Five lineup battles worth watching during Bruins training camp

Battles at third-line center, the second line, and the backup goalie spot will be sorted out in the coming weeks.

Hockey is almost back in Boston.

While the Bruins’ full roster is not expected to report for training camp until Sept. 18, several lineup regulars have hit the frozen sheet at Warrior Ice Arena as part of player-organized captains’ practices.

It’s an exciting first step at the start of every new NHL campaign as players begin to shake off the offseason rust. Boston’s 2024-25 roster features plenty of new faces and younger players looking to carve out greater roles moving forward.

With on-ice practices ramping up in the coming weeks, here’s a look ahead at five lineup and roster battles worth keeping tabs on once training camp gets underway.

Second-line right wing

The Bruins allocated most of their fiscal flexibility this offseason to adding a top-line center in Elias Lindholm, an imposing blueliner in Nikita Zadorov, and a few fourth-line bruisers like Max Jones.

But with the Bruins needing to also save a hefty chunk of change in order to grant Jeremy Swayman a significant pay raise, Boston was unable to add a top-six winger to replace Jake DeBrusk this summer.

As divisive as a player as DeBrusk might be to some Bruins fans, he was a steady 20-goal winger who rounded into a very strong two-way player in Boston — making him a trusted player in Jim Montgomery’s system.

While there’s a lot to like about a Bruins top line potentially featuring Lindholm, David Pastrnak, and Pavel Zacha, it remains to be seen who fills out a veteran second line that likely will feature Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand.

Even though the Bruins could opt to simply promote an established NHLer like Morgan Geekie or Trent Frederic to fill out that top-six spot, Boston’s depth would benefit from keeping both of those forwards further down the lineup to exploit matchups.

The best-case scenario for Boston is that 21-year-old Fabian Lysell steps into that key spot in the lineup, giving the team an uber-skilled, cost-controlled asset who could help generate offense next to Coyle and Marchand.

Lysell has been knocking at the door for NHL reps over the last year, and Boston should give him every opportunity this preseason to earn his spot with the big club.

Beyond Lysell, the Bruins could also see if a veteran on a PTO deal like Tyler Johnson could step into that role, although Lysell certainly offers a higher upside.

A strong camp from Lysell would make things a lot easier for Jim Montgomery, Don Sweeney, and the rest of Boston’s staff when it comes to getting the puzzle pieces to fit up front.

Backup goalie

There’s no question that the most pressing question still facing the Bruins is when the team and Swayman will cross the t’s and dot the i’s on a new deal.

But there’s plenty still up in the air with the rest of Boston’s revamped goalie corps now that Linus Ullmark is manning the net in Ottawa.

Though the Bruins have said all of the right things regarding veteran Joonas Korpisalo and his chances of orchestrating a bounce-back campaign in Boston, the presence of Brandon Bussi creates an interesting conundrum.

Focusing just through the lens of asset management, there’s a legitimate case to be made for Bussi to open the year with the Bruins and Korpisalo waived and sent to Providence — so long as both netminders are neck-and-neck in terms of preseason performance.

After two promising seasons in Providence, Bussi was seemingly in line for NHL reps before Korpisalo arrived in the Ullmark trade. And with Bussi no longer waiver-exempt, the Bruins run the risk of losing a solid young goalie for nothing if they want to send him to Providence and roll with Korpisalo.

Even though the Bruins might be banking on Korpisalo’s upside, things would get interesting if Bussi held his own during the preseason. If the Bruins do expose Korpisalo to waivers, it’s unlikely that any team will take him on his current contract, allowing Boston to save a bit of money ($1.15 million) by stashing him in the AHL.

This goalie battle could resolve itself if one of Bussi/Korpisalo completely outplays the other in the coming weeks. But if it’s close? The Bruins have a tough call to make.

Third-line center

Much like Lysell clinching a spot at 2RW, the Bruins would welcome a preseason scenario where Matthew Poitras dominates and runs away in the competition for reps at third-line center.

The 20-year-old center exceeded all expectations by cracking the NHL roster out of camp last fall, scoring 13 points in his first 27 games while averaging 14:06 of ice time per contest.

But the rookie did hit a wall as the season carried on, with those expected struggles exacerbated by a shoulder injury suffered in a game against the Coyotes on Dec. 9. After that game, Poitras played another eight games, recording three points and averaging 11:18 of ice time before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.

Now granted a clean bill of health, a stronger Poitras should be poised to build off some of the promise he showcased last season. But if the Bruins think he needs more seasoning down in Providence, the team now has the option (unlike last year) of sending him to the AHL to work on his craft and build his confidence against easier competition.

If Poitras struggles a bit out of the gate, giving him a 10-15-game stretch in Providence with top-line minutes and heavy power-play reps stands as a good way to get him rolling.

Another prospect looking to carve out an NHL role in Georgii Merkulov could also fight for the 3C spot, with his age (turns 24 on Oct. 10) and established production in Providence (65 points in 67 games) making him an asset who has seemingly maxed out his time in the AHL.

Tyler Johnson — a natural centerman — is the next man in line for minutes down the middle, while Montgomery can also turn to Geekie or Frederic for center reps if needed as well.

Fourth Line

Montgomery and Co. should have no shortage of options when it comes to filling out a fleet-footed but physical fourth line.

Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, and Johnny Beecher would make for a strong checking-unit trio, especially with both Kastelic and Beecher excelling at face-offs. Justin Brazeau could also make a push on that line, although the case can be made that he should be fighting more for third-line minutes if he impresses during camp.

As is the case every camp, the Bruins should also be braced for a few youngsters to make a push for NHL minutes, with Woburn’s Riley Duran looking like a future fourth-line regular in due time.

Reshuffling D corps

On paper, the Bruins’ six-man grouping on the blue line is seemingly set with Charlie McAvoy, Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Brandon Carlo, Mason Lohrei, and Andrew Peeke.

It remains to be seen exactly how Montgomery and his staff organize that six-man unit, with Zadorov offering plenty of intrigue as a physical (and puck-moving) complement on the top pair next to McAvoy. If Zadorov doesn’t gel with McAvoy, Boston’s D corps could be in line for a more drastic reshuffle that could split up the Lindholm-Carlo pairing.

Zadorov’s presence further up on the depth chart does give Boston the luxury of easing Lohrei into a full-time NHL role on the third D pair, while also granting him reps on the second power-play unit.

But Lohrei isn’t entering camp with the expectation that minutes will be handed to him.

“It’s never easy,” Lohrei said last month. “You always got to work for it, you always gotta earn it. So it’s a new year, and obviously you go to camp — I don’t even know how many defensemen come to camp. But everybody wants to make the team, right?

“So I’ve got to show up and just do my best to make plays and do what I do. It’s only year two. So I’m excited, and just want to go out there and prove what I can do and plan to continue to get better.”

Both Lohrei and Peeke impressed against the Panthers during Boston’s second-round exit in May, but Parker Wotherspoon will also look to push both skaters in hopes of earning regular minutes.