The Bruins are having one of the best campaigns this season in the NHL, despite being overlooked by many insiders to start the season. However, the Bruins did not let the outside noise get to them, as first-year head coach Marco Sturm has his team to a 32-20-4 record, just before the NHL takes a break for the Olympics.
Boston traded away many of their aging veterans prior to the season, which GM Don Sweeney had hoped would bring new success to the squad, following a year being one of the worst teams in the league. The move, however, has turned out to be ecstasy, as Sweeney had hoped.
One of the players who has been a focal point for the Bruins’ success is Morgan Geekie, who is having a stellar year following a 2024-2025 season that saw him amass 57 points in 77 games.
However, that stat line has already been shattered for Geekie, who, just 54 games into the year, has 30 goals and 20 assists. David Pasternak has also elevated his play as he anchors the front line, continuing to be Boston’s franchise player. Pasternak’s goal pace may be down from prior seasons; although this may be his best year as a playmaker, as he already has 47 assists on the year to pair with 22 goals.
In net, Jeremy Swayman has also been quietly great again, as he has continued his all-star play. He looks to stay hot as he heads closer to a trip to the Olympics with Team USA later this month. Fraser Minton was also named rookie of the month to end January as he continues to stack on great performances for Boston.
Fans have been lucky this season, as Boston has also been razor-sharp at home in TD Garden. In January, they went a perfect 9-0, showing that the Garden is a tough place to win at for opposing teams.
Just two nights ago, the Bruins also headed to Tampa for a clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium for the NHL’s annual Stadium Series. Despite the Lightning coming out with the win, the Bruins put up a consistent fight, as the game ended in a shootout, with a final score of 6-5.
In terms of the upcoming trade deadline, Sweeney most likely will add a piece or two to help his team come playoff time before the March 6 date. Boston will have a surplus of prospects to deal if it looks to make a splash, although it is unlikely that they will part with many.
Sturm has surpassed expectations in his first year as he has unlocked many of his players’ games. He holds the team accountable, and it is finally starting to translate into the win department, as seen from the month of January.
This team will have the chance to compete for it all if they can keep up this style of pace and hopefully earn their first cup in over 10 years. If not this year, the footprint has been laid for Sturm and his staff as young prospects will be flooding in the next few years, along with the already established talent that Boston has on the ice.
Ultimately, whether the full breakthrough comes this season or soon after, the franchise is positioned in a great spot for sustained success with Sturm and, the belief of Boston’s next championship window no longer being a question of if, but when.