The Boston Bruins open training camp on Wednesday. Their best player from last year’s playoffs will not be present. Starting business with Jeremy Swayman unsigned is not ideal.
General manager Don Sweeney’s priority, then, will be to facilitate a prompt resolution. The Bruins’ No. 1 question heading into camp is how this will happen.
What will it take to get Swayman signed?
Compromise usually precedes an agreement. For Swayman, it may mean accepting a lower average annual value. For the Bruins, it could be going shorter-term.
It serves neither party to be stubborn.
This is Swayman’s first chance at being a regular-season No. 1. A full camp optimizes him for team and individual results — the latter including his pursuit of a roster spot for Team USA in the 2026 Olympics.
The Bruins, meanwhile, do not want a Joonas Korpisalo–Brandon Bussi tandem.
Prediction: a four-year, $28 million extension.
Once Swayman signs, who will be his backup?
Korpisalo, 30, has 276 NHL appearances. Bussi, 26, has none.
But the veteran, acquired in the Linus Ullmark trade, is coming off an .890 save percentage in 55 games for the Ottawa Senators. He carries a $3 million average annual value for four more seasons. The chances of a team claiming the remainder of Korpisalo’s payout on waivers seem minimal.
Conversely, Bussi is earning the $775,000 league minimum on a one-year, two-way deal. There would be a line of teams eager to grab him on waivers.
It will take Korpisalo time to settle in with goalie coach Bob Essensa. Ullmark didn’t feel comfortable incorporating Essensa’s recommendations until halfway through his first season.
Preseason performance will be the top factor in the decision. But Korpisalo’s contract will be a factor.
Prediction: Bussi stays if he outperforms Korpisalo. The Bruins would emphasize to Korpisalo that the door is open if he improves in Providence.
Will Elias Lindholm fit in?
The offseason market dictated that the center-short Bruins had to pay Lindholm $7.75 million annually over seven years. Supply and demand meant Lindholm’s price was high.
The Bruins trust Lindholm’s recent red flags were anomalies. He scored 12 points in 26 games for the Vancouver Canucks after being acquired from the Calgary Flames. The Canucks were not interested in bringing Lindholm back after giving up, among other assets, Andrei Kuzmenko and a 2024 first-rounder.
Lindholm will defend tough opponents, kill penalties and work the bumper on the power play. Above all, the Bruins are counting on him to produce at five-on-five with David Pastrnak, his most likely linemate. Given Pastrnak’s skill, Lindholm’s production should regress to previous standards. Lindholm scored a career-high 78 points in 2018-19 while playing mostly with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.
“I think I can produce points,” Lindholm said. “Obviously, the last season didn’t go as well as I would like it to. But I think in the playoffs, I kind of found my game again.”
Lindholm scored 10 points in 13 postseason games for the Canucks.
Prediction: Lindholm fulfills expectations.
Who replaces Jake DeBrusk in the top six?
Fabian Lysell, the Bruins’ 2021 first-rounder, will have his best opportunity to make the roster and be the Bruins’ No. 2 right wing. If Lysell doesn’t make it, Morgan Geekie could be first up to play with Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle. Trent Frederic is also an option. DeBrusk (40 points) was the team’s No. 5 scorer last year.
The Bruins, however, are better served running Frederic and Geekie on a big-body third line with Justin Brazeau.
Prediction: Lysell makes his first NHL team. But the third line will have to produce more.
Where should Matt Poitras start?
Last September, the 19-year-old’s destination looked quite clear: Guelph, for one more season of OHL prep work. Poitras smashed that plan and left his junior teammates behind.
A year later, Poitras’ landing spot is not as obvious.
Poitras, 20, is eligible to play in the AHL. Getting reps in Providence would give the right-shot center a low-pressure environment to return following shoulder surgery. Poitras, who appeared in 33 NHL games last season, had never missed so much time at any point in his career.
“It’s different,” Poitras said about undergoing a major procedure. “My whole life has basically been playing hockey. To have that taken away from me for however long it’s been, it’s been weird.”
Chad Wiseman, Poitras’ junior coach, projects his former player to become a three-zone NHL center. To initiate that process, it may help Poitras to submit a good stretch of all-situations performance in Providence to begin 2024-25.
Prediction: Poitras starts in the AHL.
Will a rookie make it?
Lysell has door-knocking company: Georgii Merkulov. The shifty left-shot center was the AHL’s No. 5 scorer last year (30 goals, 35 assists). The 23-year-old may have outgrown the minors.
Merkulov, however, faces tougher competition at center than Lysell does at right wing.
“It’s understanding how to build a team game consistently. Having value,” Montgomery said of Merkulov. “Because you’re not going to get the same quality ice you get in Providence. It’s not going to be given to you.”
Prediction: Lysell makes it. Merkulov does not.
Will Marchand be ready for the season opener?
The captain is coming off three offseason procedures (elbow, groin, abdominal). In all likelihood, he will not be a full participant when on-ice sessions begin Thursday. But Marchand expects to have the green light for the Oct. 8 season opener against the Florida Panthers.
“I would be very surprised if I’m not ready for opening night,” Marchand said. “Until I get into a battle situation where I can really test it, I don’t know. But with how it’s progressing, I should be fine for the season.”
The bigger question is how Marchand, 36, will perform. Relentlessness is his strength. Not training with his usual offseason rigor will affect his game. It may take Marchand time to reach his pace.
Prediction: Marchand will be ready, but he’ll have room for improvement.
Can a surprise defenseman break through?
There is no right-side discussion. Charlie McAvoy will be the No. 1 defenseman and power-play quarterback. Brandon Carlo will be the shutdown ace and first-wave penalty killer. Andrew Peeke will be the third-pairing defender and also a PK contributor.
It’s almost as airtight on the left side. Nikita Zadorov will be an imposing five-on-five strongman and Derek Forbort PK replacement. Hampus Lindholm will look to rebound. Mason Lohrei will develop on the No. 3 pair and work the point on PP2. Parker Wotherspoon will be the spare defenseman.
Ian Mitchell and Jordan Oesterle are next on the depth chart. But it’s unlikely either can displace any of the seven.
Prediction: no surprises.
Will Tyler Johnson earn a contract?
The 34-year-old scored 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season. Johnson’s fate is most closely tied to how Poitras performs. If Poitras is better served starting in Providence, Johnson’s chance of following Danton Heinen’s tryout-to-contract path improves.
“Incredibly intelligent, smart hockey player who’s won,” Montgomery said. “There’s a reason players like that play a long time in the league.”
Prediction: Johnson signs as a depth center/right wing.
(Photo: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images)
