Bruins’ No. 1 center role top priority of offseason

Hagens, 19, and Minten, 21, are each headed to the IIHF World Championships, playing for the United States and Canada, respectively, something Sweeney called “really imperative” for Hagens in particular. 

This, however, is not a new issue for the Bruins. It’s been there since Bergeron left the game after 19 seasons of playing center for Boston. 

The Bruins tried to solve it two years ago, signing Lindholm on July 1, 2024, to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. But Lindholm has not been the center they anticipated, partially dogged by back issues for the past two seasons. As Sweeney said, “Now he wants to get back to the level that he believes he’s capable of and we believe he’s capable of. And injuries are not the player’s fault.”

But it’s not just at center. 

The Bruins need upgrades all over their roster. 

“Obviously, yeah,” Neely said, when asked about whether they need more talent. “We got bounced in the first round. So, yeah, we need more talent, we need more speed. That’s something we have to try to acquire, in one way shape or form. You look at the elite teams in the League, we’re not there.”

He added, “When you strip it down like we did (at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline), you’re not going to be there in one season. So it’s going to take some time, but what we accomplished this year, give the guys credit, but it’s building blocks. So we’ve got work to do to improve this club still.”

Ultimately, though, as disappointed as they were with the way the season ended, with the way the Bruins showed up at home in Game 4 especially (6-1 loss), it was a successful season. It was more than most expected, and represented progress for a team that was coming off its roughest season in recent memory.

“Last year when we were in this press conference, it was an awfully difficult one,” Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs said. “And I sit here today feeling like we are on the right track.”