Bruins open a four-game preseason with a crowded blue line at camp

Boston plays Washington and Philadelphia twice each before an 84-game season, with about 10 NHL-caliber defensemen fighting for six lineup spots.

5 sources / Updated September 7, 2026

The Bruins' 2026 preseason is four games under the new CBA, then an 84-game regular season.
Club schedule: Sept. 20 vs. Capitals (TD Garden, 5 p.m.), Sept. 22 vs. Flyers (7 p.m.), Sept. 24 at Flyers, Sept. 25 at Capitals. Prospects Showcase dates are Sept. 13 and 14 against Sabres prospects at LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo. Local reporting has rookie camp around Friday, Sept. 11, and main camp around Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Warrior Ice Arena.
Coach Marco Sturm has said the defense group is stacked — McAvoy, Lindholm, Zadorov, Borgen, Clifton, Lohrei, Jokiharju, Aspirot, Harris, Brunet — and that somebody will be mad when the Game 1 roster against New York is set. McAvoy's six-game regular-season suspension may open an early extra blue-line seat, but it does not clear the camp logjam.
nhl.com2026 preseason scheduleOpen the original article from nhl.com for the full report.Read original
nhl.comProspects Showcase scheduleOpen the original article from nhl.com for the full report.Read original
nhl.comBorgen, Lohrei camp readOpen the original article from nhl.com for the full report.Read original
bostonsportsjournal.comBSJ: Sturm on short camp D logjamOpen the original article from bostonsportsjournal.com for the full report.Read original

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