If Don Sweeney wanted to do it, the Boston Bruins general manager could take his hands off the steering wheel until the start of 2026-27. Only Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke are on expiring contracts. Jordan Harris becomes a restricted free agent the same day Arvidsson and Peeke gain entrance to unrestricted free agency. Sweeney could roll a Game 1 lineup without making a single signing or trade.That would leave the Bruins, however, in a deficient position. As well as the turnaround unfolded this past season, multiple circumstances had to break just right for them to make the 2025-26 playoffs. Standing pat would put them at risk of regression.“It’s going to be an uphill climb,” Sweeney said. “Every team is getting better.”For this exercise, we’ll project a depth chart of players under contract for 2026-27. It will be helpful in identifying the Bruins’ strengths and where they require improvement.ForwardsLeft wingCenter Right wingMorgan GeekiePavel ZachaDavid PastrnakJames HagensFraser MintenMarat KhusnutdinovCasey MittelstadtElias LindholmAlex SteevesTanner JeannotSean KuralyMark KastelicLukas ReichelMikey EyssimontFirst linePresident Cam Neely acknowledged that the Bruins do not have a No. 1 center. But Pavel Zacha does a lot of things well to the point where he could assume full-time responsibility on the first line.He does not need to be a Connor McDavid-like offensive flamethrower. As long as Zacha picks up the defensive pieces, shoots when he has high-danger opportunities and skates with pace, David Pastrnak will take care of the rest of the offensive workload. Pastrnak can score goals and set up his linemates equally well, depending on what his team requires. Morgan Geekie should be able to break the 40-goal barrier in 2026-27.The No. 1 line will have issues defensively. But Zacha can help sort things out.Assessment: Enough firepower on the wings complemented by good defensive awareness in the middle.Second lineCall this the All-Upside Line. The youngsters (Marat Khusnutdinov is 23, Fraser Minten is 21, James Hagens is 19) have room to grow. Khusnutdinov could become the Bruins’ version of Yanni Gourde, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s perpetual package of energy. Minten is following Zacha’s footsteps as a do-it-all center with hockey sense to spare. As for Hagens, his foundation of speed, skill and creativity makes a projection practically impossible to restrain.