With the Olympic break coming to an end and the NHL season starting back up, the Boston Bruins are continuing their race for a playoff spot this year.
According to ESPN, the Boston Bruins are currently fifth in the Atlantic Division and occupy the Eastern Conference’s second wildcard spot. With 69 points, the Bruins lead the Columbus Blue Jackets by four points in the wildcard race and are one point behind the Buffalo Sabres. However, with the Bruins still having 25 games left to play, anything can happen.
“That team has a high standard, and they strive to be one of the better teams in the league,” said Freshman Luke Varney.
The Boston Bruins have been very successful throughout their history, and with that comes the expectation to succeed almost every year. However, last year they missed the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2015, which makes the need for a playoff spot this year much more important.
“If we don’t make it this year, then we really got to start rebuilding even more,” said Freshman Luke Condon.
Over the last two years, the Bruins have begun to rebuild the team by trading many of their players for draft picks and more youthful players. Many of these decisions were at the very least questionable, and may have played a part in the Bruins’ failure to make the playoffs last year.
“I do think getting rid of your captain, Brad Marchand, was not the smartest move,” said Condon.
Brad Marchand had played his entire 16-year NHL career with the Boston Bruins and had just been made captain during the 23-24 NHL season, before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 2025. He then went on to play a crucial role in the team’s Stanley Cup victory, and currently has 25 goals this season.
Marchand was 36 years old and still among the Bruins’ top points leaders when he was traded to the Florida Panthers. He was also the backbone of the team, as he was the captain, and his absence left the Bruins without a captain in the middle of the playoff race, and was definitely a large factor in the team’s playoff failure last season.
This year, the team has done well uncaptained, and instead has three alternate captains, Hampus Lindholm, Charlie McAvoy, and David Pastrnak. This decision was made to figure out who would be the best captain for the team, and the final decision will be announced at the start of next season.
The Bruins will play their first game back on Thursday, February 26, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets are the Bruins’ main rivals for a playoff spot right now, meaning a win would be huge to distance themselves from the Blue Jackets, as they are only four points behind.
The Bruins will also be welcoming back recent Olympic gold medalists, Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy, after beating Canada in a close, 2-1 overtime win, in the finals on Sunday, February 22, in Milan.
