A lot of Bruins fans might still be doing too much mourning to think about the offseason, but for those who are ready to turn the page, we've got some key dates to know over the next few months.
The Bruins announced the dates for their 2023 development camp, rookie camp, start of training camp and more on Monday. Here's what to know:
June 4-10: NHL Scouting Combine (in Buffalo)
The NHL combine isn't exactly the spectacle that the NFL combine is, so this is a relatively minor date for anyone who isn't a diehard draft/prospects follower. With the Bruins not picking until the third round, the interest from most Boston fans will probably be pretty minimal.
June 26: NHL Awards Show (in Nashville)
Boston's first-round collapse certainly dampens a lot of the excitement around individual awards, but the Bruins are up for a lot of them. David Pastrnak is a finalist for the Hart Trophy (MVP), Linus Ullmark for the Vezina (best goalie), Patrice Bergeron for the Selke (best defensive forward), and Jim Montgomery for the Jack Adams (best coach). Ullmark, Bergeron and Montgomery are all favored to win, while Pastrnak is battling for second behind Connor McDavid.
June 28-29: NHL Draft (in Nashville)
As of now, the Bruins have a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, a sixth-round pick, and two seventh-round picks. They have to find a way to clear some salary, though, so it's possible they acquire another pick or two via trade depending on who they move and what Don Sweeney is looking for in return.
July 1: Free Agency begins
The Bruins have exclusive negotiating rights with their eight unrestricted free agents until then. Once July 1 hits, they can talk to any of the 31 other teams. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci are expected to make decisions about their futures before free agency opens, but whether those decisions are made public by then remains to be seen. The Bruins are currently projected to have less than $5 million in cap space, so don't expect them to be big spenders.
July 3-7: Bruins Development Camp (Warrior Ice Arena)
This will be our first look at the Bruins' draft class, as those picks are expected to join other Bruins prospects (and probably a few camp invites from outside their prospect pool) on the ice at Warrior.
Sept. 13-18: Bruins Rookie Camp (in Buffalo)
This coincides with the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo. In the past, the Bruins held rookie camp at Warrior before then traveling to Buffalo for some game action against other teams' prospects. This year, they will spend the whole week in Buffalo.
Sept. 20: Bruins Training Camp begins (Warrior Ice Arena)
The unofficial start of the 2023-24 season, when the full team reports to Warrior for the first team activities of the year (although most of the team will already be there before then for some captains practices). The Bruins' preseason schedule has not yet been announced, but the first preseason game is usually a few days after training camp begins.
