Kirill Kaprizov just rejected an eight-year, $128M contract extension from the Minnesota Wild — the richest deal in NHL history. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have David Pastrnak locked in long-term at $11.25M AAV, despite outproducing Kaprizov across the board the last three seasons.

In this episode of Locked On Boston Bruins, Ian McLaren dives into:

Why Kaprizov said no to $128M and how the rising salary cap changes superstar contracts.

The loaded 2026 UFA class (Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Martin Necas, and more).

How Boston’s $83M in cap commitments stack up — including bargain deals for Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman, alongside tougher contracts like Lindholm, Jeannot, and Zadorov.

Bruin of the Day: Cameron Clarke — the defenseman Boston drafted with a pick tied to Kaprizov, now building his career behind the bench.

Could McDavid hit $18M AAV in 2026? Is Pastrnak already the best-value superstar contract in the NHL? And do the Bruins have enough flexibility to build around their core?

📲 Subscribe for daily Bruins coverage: Your Team. Every Day.

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Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney set the tone for the 2025–26 season at the team’s annual golf outing, stressing that nothing will be handed out at training camp — every spot must be earned. He outlined a reset built on better health, stronger defensive structure, and much-needed special teams improvements, while leaning on stars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman to lead the charge. Sweeney also left the door open for PTO signings to fuel even more competition, setting the stage for a battle between veterans and prospects. On today’s podcast, Ian McLaren breaks down how this mandate for higher standards could shape camp — with a spotlight on new signing Matej Blümel, the AHL’s leading goal scorer, who could be Boston’s surprise weapon in their quest to rebound.

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Boston’s special teams were a disaster last season — ranking near the bottom of the NHL on both the power play and penalty kill — and it cost them any shot at competing. On today’s Locked On Boston Bruins, Ian McLaren breaks down just how badly those struggles hurt the team’s goal differential and standings, and why improvement is non-negotiable in 2025-26.

He also examines how new head coach Marco Sturm and assistant coach Steve Spott plan to overhaul the offense and special teams, highlighting how players like David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, and Mason Lohrei could be deployed in new roles. Plus, with the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo around the corner, McLaren spotlights Fraser Minten as Boston’s most intriguing young player to watch.

It’s a deep dive into what went wrong, what needs to change, and why fixing special teams is the key to a true redemption season for the Bruins.

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Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.

FanDuel
Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)