- NHL.com calls a JJ Peterka bounce-back the biggest question of Boston’s 2026-27 season
- Charlie McAvoy opens the year serving a six-game suspension
- Read below for what Don Sweeney said about the trade and Boston’s defense puzzle
The Bruins’ 2026-27 season runs through JJ Peterka.
NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin published Boston’s entry in the league’s 32-in-32 series Sunday, and the first question she raised was whether Peterka can climb back to the numbers he put up in Buffalo. Two seasons ago the German winger had 68 points in 77 games with the Sabres. Last year in Utah he managed 47 in 82.
That gap is the whole ballgame. Boston sent the No. 23 pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional 2028 first-rounder to the Mammoth to get him on draft night, and there are four years left on his deal at $7.7 million per season.
Sweeney was asked what made Peterka worth two first-round picks. His answer was about versatility more than raw goal totals.
“His bio of high production has been really good, plays both wings, could probably play with a couple different types of centers, help drive a line but also complement the better guys in situations that we’re certainly trying to improve,” Sweeney said. “We are trying to get deeper and add speed.”
Take a look at what the Bruins traded for:
Marco Sturm’s staff has plenty of reasons to like the fit. Peterka grew up in Germany like his new head coach, assistant Matt McIlvane has known him for years, and he steps onto a power play that climbed from 29th in the NHL to ninth last season.
Peterka met with Boston media over Zoom from Germany the day after the trade. Watch the full availability:
Boston’s blue line is the messier problem. McAvoy has to sit the first six games of the year for his slash on Zach Benson in Game 6 against the Sabres.
Will Borgen came over from the Rangers and Connor Clifton signed in free agency, both right shots, with Andrew Peeke gone. Sturm still has to figure out which pairs actually work, and the Bruins gave up 3.01 goals per game last season, 14th fewest.
Younger names carry weight here too. Fraser Minten had 35 points and became one of Sturm’s most trusted centers, Marat Khusnutdinov added 33, and 19-year-old James Hagens joins them full time after a cameo in the spring.
Goaltending is the settled part. Jeremy Swayman went 31-18-4 with a .908 save percentage and was a Vezina Trophy finalist, a year removed from the worst season of his career.
Last season ended with Boston at 45-27-10 and 100 points, and Sweeney still sounds a little surprised by the number.
“I hope it all comes together. I hope we’re right back up in the upper echelon,” Sweeney said. “The challenge is, we were a 100-point team. We stood here last year and I don’t know whether or not any of us thought we were a bona fide 100-point team, but we went out and did it.”
Puck drops on the 2026-27 season Sept. 29.
