History of Boston Bruins in Timeline
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, competing in the NHL's Atlantic Division (Eastern Conference). Established in 1924, they are the NHL's third-oldest active team and the oldest in the United States.
1923: Thomas Duggan received options on three NHL franchises
In 1923, sports promoter Thomas Duggan received options on three NHL franchises for the United States.
December 1, 1924: First NHL game played in the United States
On December 1, 1924, the Bruins hosted and won the first NHL game played in the United States against the Montreal Maroons by a score of 2-1 at the Boston Arena. Smokey Harris scored the first Bruins goal. However, the Bruins finished last in their first season with a 6-24-0 record.
1924: Bruins team in existence
In 1924, the Boston Bruins were founded, marking the start of the team's existence. They are the third-oldest active team in the NHL and the oldest in the United States.
1924: NHL expands to the United States
In 1924, the NHL expanded to the United States and sports promoter Thomas Duggan sold one of his three NHL franchise options to Boston grocery magnate Charles Adams. Adams then hired Art Ross as general manager, who with his secretary, created the Bruins nickname and chose brown and yellow colors based on Adams' First National Stores grocery chain.
1928: Bruins at Boston Garden
In 1928, the Bruins began playing their home games at the Boston Garden, where they would remain for 67 seasons.
1928: Tiny Thompson NHL debut
In the 1928-29 season, goaltender Tiny Thompson made his NHL debut, playing a crucial role in the Bruins' victory over the New York Rangers to win their first Stanley Cup.
1929: Best ever regular season
In the 1929–30 season, the Bruins achieved the best-ever regular season winning percentage in the NHL (.875) with a 38–5–1 record, a record that still stands, although they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.
1936: Charles Adams transfers ownership to his son Weston Adams
In 1936, owner Charles Adams transferred ownership of the Bruins to his son, Weston Adams.
1939: Bruins Capture Second Stanley Cup
In 1939, the Bruins won their second Stanley Cup after trading Thompson and making room for rookie goaltender Frank Brimsek. Brimsek had an award-winning season, capturing the Vezina and Calder Trophies, and becoming the first rookie named to the NHL first All-Star team. Other notable players at the time included Bill Cowley, Shore, Dit Clapper, "Sudden Death" Mel Hill and the "Kraut line".
1939: Shore Traded to New York Americans
In the 1939–40 season, Shore was traded to the New York Americans for his final NHL season.
1941: Bruins win third Stanley Cup
In 1941, the Bruins won their third Stanley Cup after losing only eight games and finishing first in the regular season. However, World War II significantly impacted the Bruins, with key players enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force following the win.
1942: NHL Reduced to "Original Six"
By 1942, the NHL was reduced to the six teams that would become known as the "Original Six" for the next 25 years.
1943: Bruins Last Playoff Win Against Canadiens
The 1988 Bruins victory against the Canadiens was the first playoff series win against them since 1943.
1944: Herb Cain sets NHL record for points
In 1944, Bruins' Herb Cain set the then-NHL record for points in a season with 82.
1945: Stars Return from World War II
In the 1945–46 season, the Bruins' stars returned from World War II, and Dit Clapper led the team back to the Stanley Cup Final as player-coach.
1947: Dit Clapper Retires as Player
In 1947, Dit Clapper retired as a player after playing twenty NHL seasons, becoming the first player to achieve this milestone.
September 8, 1949: Frank Brimsek Traded
On September 8, 1949, Frank Brimsek was traded after requesting one at the same time as Dit Clapper retired as coach.
1951: Walter A. Brown Buys Bruins
In 1951, facing financial troubles, owner Weston Adams accepted a buyout offer from Walter A. Brown, the owner of the Boston Celtics and the Garden.
1953: Stanley Cup Final appearance
In 1953, the Bruins made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.
1954: Art Ross retired
In 1954, Art Ross retired and Lynn Patrick took over as general manager.
June 3, 1955: Bruins trade with Detroit Red Wings
On June 3, 1955, the Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings completed a nine-player trade that brought goaltender Terry Sawchuk and forward Marcel Bonin to the Bruins.
1956: Sawchuk's playing ability affected after contracting infectious mononucleosis
In 1956 Terry Sawchuk's playing ability would be affected after contracting infectious mononucleosis and he would quit hockey midway through the 1956–57 season.
