BOSTON — Competition is approaching. On Saturday, Group A will scrimmage Group B at Boston Bruins training camp. The next day, the team opens the preseason against the Washington Capitals.
NHL paychecks are up for grabs.
“They have to come in and take that job,” general manager Don Sweeney said of his players. “We’re not in the business of keeping players who can help us in the NHL out of it and not give them the opportunity to have success.”
Our first preseason roster projection identified who is in the best position to break through at camp. All of them have teammates who want to punt them aside.
Here are eight players pushing for NHL attention.
Johnny Beecher
Target positions: No. 3 left wing, No. 4 left wing, No. 4 center
Competition: Tanner Jeannot, Mikey Eyssimont, Sean Kuraly
Beecher started camp on the wing, taking shifts with Fraser Minten and Fabian Lysell. Beecher has the speed and size to be a two-way No. 3 left wing. He’ll need to be more consistent with his competitiveness and offensive pace-pushing.
That he can play center is a checkmark in Beecher’s favor. The 2019 first-rounder requires waivers for an AHL assignment.
Matej Blumel
Target positions: No. 2 left wing, No. 2 right wing, No. 3 left wing, No. 3 right wing
Competition: Alex Steeves, Fabian Lysell, Viktor Arvidsson, Pavel Zacha, Marat Khusnutdinov
Blumel has been practicing with Jeannot and Pavel Zacha. It’s a good spot for him. He is a goal scorer. The Czech has already become friendly with Zacha, his countryman.
“I’ve always liked to score,” Blumel said. “I’ve always liked to go on offense. The last three years in the AHL, I’ve had a great coaching group that helped me to be better on both sides of the rink.”
Blumel, who scored 39 goals in the AHL last year, should have more opportunities with the Bruins than he did in the stacked Dallas Stars system. He requires waivers.
Matej Blumel has scored two goals in 13 NHL games, all with the Stars. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Mike Callahan
Target position: No. 7 defenseman
Competition: Jordan Harris
Callahan made 17 appearances for the Bruins last year. He is what he is: a straightforward defenseman who will not take offensive risks. The 25-year-old’s next step is to develop more confidence making plays with the puck. Callahan requires waivers.
Michael DiPietro
Target position: No. 2 goalie
Competition: Joonas Korpisalo
DiPietro’s .927 save percentage for AHL Providence was good enough to make him the league’s outstanding goalie last year. The 6-foot-1 DiPietro is active, staying on his feet and not going into reverse vertical-horizontal as much as taller counterparts.
“A combination of positioning, being aware of my crease, not overpushing,” DiPietro said of his 2024-25 game. “Being a little bit more patient, holding my feet.”
DiPietro carries an $812,500 average annual value. That could be a factor if he pushes Joonas Korpisalo ($3 million AAV). DiPietro requires waivers.
Jordan Harris
Target position: No. 7 defenseman
Competition: Callahan
The Haverhill native and Northeastern alum appeared in 33 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last year as a depth defenseman. The 5-foot-11, 187-pounder has 164 career NHL appearances, which gives him an advantage over Callahan in terms of experience. Harris requires waivers.
Fabian Lysell
Target positions: No. 2 right wing, No. 3 right wing
Competition: Blumel, Steeves, Arvidsson, Khusnutdinov
The 2021 first-rounder arrived in camp with a focus on bringing high pace on every shift. The Beecher-Minten-Lysell line has not been lacking in terms of speed. The 22-year-old will give himself the best chance to impress his bosses if he commits to remaining competitive and being reliable away from the puck. Lysell is waivers-exempt.
Fabian Lysell needs to show his commitment away from the puck in camp. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Matt Poitras
Target positions: No. 2 center, No. 2 right wing, No. 3 center, No. 3 right wing
Competition: Minten, Casey Mittelstadt, Lysell, Khusnutdinov
Poitras has been centering Riley Tufte and Riley Duran during the first two practices. It is a grinding line, which gives Poitras more shifts to play a heavier game and practice being stronger on the puck.
Coach Marco Sturm said he will give Poitras shifts at right wing at some point. Poitras is waivers-exempt.
Alex Steeves
Target positions: No. 2 left wing, No. 2 right wing, No. 3 left wing, No. 3 right wing
Competition: Blumel, Lysell, Arvidsson, Khusnutdinov
Steeves has been skating with Khusnutdinov and Mittelstadt. It’s been a good spot for him. He is the shooter for Mittelstadt, who likes to control the puck and set up his linemates.
Like Blumel, Steeves should have a better chance to stick up top than he did with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He requires waivers.
(Top photo of Michael DiPietro: Kris Craig / Imagn Images)
