Boston Bruins

The oldest NHL team in the United States, the Bruins are Original Six champions with six Stanley Cup titles.

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making them the third-oldest active team in the NHL, and the oldest in the United States.

Quick Facts

Franchise age: 102nd season of play
Postseason absence prior: One year (since 2015–16)

Lore & Background

The Bruins are one of the 'Original Six' NHL teams, along with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. They have won six Stanley Cup championships, tied for fourth-most of any team with the Blackhawks (trailing the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings, with 24, 13, and 11, respectively), and tied for second-most for an NHL team based in the United States. The Bruins have also won the Presidents' Trophy four times, with their most recent win in 2022–23 amassing 135 points—the most in one season in NHL history.

Reader's Guide

The first facility to host the Bruins was the Boston Arena (later known as Matthews Arena), the world's oldest (built 1909–10) indoor ice hockey facility at the time of its closure in December 2025 and subsequent demolition in 2026. Following the Bruins' departure from the Boston Arena, the team played its home games at the Boston Garden for 67 seasons, beginning in 1928 and concluding in 1995, when they moved to TD Garden.

Did You Know?

The Bruins won the first ever NHL game played in the United States on December 1, 1924, hosting the Montreal Maroons at Boston Arena.
The Bruins' original uniform colors of brown and yellow came from owner Charles Adams' grocery chain, First National Stores.
Billy Coutu of the Bruins is the only player in NHL history to be banned for life for attacking a referee.
The 1929–30 Bruins posted the best-ever regular season winning percentage in the NHL (.875), a record that still stands.
Willie O'Ree, the first-ever black NHL player, debuted for the Bruins on January 18, 1958.

Foundational Origins and Early Turmoil

The franchise was established on November 1, 1924. During the off-season preceding this season, Marco Sturm was hired as head coach, replacing Joe Sacco, who had served on an interim basis after Jim Montgomery's firing during the previous season.

The Smythe Acquisition and Rebranding

This ended a one-year absence from the postseason, continuing a run of nine playoff appearances in ten seasons.

Dynastic Success and Historic Drought

In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Bruins faced the Buffalo Sabres and lost in six games.

Legacy, Honors, and Modern Identity

The preseason schedule was revealed on June 24, 2025. The regular season schedule was released on July 16, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the Bruins enter the 2025–26 season?

After their first playoff miss since 2015–16, Boston entered the year without a designated captain for the first time since 2001–02, naming David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Hampus Lindholm as alternates instead. Marco Sturm took over as head coach following Joe Sacco's interim stint.

Who is leading the Bruins in 2025–26?

With no single captain, the Bruins split leadership among three alternate captains—Pastrnak, McAvoy, and Lindholm—while Marco Sturm serves as head coach. This shared-leadership structure is a first for the franchise since the 2001–02 season.