Last season was an abrupt change of pace for the Boston Bruins. Once the kings of the Atlantic Division, the Bruins sat squarely at the bottom of the division this time around. Captain Brad Marchand ended his season with the Florida Panthers. Now, with nine first and second round picks over the next three seasons, a rebuild appears imminent.
A large part of the rebuild depends on the team’s performance.
Last season, the Bruins landed last in the Atlantic with a 33-39-10 record. The team made a trade for Viktor Arvidsson and signed Tanner Jeannot to a five-year deal. While the whole team struggled to make an impact last season, these two forwards in particular are overdue for big leaps in 2025-26.
Tanner Jeannot Needs to Live Up to Contract
Jeannot signed a five-year, $17 million deal with the Bruins in July. He’s a gritty, physical forward who plays the exact brand of hockey Boston loves. “Growing up, watching the teams that they had, they kind of embody the style that I like to try to bring each and every night,” Jeannot said on “NHL Tonight.” “I just thought that my style of game and the player I am could really go into an organization like that and have some success.”
Jeannot is three seasons removed from a career high 24 goals in 2021-22 with the Nashville Predators. The Bruins are his fourth NHL squad. Last year, Jeannot scored just seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 67 games with the Los Angeles Kings. While $3.4M a season isn’t a cumbersome deal, his five-year term could spell trouble for the Bruins if he doesn’t live up to his contract.
Daily Faceoff projects Jeannot on the third line alongside Matej Blumel and Fraser Minten. This role gives Jeannot a chance to show off his physicality and add a few extra points to the score sheet.
Pavel Zacha Faces Uncertain Future with Bruins
Zacha, 28, had a decent season last year with 14 goals and 33 assists for 47 points. He’s a smart top-six forward that’s been the subject of many trade proposals over the last year. As of right now, Zacha has two seasons left on his contract making $4.75M per season. Should the Bruins decide to go all-in on a rebuild, it’s likely Zacha plays his last season in Boston.
Bruins president Cam Neely believes general manager Don Sweeney has what it takes to bring the Bruins back to contention. “Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins,” Neely said. “He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention.”
Whether that future involves Zacha or not, ultimately, is up to Sweeney. “It’s an honor to be part of a franchise with such a storied history and passionate fanbase,” Sweeney said. “I fully understand and embrace the responsibility that comes with this role. Our fans have high expectations for this team, and so do I. The collective goal is to build a team that makes Bruins fans proud and ultimately brings another Stanley Cup back to Boston.”
