It’s interesting to note the varied expectation levels for the Bruins defensemen corps headed into this season.
There is zero doubt that the top-6 D-men will be the biggest team strength for the Black and Gold this season as they build a foundation structured on defense and goaltending, and look to rebound from last season where they fell all the way to 26th in the NHL in goals allowed (3.31 goals allowed per game) in a development that simply never would have happened when defensive stalwarts Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron were on the scene.
But there is some doubt as to exactly how the B’s stack up to other Bruins defense corps around the league in terms of talent and overall depth. TSN’s Travis Yost evaluated all of the league’s defensive groups and slotted the Bruins in the mediocre third tier along with the bulk of the NHL, and appeared to be wary about a group whose top two players were both coming off significant injury issues last season.
TALENT TIERS: Grading defensive depth charts 🏒https://t.co/8OvYqX4bnO pic.twitter.com/KSopvV87B3
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) August 11, 2025
“Boston’s eyeing not one, but two notable injury-returns on the blue line. The big one is Hampus Lindholm, whose fractured patella removed him from the lineup long-term. That put significantly more workload on star defender Charlie McAvoy, who also went on to miss 32 games last year. Boston has a robust top-four and should see improvement at the position year-over-year with a return to full health.”
-Travis Yost
The obvious key here is a return to good health for Boston’s back end, which is a non-negotiable in Boston contending for a possible wild card spot in the Atlantic Division, and a key to a return to any kind of respectability this coming season. It's something that everybody in the B's organization, including the new coach, is counting on as something that can be their foundational piece.
“There will be some changes, but what I like is, and I told Don [Sweeney] and Cam [Neely] that I still love our team, even without any addition. Because I think we have good goaltending. I think when everyone stays healthy, we have a really good D [defenseman] core,” said Marco Sturm at his introductory press conference back in June. “I think we hopefully want to add a few pieces up front, but overall, I do like our core. But having said that, I think that we just probably need a little bit more.
“I think in our DNA, in the Bruins DNA, playing good defensively, it's not going to change, but we have to find a way to be more productive offensively. I think that's going to be our goal, and not a sure challenge, but that's what we're going to address from day one.”
McAvoy missed 32 games with an assortment of injuries, but it was hospitalization during the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament that sparked the B’s to fold up their tent last season and deal away a number of high-priced veteran players.
And the 31-year-old Lindholm missed all but 17 games last season with a fractured kneecap after blocking a shot early last season, and his steady, strong presence was missed in a big way all season.
Lindholm did have a setback late last year before being shut down for the entirety of last season, and that naturally leads to some questions about his health and well-being for this season and beyond. It is a question mark headed into training camp simply because Lindholm hasn’t played at all since recovering from the injury, but the good news is that the Bruins, and Lindholm himself, have been staunch in their messaging that the Swedish D-man is fully recovered for an important training camp.
Lindholm has been skating regularly in Sweden with zero setbacks this summer, and is expected to be a full go when he gets to Boston for training camp.
Obviously, he wants to remain healthy and rebound from last season, but there’s also the added motivation of staying healthy for a run with Team Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The expectation is that both Lindholms, Hampus and Elias, will be part of the Swedish team vying for a medal during the Olympic break, and it’s absolutely part of his personal goals for a healthy full season this coming year.
“It’s a big goal of mine to have a good start to the NHL season and show that I belong on [Team Sweden], which I think I do,” said Lindholm to the Boston Globe last week. “That’s something I’ve had this summer as an extra [push] — to make sure I can come back [to Boston] and start where I left off, make sure I keep building and even keep building and being better. I still feel I have my best hockey in me … and it would be such an honor to represent Sweden. Some of my most fun hockey memories have been to play for Team Sweden.”
It's all positive news and glowing reports right now when it comes to the health of Boston’s big dog defensemen, and that’s truly important as it allows Nikita Zadorov, Henri Jokiharju, Mason Lohrei and Andrew Peeke to slot into their proper roles with the Black and Gold. But the real test will come when the body checks are flying and the workloads lengthen during the regular season, and the B’s are banking that Lindholm and McAvoy will be up to it.
ONE TIMERS
• Good luck to the talented Elaine Cavalieri as she’s moving on after four years putting together social media content for the Boston Bruins. I’m not on TikTok like so many of the kids these days, so I didn’t always get to see all the good work that she was doing for the Black and Gold, but she will definitely be missed around the team.
After 4 seasons, I’ve decided to leave the Boston Bruins. Simply put, I’ve had the time of my life.
— Elaine Cavalieri (@elaine_cav) August 11, 2025
Thank you to the Bruins fans who supported the content - I genuinely loved creating it for you💛
And to all the women in sports - stand up for yourself. You’ll be proud you did. pic.twitter.com/2mBy22kb3z
• Summertime, particularly the last few weeks of July and the first few weeks of August, is a time of rest and recreation for pro hockey players and is almost always a time when the vast majority of NHL players are enjoying the last of their free time before real training hits for the next eight months. But Zdeno Chara has never been like the vast majority of NHL players and he proved that again a couple of weeks ago by completing another grueling triathlon in France called the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon that includes more than 11,000 feet in elevation.
Another day, another triathlon complete for Zdeno Chara! 🏃♂️
— NHL (@NHL) July 31, 2025
Big Z completed the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon in France which included more than 11,000 feet of elevation.
(📸: IG/zeechara33) pic.twitter.com/yNKp53q0zK
Congrats to Big Zee as he continues to challenge himself physically after the end of his professional hockey career and keep himself busy between getting honored by the IIHF and Hockey Hall of Fame for his stellar hockey career.
