goals-for per game in six playoff games. Only three Bruins players had more than two points against Buffalo, and that put too much pressure on Swayman to be perfect between the pipes.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm did good things with the patchwork roster GM Don Sweeney gave him, but that doesnât take away from the fact that the Bruinsâ roster wasnât flawed.
The organization doesnât have the type of generational talent you see in legitimate Cup threats. Still, players like NCAA standouts and Boston College teammates James Hagens and Dean Letourneau are projected to be solid NHL contributors. But the truth is the Bruins need more high-end talent, and they wonât come easy.
The Bruins were eliminated by the Sabres in six games, averaging only 2.00 goals-for per game during the series.
The Bruins have approximately $16.4 million in salary cap space to use this summer.
The Bruins need to acquire more high-end talent and improve their overall depth to compete with stronger Atlantic Division teams.
The Bruins have five first-round draft picks in the next three drafts, which they can leverage to improve their roster.
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The Bruins have approximately $16.4 million in salary cap space to use this summer, but they have very few players in need of a new contract. That should allow Sweeney to go out and sign or trade for a veteran who can improve their overall depth and experience factors.
That said, itâs not as if there are a slew of difference-making veterans available via free agency, so Sweeney will have to be creative if he wants to acquire proven experience and above-average talent. Boston is a high-stakes, high-reward market, but the downside to that is that Bruins fans arenât accustomed to lengthy rebuilds.
Now, Sweeney has also built up a good deal of draft capital, as Boston now has five first-round draft picks in the next three drafts. One of those first-rounders could be the Toronto Maple Leafsâ first-round pick this summer if it falls below the fifth-overall pick.