5 Takeaways From Don Sweeney and Marco Sturm’s Press Conference

BOSTON – Training camp is open, and the Boston Bruins are less than two weeks away from opening night.

A 49-man roster will hit the ice at Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday to prepare for the first 84-game season since the 1993-94 season. It’s a shortened camp with the Bruins opening their season on September 29, but before they take the ice, GM Don Sweeney and head coach Marco Sturm met with the media on the first day of camp.

Sweeney is looking “to test the growth of our hockey club” over the next two weeks. Marco Sturm, who is running his second camp as an NHL head coach, is happy to be back, saying he feels like it’s his first day of work.

However, with some more experience under his belt, Sturm knows the Bruins need to get going quickly.

“We had a little taste last year by having a good season, making the playoffs,” Sturm said. “Pretty much, the message will be: can we do it again?

Also, can we build on that? We don’t want to stand still.

We want to move forward. I feel like we have a really good, competitive team again.”

The Bruins have no shortage of NHL-caliber talent within the organization, and most are waiver-eligible, but they will only have room for 23 players by opening night.

Also Read:Bruins Announce Schedule, Roster for 2026 Training Camp

“We are going to announce a captain this year,” Sweeney said during the opening statements. “And we’ll do that before opening night.”

He knew the question was coming, so he answered it unprompted.

The Bruins have been without a captain since March 7, 2025, and played the entire 2025-26 season with three alternate captains. It did not seem like an issue, and after last season, Marco Sturm said he didn’t mind not having one.

However, with conversations happening all summer, the Bruins knew it was time to pick one voice to lead the locker room.

A few weeks ago, Cam Neely joined the NESN/WEEI Jimmy Fund Telethon and said the Bruins don’t “necessarily need to have a guy unless there is that one guy that really stands out.” That has changed, though it’s not officially known which Bruin will be named captain.

“We took our time. We allowed a leadership group last year; we know who is at the forefront of that leadership group,” Sweeney said.

“Cam’s reference (to not having a player stand out) is because there wasn’t a timetable. And being asked on the spot, there’s no reason for me to declare any different than what we just did.

We’ve been talking about this for a while. We know exactly what we’re going to do.

But last year was a good example of allowing players that are going to be in that required leadership role to organically step forward.”

In July, Elliotte Friedman called Pavel Zacha’s looming extension “one of the most fascinating things that’s going to happen this offseason.” Well, it didn’t.

Sweeney also said he wanted to be proactive with Zacha’s extension, but Zacha is still set to be a free agent come July 1, 2027. They are still in communication about Zacha’s future.

The Bruins made it clear at the end of last season that the centers they have do not qualify as true No. 1 options, but that doesn’t discredit the 29-year-old’s worth to the organization.

“Ongoing communication with Pav’s representative and good dialogue. Have not found a landing spot, but we know the importance of Pav to our hockey club.

We would like to be able to have him come back,” Sweeney said. “We’ll continue to talk between now and if you do find a deal.

But Pav’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish as an organization.”

Zacha has one year left on his deal with a $4.75M cap hit. He is coming off his first 30-goal season, and another season at that level of play puts the Bruins at a crossroads.

The market is shifting, and younger players are cashing big checks. The salary cap is rising, and centers, especially top-six centers, are naturally worth more.

“There’s a ripple effect

James Hagens is doing what he can to put himself on management’s radar.

“He did put a lot of work in this summer, spent a lot of time right here in Boston, and went out and played with a lot of confidence,” Sweeney said about Hagens. “Hopefully he carries that forward into day one of tomorrow and throughout the exhibition season.

And then it’s up to the coaches to evaluate how impactful James is going to be for our club now or down the road.”

Hagens just lit up the Prospects Showcase in Buffalo, scoring six goals over two games. The rookie camp, while not close to the level of competition he will see in the NHL, gives Hagens a jump on training camp, and Sturm was happy to see him there.

“Scoring four goals maybe helps, right?” Sturm said, and Sweeney quickly reminded him that it was six in total.

“I was so happy, and I’m glad he played in the tournament. I’ve seen in the past with some of the guys I had; it’s a great opportunity to shine, and he did.

It gives him a little bit of a head start. I think he feels good today,” Sturm said.

“He doesn’t have to be doing this and doing that [to make the team]. No. He’s just got to be James Hagens.

Work extremely hard, like Sweeney said, and he should just reward himself and play free.”

It’s now up to Hagens to be himself and earn a spot on the Bruins’ roster, and as Cam Neely said, he should be “licking his chops” for a spot.

Matt Poitras/Frederic Brunet

The Bruins have two players in Providence itching for time in Boston.

Matt Poitras just signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Bruins on Wednesday. He has played 69 NHL games in three seasons and is still fighting to wear a Spoked B on his sweater.

Frederic Brunet also signed an extension, and he’s under contract through the 2027-28 season. However, they are both eligible for waivers.

That should help them out, according to Sweeney.

“Waivers is an example of when a player, ultimately, probably gets a longer test drive in the NHL. In a perfect world, that’s going to be with us in those two cases.

But you know that exists coming up,” Sweeney said. “So the competition, as I referenced when I first started, we’re excited about what that looks like in camp.

Those two players will present challenges to incumbent guys or guys that have been here, and we just have to make the right decision. Ultimately, you always want the best player.”

Brunet is stuffed near the bottom of the depth chart, and he’s the defenseman in the room with the fewest NHL games under his belt (1 GP). Over the summer, Sweeney pointed to Brunet’s mobility and puck-moving ability, and said there is a “good chance” we find out how that translates to the NHL.

Poitras has more experience than Brunet, and the Bruins have the option to try him on the wing. In Marco Sturm’s eyes, though, the 22-year-old has a better chance of making the roster if he’s playing down the middle.

“I always liked him better in the middle,” Sturm said about Poitras. “I do believe he can play on the wing.

Yes, he can. But I think he’s just one of those guys that’s better in the middle.

If you look at our roster right now, or our players, we’re pretty stacked, I would say, on the wing too. So it will be hard for him right now.

That’s my guess: that he will start tomorrow on the center position, because that will give him the best shot.”