June 10, 1957: Sawchuk traded back to Red Wings
On June 10, 1957, Terry Sawchuk was traded back to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Johnny Bucyk.
1957: Formation of the "Uke Line"
In 1957, the "Uke Line" was formed, consisting of Johnny Bucyk, Vic Stasiuk, and Bronco Horvath, all of Ukrainian heritage. The line played together for four seasons.
January 18, 1958: Willie O'Ree Debuts as First Black NHL Player
On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree made his debut for the Bruins, becoming the first black player in NHL history. He played in 45 games for the Bruins over the 1957-58 and 1960-61 seasons.
1958: Stanley Cup Final appearance
In 1958, the Bruins made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.
1960: Willie O'Ree plays for the Bruins
In 1960, Willie O'Ree played for the Bruins
1961: Trade of Vic Stasiuk
In 1961, Vic Stasiuk was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, ending the run of the "Uke Line".
1964: Weston Adams Retakes Ownership
In 1964, Weston Adams regained ownership of the Bruins following Brown's death.
1964: Bruins draft Ken Dryden
In 1964, the Bruins drafted Ken Dryden at the NHL amateur draft but traded his rights to the Montreal Canadiens.
1966: Bobby Orr Enters the League
In 1966, future superstar Bobby Orr signed with the Bruins and entered the league. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year and was named to the second NHL All-Star Team.
1966: Milt Schmidt Takes Over as General Manager
In 1966, head coach Milt Schmidt replaced Lynn Patrick as general manager, following Patrick's retirement.
1967: "Nutty" selected as opening music for Bruins telecasts
In 1967, when Boston television station WSBK-TV began broadcasting Bruins games, The Ventures' instrumental rock version of the Nutcracker's overture, known as "Nutty", was selected as the opening piece of music for Bruins telecasts.
1968: Bruins had four 100-point scorers
In 1968–69 season, the Bruins had four 100-point scorers that year (Orr, Esposito, Bucyk and Hodge). All four were named First Team All-Stars.
1970: Harry Sinden Retires Temporarily
Before the 1970–71 season, head coach Harry Sinden temporarily retired from ice hockey to enter business. Tom Johnson replaced him. The Bruins set the record for wins in a season and had seven of the league's top ten scorers including Orr, Esposito, Bucyk and Hodge.
1970: Bruins Win Stanley Cup After 29-Year Drought
In 1970, the Bruins ended a 29-year Stanley Cup drought by defeating the St. Louis Blues in four games in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. Bobby Orr scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the Stanley Cup. Orr also won the Norris Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, and Hart Memorial Trophy the same season.
1972: Bruins Regain Stanley Cup
In 1972, while not as dominant as the previous seasons, the Bruins, with Esposito and Orr finishing first and second in the scoring standings, regained the Stanley Cup by defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the 1972 Stanley Cup Final.
1972: Sinden becomes general manager
In the 1972–73 season, former head coach Harry Sinden became the general manager.
1973: Upheaval for the Bruins
The 1972–73 season saw upheaval for the Bruins, with players Gerry Cheevers, Derek Sanderson, Johnny McKenzie, and Ted Green leaving to join the World Hockey Association (WHA), coach Tom Johnson being fired, and the Adams family selling the team to Storer Broadcasting.
1974: Bruins Regain First Place but Lose Stanley Cup Final
In 1974, the Bruins regained their first-place standing in the regular season, with Orr having another 100-point season. However, they lost the 1974 Stanley Cup Final to the Philadelphia Flyers.
1974: Don Cherry becomes coach
In 1974–75, Don Cherry became the new coach of the Bruins. The Bruins placed second in the Adams Division.
August 1975: Storer Broadcasting sells the team to an ownership group headed by Jeremy Jacobs
In August 1975, Storer Broadcasting sold the Boston Bruins to an ownership group headed by Jeremy Jacobs. Jacobs had to promise to keep Bobby Orr as a condition of the purchase.
1975: Bruins Lose in First Round of Playoffs
In the 1974–75 season, the Bruins, under Don Cherry, lost to the Chicago Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, two games to one.
