Can the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings FINALLY snap their historically long playoff droughts? Can the Boston Bruins return to their usual winning ways after a disaster season? And are the Montreal Canadiens the class of this crop of four squads? In a special Atlantic Divison Hopefuls season preview, Joe DiBiase (Locked On Sabres), Brian Fisher (Locked On Red Wings), Ian McLaren (Locked On Bruins) and Ian Boisvert (Locked On Canadiens) link up to talk about life in the bottom half of the loaded Atlantic Division, and what the path to the playoffs looks like for each of them. They dissect each team’s FanDuel over/under projections, discuss big offseason moves, and dig into the stakes at play for each team if things don’t go to plan this season. 

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In this episode of Locked On Bruins, host Ian McLaren analyzes Kirill Kaprizov's record-breaking contract with the Minnesota Wild and its implications for the Boston Bruins. He compares Kaprizov's performance to David Pastrnak's, highlighting Pastrnak's superior production and value on his current contract. 

McLaren discusses the Bruins' missed opportunity in drafting Kaprizov and explores potential future contract considerations for the team. The episode also touches on upcoming preseason games, roster decisions, and goaltending options as the Bruins prepare for their season opener against the Washington Capitals. 

McLaren concludes with a nostalgic nod to former Bruin Dmitri Kvartalnov as the "Bruin of the Day."

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David Pastrnak returned to preseason action looking sharp, picking up an assist and throwing his weight around, while Jeremy Swayman made his first start in net with a mix of highlight saves and costly mistakes. 

The Bruins rolled out their “dress rehearsal” lineup in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flyers, showing encouraging signs on defense and special teams but continued uncertainty in the middle six. 

The emotional highlight of the night came from Sean Kuraly, who scored in his TD Garden return just weeks after the passing of his father, Miami University Hall of Famer Rick Kuraly. 

Host Ian McLaren breaks down Pastrnak’s impressive debut, Swayman’s performance, and Kuraly’s meaningful goal, plus what it all means for Boston’s roster with just a week to go before opening night.

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Hampus Lindholm returned to the Boston Bruins lineup for the first time since fracturing his patella last November, and Marco Sturm says the team finally played with the kind of detail he’s been demanding. Dalton Bancroft continues to impress after his standout career at Cornell, John Beecher scored a key goal, and Group A’s lineup looked almost identical to what we’ll see on opening night.

But oddsmakers still aren’t convinced, giving Boston just a 20% playoff probability — 15th in the Eastern Conference. Is that fair, or are the Bruins being underrated heading into 2025–26?

Ian McLaren breaks it all down on today’s Locked On Boston Bruins: Sturm’s blueprint, roster battles, Bancroft’s rise, Beecher’s goal, and why sportsbooks may be underestimating the B’s.

Locked On Boston Bruins is part of the Locked On Podcast Network — your team, every day.

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The Boston Bruins made their first real roster split on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena, with Marco Sturm separating NHL regulars from bubble hopefuls as camp cuts loom. Ian McLaren breaks down what it means for players like Fabian Lysell and Johnny Beecher, while also examining the decision to move Matt Poitras to wing alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Tanner Jeannot.

Plus, the Bruins announced that Zdeno Chara is returning to the organization as a Hockey Operations Advisor and Mentor. Ian explains how Chara’s leadership and legacy will impact the current roster and young defensemen like Mason Lohrei.

And it’s Fantasy Friday — Casey Mittelstadt is our sleeper draft target and today’s Bruin of the Day. We dig into his career context, new linemates, and why he could bounce back in Boston as both a late-round fantasy steal and a pivotal 2C.

Locked On Boston Bruins is your daily podcast for all things black and gold: roster moves, camp battles, fantasy hockey angles, and the biggest storylines of the 2025–26 season.

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What’s the best- and worst-case scenario for the Boston Bruins this season? Host Ian McLaren breaks it down on today’s Locked On Boston Bruins. The nightmare? Missing the playoffs by a single point — stuck in hockey purgatory with no playoff run and no draft lottery reward. The dream? Either winning the Stanley Cup or winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, where elite prospects like Gavin McKenna, Keaton Verhoeff, and Ivar Stenberg headline a loaded class to join James Hagens in Boston’s future core. Most realistically, the Bruins project as a playoff team with limitations, leaning on Jeremy Swayman’s bounce-back, David Pastrňák’s prime years, and the kids vs. veterans depth battle in Marco Sturm’s first season as head coach.

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The Boston Bruins erased a 4-1 deficit to beat the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Host Ian McLaren breaks down Mikey Eyssimont’s three-point third period, Joonas Korpisalo’s full 60-minute test amid glaring defensive miscues, and why Matěj Blümel, Casey Mittelstadt, and Marat Khusnutdinov are pushing for roster spots while Fabian Lysell and Matt Poitras remain on the bubble. Plus, Eyssimont is named Bruin of the Day after delivering the kind of energy and scoring touch Boston desperately needs.

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David Pastrňák is back at Boston Bruins training camp after missing the opening days with knee tendinitis. He insists it’s nothing new — he played through it last season while posting 106 points — but should fans be concerned about his long-term health?

Host Ian McLaren breaks down Pastrňák’s return, including Marco Sturm’s reaction and the impact on Boston’s top line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie.

Then, The Athletic’s 2025–26 season preview projects the Bruins for just 79 points (27th overall) and a 16% playoff chance. Why do national analysts see Boston as closer to the draft lottery than the postseason? Ian digs into the concerns about Charlie McAvoy’s regression, Jeremy Swayman’s inconsistency, and a lack of scoring depth.

Finally, we look at today’s practice line combinations and wrap up with a Bruin of the Day spotlight on Torey Krug, who is officially at peace after a career-ending ankle surgery.

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Locked On Boston Bruins is part of the Locked On Podcast Network — Your Team. Every Day. 

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The Boston Bruins opened their preseason with a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, and it wasn’t pretty. Defensive miscues and Michael DiPietro’s shaky outing overshadowed Marco Sturm’s debut behind the bench. Host Ian McLaren breaks down what went wrong in the D-zone, why DiPietro may have missed his chance to seize the backup goalie role, and how it ties into the Bruins’ “redemption or repeat” storyline for 2025-26.

There were positives, though — Morgan Geekie scored on the top line with Elias Lindholm and Viktor Arvidsson, the Bruins played with more pace, and youngsters like Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras, and Frederic Brunet made a push for NHL jobs. Most importantly, Charlie McAvoy returned to action for the first time since February, logging over 21 minutes and immediately stabilizing the blue line.

All that and more on today’s Locked On Boston Bruins — part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team. Every day.

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On today’s episode of Locked On Boston Bruins, Ian McLaren breaks down the biggest takeaways from Day 1 of training camp at Warrior Ice Arena.

Culture Reset: Head coach Marco Sturm is tearing down old locker room hierarchies by mixing veterans and prospects, with Nikita Zadorov praising the change as a way to build real chemistry from Day 1.

Pastrnak’s Tendinitis: David Pastrnak was the lone absence due to a precautionary knee issue, though Sturm stressed it’s not serious and Pasta was even skating on his own.

Line Combos: From Viktor Arvidsson filling in on the top line to Fraser Minten centering Fabian Lysell and Johnny Beecher, Ian analyzes what these “way-too-early” lines reveal about Sturm’s blueprint.

New Faces: Matěj Blümel explains why he chose Boston, betting on opportunity and Czech camaraderie, while Sean Kuraly returns as a veteran depth piece and earns our Bruin of the Day spotlight.

It’s a new season, a new vibe, and maybe a new Bruins identity.

Locked On Boston Bruins — your team, every day.

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