Mason Lohrei Puts Last Year’s Breakout Season Behind Him as He Aims to Earn Bruins Roster Spot

Mason Lohrei is looking to stake his claim for a spot on the Bruins roster for the 2026-27 season. The first NHL player to be born in Louisiana, Lohrei made a swift move from Ohio State hockey to the Providence Bruins after college. During the 2024-25 season, he was thrust into a starting role due to numerous injuries, but ended up with a negative plus-minus rating.

However, in the 2025-26 season, Lohrei turned things around, posting a plus-17 record, tallying seven goals for the season and amassing 26 points. Despite his improvement, the Bruins remain undecided on whether he will be part of their roster. With only a month left until training camp, Lohrei is aware of the challenge he faces.

"I kind of like that competition aspect of it, especially going into camp, knowing you’ve got to earn your spot," he stated to The Boston Globe. "And we have a lot of really good NHL-caliber defensemen that are going to be competing for spots. And I think that’s going to just help everybody raise their compete level. I know it’s going to help me, for sure."

Since the conclusion of last season, Lohrei has been in the gym, focusing on building muscle. He also stays active on the ice during the off-season, never far from the action. Lohrei’s competitive spirit is expected to play a significant role in his pursuit of a Bruins roster spot. The defenseman aims to take the team further than past the first round this season, but knows that his past performances won't matter once the camp begins.

"It doesn’t matter what happened the year before, whether it was the best year of your career or not great, or what happened the last three games. Just try and have fun doing what I love and just trying to improve myself," Lohrei declared.