The Bruins took a big step this year, but to contend, bigger ones await
Despite a big improvement, the work isn't close to finished for the Bruins.
BOSTON — Marco Sturm said for this Bruins team, in this stage of its development, there was value to making the NHL playoffs even if Boston didn’t advance out of the first round. He was right. There was value for the nine different Bruins, who experienced playoff hockey for the first time in this series.
They had a chance to experience firsthand how difficult playoff hockey actually is, even in the first round. That’s an important step in understanding what they’re reaching for. It was important too, that the work everyone on the roster put in this year be rewarded.
But for Boston, to move back toward being contenders again, there have to be many more steps that follow. The challenge for the Bruins, after Friday’s season-ending 4-1 loss to the Sabres, is striking the right balance between deserved pride in their unexpected success and motivation to keep from being satisfied. The 2025-26 season was important for the Bruins, who returned to the playoffs and rebuilt their culture after finishing near the bottom of the league last year.
Sturm, a first-year coach, appreciated how much this team bought into his system and came together to exceed preseason expectations. “They wanted to prove everyone wrong,” Sturm said. “These guys care.