1975: Sportsystem Corporation Purchases Bruins
Prior to the 1975–76 season, Sportsystem Corporation, purchased the Bruins. The Bruins traded Esposito and Carol Vadnais to the Rangers for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi. Orr left as a free agent to Chicago in the offseason.
1976: Bruins Acquire Rick Middleton
Before the 1976–77 season, the Bruins traded Hodge to the Rangers in exchange for Rick Middleton.
1978: Bruins Lose Stanley Cup Final to Canadiens
In 1978, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final again, with a balanced attack that saw 11 players with 20+ goal seasons (still an NHL record). They ultimately lost in six games to Montreal. After the series, John Bucyk retired, holding most Bruins' career longevity and scoring records.
1979: Cherry Dismissed as Head Coach
Following the 1979 semifinals series against the Canadiens, Don Cherry was dismissed as head coach. The Bruins were called for having too many men on the ice in the late stages of the third period of the deciding seventh game. Montreal tied the game on the ensuing power play and won in overtime.
1979: Fred Creighton new head coach
The 1979–80 season saw a new head coach Fred Creighton, and also included a trade of goaltender Ron Grahame to the Los Angeles Kings for a first-round pick which was used to select Ray Bourque, one of the greatest defensemen of all-time and the face of the Bruins for over two decades.
1982: League's Best Record
In the 1982–83 season, the Bruins had the league's best record behind a Vezina Trophy-winning season from goaltender Pete Peeters, but fell short of making the Stanley Cup Final.
1986: Butch Goring fired, Terry O'Reilly hired
In 1986, after a slow start to the season, the Bruins fired head coach Butch Goring and replaced him with Terry O'Reilly.
1987: Trade for Cam Neely
In 1987, the Bruins traded Barry Pederson to the Vancouver Canucks for right wing Cam Neely, a key move that shaped the team's future.
1987: Bruins Match up with Canadiens
In the 1987-88 season, the Bruins often matched up with the Canadiens in either the division semifinals or division finals.
March 1988: Acquisition of Andy Moog
In March 1988, the Bruins acquired the rights to Andy Moog from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Geoff Courtnall, Bill Ranford, and future considerations.
1988: Stanley Cup Final Appearance and Playoff Victory
In 1988, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final, also achieving their first playoff series victory over the Canadiens since 1943.
1990: Stanley Cup Final Appearance
In 1990, the Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Oilers in five games.
1991: Milbury Resigns as Head Coach
Following the Bruins' loss in the 1991 Wales Conference Final, Milbury resigned as head coach but remained with the team as assistant GM.
1992: Hiring of Brian Sutter and Acquisition of Adam Oates
In 1992, Brian Sutter was hired as head coach, and the Bruins acquired Adam Oates in a trade with the Blues for Craig Janney.
1992: Conference Finals
On May 6, 2011, the Bruins advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1992.
1993: Playoff Sweep by Sabres
Despite finishing with the second-best record in the regular season, the Bruins were swept in the first round of the 1993 playoffs by the Buffalo Sabres.
1993: Bruins Win Division Title
In the 2001-02 season, the Bruins won their first Northeast Division title since 1993.
1994: Playoff Loss to Devils
In the 1994 playoffs, the Bruins were defeated by the New Jersey Devils in the conference semifinals.
1994: Bruins Last Season at Boston Garden
The 1994-95 season was the Bruins' last at the Boston Garden.
September 26, 1995: Final Game at Boston Garden
On September 26, 1995, the Bruins played their final game at the old Boston Garden, an exhibition matchup against the Canadiens.
1995: Move to TD Garden
In 1995, the Bruins moved from the Boston Garden to the TD Garden, their current home arena.
1996: Playoff Loss to Panthers
In the 1996 playoffs, the Bruins lost their first-round series to the Florida Panthers in five games.
1996: Team Falls To Last Place
In the 1996-97 NHL season, the Bruins fell to last place in the NHL.
1997: Playoff Drought and Draft Pick
In 1997, Boston missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years and selected Joe Thornton with the first overall pick in the NHL entry draft.
1998: First Round Playoff Loss
In 1998, despite Pat Burns winning the Jack Adams Award, the Bruins lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Capitals in six games.
