Boston Bruins missing their biggest figure ahead of home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks
Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The Boston Bruins ended up breaking a 52-year old tradition, and are entering their home opener for the first time without a captain.
Boston entered the 2025-26 season for the first time in nearly half a century without a designated leader on their roster.
Ahead of the opening night game against the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins confirmed they were entering the season without a captain.
This ended a 52-year run of them entering a season with a captain, dating back to 1973.
Instead of having a designated captain, the Bruins announced a new alternate captain.
David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy were the obvious ones to enter the season with an "A" on the chest, but the morning of the opening night game, the Bruins announced that Hampus Lindholm was getting promoted to wear an "A" as well.
Could the Bruins announce a captain this season?
Sweeney spoke on the Bruins not having a captain ahead of training camp:
«Everything is on the table right now,» Sweeney said before training camp. «We've been forward with everybody and honest with everybody that we're going to start without it.»
Before Sweeney spoke on it, Sturm stated that the Bruins do not need a captain:
«If you're a Boston Bruin, it's a big deal. If you're not 100 percent sure, then no, you don't [have to name a captain],» Sturm said at the start of June. «It's the Boston Bruins, and it is a big deal. That's something we're going to talk about. We both have to agree that this is the right guy. We will, but I don't know when.»
According to the Bruins, they didn't have the right guy to take the "C" before entering the season.
Charlie McAvoy believes this is good for the Bruins:
«Going into this year, we're both going to have A's. That's what I know. I don't think there's any fire under them to do anything with that. And guess what? That's totally fine,» McAvoy said, per the Boston Herald. «Me and Pasta are spending the time together, which I've found incredible, learning about him a little bit more, about him as a leader.»
It's unclear if the Boston Bruins are going to name a captain this season, but they are comfortable having three alternates.
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