Bruins’ jersey reveal hints at drastic Marco Sturm decision on David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy after Brad Marchand’s departure

The Boston Bruins will be guided by Marco Sturm through a sink-or-swim 2024–25 NHL season—and they’ll be doing so in new jerseys, too. However, the team’s latest photoshoot featuring David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy may hint at something more. Perhaps, a possible glimpse into a drastic decision regarding Brad Marchand’s replacement.

The 2024-25 NHL season will serve as an unforgettable lecture in Boston. The disappointing campaign won’t be forgotten anytime soon, as it left a lasting scar. Determined never to experience such dismay again, Pastrnak and McAvoy are tasked with lifting the team’s spirit ahead of the upcoming campaign.

While Pastrnak and McAvoy are widely seen as the loudest voices in the TD Garden locker room, Sturm reportedly isn’t fully sold on their leadership. Marchand’s departure left a significant void—one that has yet to be filled. The Bruins are still without a captain, and though all signs once pointed to either Pastrnak or McAvoy, the new jerseys may hint at a much more drastic decision.

“Pastrnak and McAvoy both rocking A’s [in the Bruins photoshoot],” Michael Sullivan, host of Something’s Bruin podcast, stated on his X account. “Sturm had mentioned he would like the season to play out before naming an official Captain…looks like the Bruins will be rocking an ‘A’ squad.”

After Marchand’s departure, the Bruins might be shaping up to head into the 2025-26 NHL season without a team captain. Instead, Boston could keep the current alternate captains, Pastrnak and McAvoy, in their roles. It would certainly be quite an opening statement from Sturm.

Pleasant surprise incoming?

Boston will be selecting with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL entry Draft. If there’s any silver lining—though extremely thin—to the Bruins’ past season, it’s that. However, it won’t cheer up the crestfallen fans and players in Beantown.

Unless the unpredictable occurs. Once considered the frontrunner for the first overall selection, James Hagens has reportedly seen his draft stock take a hit. There’s consensus around the first two prospects expected to be taken off the board—but beyond that, anything goes. From the third pick onward, any selection could be just as easily justified as it could be criticized.

The Bruins would love to select Hagens, but it’s not up to them. Chicago and Utah—who own the 3rd and 4th overall picks—are not expected to take the undersized center. When Nashville and Philadelphia are on the clock, though, that’s when the Blackhawks should cross their fingers. Especially the Predators, as GM Barry Trotz said: “James Hagens is a player right in our wheelhouse.”