1999: Bruins Defeat Hurricanes, Lose to Sabres
In the 1999 playoffs, the Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, but lost to the Sabres in the second round.
1999: Bruins Fail to Qualify for Playoffs
In the 1999-2000 season, the Bruins finished in last place in the Northeast Division and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
February 21, 2000: McSorley Incident and Suspension
On February 21, 2000, Marty McSorley was ejected and later suspended after hitting Donald Brashear with his stick, which eventually ended McSorley's career.
March 6, 2000: Trade of Ray Bourque
On March 6, 2000, Ray Bourque was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after requesting a trade to a playoff contender.
2000: Coaching and Management Changes
In 2000, after a promising start, the Bruins fired coach Pat Burns and replaced him with Mike Keenan. Sinden stepped down as general manager, and Mike O'Connell took over.
2001: Robbie Ftorek Hired As Head Coach
Prior to the start of the 2001-02 season, Robbie Ftorek was hired as the head coach.
2002: Joe Thornton Made Captain
Prior to the 2002-03 season, Joe Thornton was made team captain.
October 7, 2003: Patrice Bergeron's Debut
On October 7, 2003, Patrice Bergeron made his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins.
2004: Division Title and Playoff Upset
In 2004, the Bruins won another division title but were upset by the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs after leading the series 3-1.
2004: David Krejci Drafted
Prior to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the team drafted David Krejci at the 2004 draft.
November 30, 2005: Trade of Joe Thornton
On November 30, 2005, the Bruins traded Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and Brad Stuart.
May 26, 2006: Hiring of Peter Chiarelli
On May 26, 2006, Peter Chiarelli was hired as the new general manager of the Boston Bruins.
June 2007: Jacobs elected chairman of NHL board
At the NHL board of governors meeting in June 2007, Jeremy Jacobs was elected chairman of the board, replacing the Calgary Flames' Harley Hotchkiss.
2007: Bruins Unveil New Uniforms
In 2007, the Bruins switched to the Reebok Edge template and introduced new uniforms featuring the serifed "Spoked B" logo. The design incorporated elements from the 1970s uniforms and included a new version of the original walking bear logo on the shoulders.
2007: Claude Julien Hired as Coach
In the offseason preceding the 2007-08 season, Lewis was fired as coach and replaced by Claude Julien.
2008: Best Record in Eastern Conference
After a slow start, the Bruins finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference during the 2008-09 season.
2009: Kessel Trade
Due to the Kessel trade and Toronto's poor performance in the 2009–10 season, the Bruins were able to use Toronto's pick at select second overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
2009: Kessel Traded To Maple Leafs
Prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for draft picks.
January 1, 2010: Winter Classic Victory
On January 1, 2010, the Bruins won the 2010 Winter Classic against the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park.
2010: Draft Pick Selection
Due to the Kessel trade, the Bruins selected Tyler Seguin second overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
2010: Bruins wear brown and gold variation of 1948-49 design for Winter Classic
In 2010, the Boston Bruins wore a brown and gold variation of their 1948–49 uniform design for the Winter Classic game.
2011: Kessel Trade Draft Pick
Due to the Kessel trade and Toronto's poor performance in the 2009–10 season, the Bruins were able to use Toronto's pick at select second overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
2011: Stanley Cup Victory and Awards
In 2011, the Bruins won their sixth Stanley Cup, with Tim Thomas winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and his second Vezina Trophy.
2012: Tim Thomas Sits Out
During the offseason preceding the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Tim Thomas made his decision to sit out the 2012–13 season.
2012: Draft Pick and Playoff Loss
In 2012, the Bruins drafted Dougie Hamilton and lost to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
February 7, 2013: Trade of Tim Thomas's Rights
On February 7, 2013, the Bruins traded Tim Thomas's rights to the New York Islanders.
April 16, 2013: Game Postponed After Boston Marathon Bombing
Following the Boston Marathon bombing, the Bruins' game on April 16, 2013, was postponed.
July 4, 2013: Blockbuster Trade
On July 4, 2013, the Bruins traded Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and a prospect to the Dallas Stars for Loui Eriksson and three prospects.
2014: President's Trophy Win
In the 2013–14 season, the Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy after finishing first in the Atlantic Division with 117 points.
