Bruins offseason depth chart: Where does the roster need upgrades?

If Don Sweeney wanted to do it, the Boston Bruins general manager could take his hands off the steering wheel until the start of 2026-27. Only Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke are on expiring contracts. Jordan Harris becomes a restricted free agent the same day Arvidsson and Peeke gain entrance to unrestricted free agency. Sweeney could roll a Game 1 lineup without making a single signing or trade.

That would leave the Bruins, however, in a deficient position. As well as the turnaround unfolded this past season, multiple circumstances had to break just right for them to make the 2025-26 playoffs. Standing pat would put them at risk of regression.

“It’s going to be an uphill climb,” Sweeney said. “Every team is getting better.”

For this exercise, we’ll project a depth chart of players under contract for 2026-27. It will be helpful in identifying the Bruins’ strengths and where they require improvement.

Forwards

First line

President Cam Neely acknowledged that the Bruins do not have a No. 1 center. But Pavel Zacha does a lot of things well to the point where he could assume full-time responsibility on the first line.

He does not need to be a Connor McDavid-like offensive flamethrower. As long as Zacha picks up the defensive pieces, shoots when he has high-danger opportunities and skates with pace, David Pastrnak will take care of the rest of the offensive workload. Pastrnak can score goals and set up his linemates equally well, depending on what his team requires. Morgan Geekie should be able to break the 40-goal barrier in 2026-27.

The No. 1 line will have issues defensively. But Zacha can help sort things out.

Assessment: Enough firepower on the wings complemented by good defensive awareness in the middle.

Second line

Call this the All-Upside Line. The youngsters (Marat Khusnutdinov is 23, Fraser Minten is 21, James Hagens is 19) have room to grow. Khusnutdinov could become the Bruins’ version of Yanni Gourde, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s perpetual package of energy. Minten is following Zacha’s footsteps as a do-it-all center with hockey sense to spare. As for Hagens, his foundation of speed, skill and creativity makes a projection practically impossible to restrain.

The question is how equipped they are to compete in the present. Playoff hopefuls require a lot from their second lines. Minten and Khusnutdinov have already proven they can stare down top opponents. Hagens has yet to take on that challenge. Will they put up a proper fight, for example, against a No. 2 pair like Owen Power and Bowen Byram?

Assessment: Potential to move the offensive needle, but experience is an issue.

Third line

Here’s where things get dicey. Casey Mittelstadt, Elias Lindholm and Alex Steeves are not known for their foot speed. Coach Marco Sturm would have to be wary about matching the three against faster opposition.

Mittelstadt is heading into a contract year. His future in Boston is difficult to project beyond his current deal. Is he a long-term member of a secondary tier? Or would the Bruins be best served moving the 27-year-old to a contender?

Steeves will be starting the first season of a two-year, $3.25 million contract. He is worth his money when he finishes his checks and gets open to use his heavy shot. But Steeves tailed off in 2025-26 because he couldn’t arrive on time on the forecheck.

As for Lindholm, he is 31 years old with a history of back trouble. He has five years left on his contract.

Assessment: Not ideal.

Fourth line

No issues here. Sturm can roll Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic against anybody. In fact, with his speed and shot, Kastelic could move up at least one line.

Assessment: Frightening to play against.

Defensemen

First pair

Jonathan Aspirot was one of the most important finds of 2025-26. Aspirot, the second defenseman recalled from Providence after Michael Callahan, was a perfect fit for Sturm’s hybrid zone system. He has quick feet and uses them to close quickly. Aspirot allowed Sturm to deploy his other left-shot defensemen elsewhere.

Aspirot, however, may not be a full-time top-pair defenseman. He struggled, at times, to put out fires against the Sabres in Round 1. Ideally, Aspirot would be a depth defenseman against good teams.

There is also the matter of Charlie McAvoy’s six-game suspension for slashing Zach Benson. The Bruins will be up against it from the start without their No. 1 defenseman.

Assessment: Incomplete without more all-around presence on McAvoy’s flank.

Second pair

Hampus Lindholm is looking forward to a normal training schedule this offseason. He was limited last summer following double knee surgery. The 32-year-old may never be as dynamic a puck rusher as he was in 2022-23 when he led team defensemen with 53 points. But Lindholm is a dependable all-situations defenseman.

Mason Lohrei looked comfortable at times on Lindholm’s right side. But he was a healthy scratch to finish Round 1. Lohrei’s strengths may not always align with the requirements of Sturm’s system.

Assessment: Short on foot speed. Lohrei remains a defensive work in progress.

Third pair

Nikita Zadorov’s torn MCL will heal without surgery. He should be good to go, assuming a proper recovery. Sturm likes to put Zadorov on the No. 3 pair, where he can use his speed and physicality against third- and fourth-liners.

Henri Jokiharju was a regular healthy scratch. He moved the puck well at times. His habits slipped at others.

Assessment: Short of a complementary pair.

Goalies

Jeremy Swayman is a foundational goalie. He has room to grow at 27 years old. He is well worth his $8.25 million average annual value.

Joonas Korpisalo was a good No. 2. But at a $3 million AAV with Michael DiPietro available in the AHL, is carrying Korpisalo good business?

Assessment: There’s better value in running DiPietro behind Swayman.

Takeaways

Having so many players under contract for 2026-27 gives Sweeney a good foundation for his offseason work. But the areas requiring attention are plain to see.