April 15, 2015: Peter Chiarelli Fired
On April 15, 2015, Peter Chiarelli was fired by the Boston Bruins.
May 20, 2015: Don Sweeney hired as general manager
On May 20, 2015, Don Sweeney was hired as the general manager of the Boston Bruins, replacing Peter Chiarelli.
September 2016: Bruins move to Warrior Ice Arena
In September 2016, the Boston Bruins moved their training facilities from Ristuccia Ice Arena in Wilmington, Massachusetts, to Warrior Ice Arena in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston.
2017: Bruins Move to Adidas AdiZero Template
In 2017, the Bruins transitioned to Adidas' AdiZero template, keeping much of the same uniform design. However, the black uniforms were then paired with black socks, a feature previously reserved on the alternate black uniforms.
2019: Bruins wear white uniforms with brown and gold stripes for 2019 Winter Classic
For the 2019 Winter Classic, the Bruins wore white uniforms with brown and gold stripes and the "B" logo in front, paying homage to the mid-1930s uniforms.
2020: Adidas releases Bruins Reverse Retro Uniform
Prior to the 2020–21 season, Adidas released its "Reverse Retro" series of alternate uniforms. The Bruins' version was taken from the team's 1977 to 1995 design, but with a gold base and black accents.
January 2022: Tuukka Rask Signs One-Year Deal
In January 2022, Tuukka Rask, a free agent recovering from hip surgery, signed a one-year deal with the Bruins before ultimately retiring in February.
2022: Bruins win the Presidents' Trophy
In 2022, the Boston Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy for having amassed 135 points during the 2022-23 season, which was the most in one season in NHL history.
2022: Second Bruins Reverse Retro uniform released
In the 2022–23 season, a second "Reverse Retro" uniform was released, this time featuring a white version of the 1995–2006 "Pooh Bear" alternates.
March 2, 2023: Bruins Fastest Team to 100 Points
On March 2, 2023, the Bruins became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 standings points, achieving the milestone in their 61st game of the season.
April 9, 2023: Bruins Set Record for Most Wins in a Season
On April 9, 2023, the Bruins set a new all-time NHL record for most games won in a season (63) by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers.
September 20, 2023: Bruins confirm annual captain appointments in 1930s and 1940s
On September 20, 2023, the Boston Bruins confirmed that they appointed captains on an annual basis in the 1930s and 1940s, generally for a single season only, and acknowledged these past captaincies after many years of declining comment on the issue.
2023: Boston's 2023 Winter Classic uniform mixed various styles from the team's uniform history
Boston's 2023 Winter Classic uniform mixed various styles from the team's uniform history. The black-based uniform featured gold stripes and vintage white letters.
2023: Bruins unveil new uniforms for the 2023–24 centennial season
For the 2023–24 centennial season, the Bruins unveiled a new set of uniforms, along with a commemorative logo closely resembling the original design worn from 1949 to 1995. The white uniform would feature the aforementioned logo, while the black uniform would feature an inverted version, with the "B" and circle in gold with black spokes.
December 1, 2024: Bruins wear commemorative uniform for 100th anniversary
On December 1, 2024, in a game against the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins wore a commemorative uniform to honor the 100th anniversary of the franchise's first-ever game.
2024: Goaltender rankings updated
In 2024 the list of goaltenders in the top ten in franchise history for wins was updated.
2024: Montgomery fired, Sacco Interim Coach
In the 2024-25 season, Jim Montgomery was fired as head coach amidst a slow start, and Joe Sacco was named interim head coach.
June 5, 2025: Bruins hire Marco Sturm as head coach
On June 5, 2025, the Bruins announced the hiring of Marco Sturm as the 30th head coach in team history. Sturm, who played for the Bruins from 2005 to 2010, became the first European head coach for the team.
June 2025: Bruins announce logo change effective with 2025–26 season
In June 2025, the team announced a logo change to take effect with the 2025–26 season – the centennial "Spoked B" logo as the team's primary logo.
September 24, 2025: Content Updated
On September 24, 2025, information was updated.
2025: Alternate Logo Updated
In 2025, the Bruins' alternate logo featuring a walking bear was updated to feature only the bear itself, with the team name variation used on the black uniform, and the city name variation on the white uniform.
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