Boston Bruins forward Alex Steeves, who recently turned 26, shared insights into his family ties to the team's road trip stops and his path to the NHL. Recalled from the AHL in early November, Steeves has recorded eight points in 16 games. He emphasized maintaining routines amid his breakthrough season.
Alex Steeves marked his 26th birthday after a practice with the Boston Bruins at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. Last year, he celebrated in Toronto while with the Toronto Marlies, where his mother surprised him with a birthday sign during warmups against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That night, he contributed a goal and two assists.
Steeves signed a one-year contract with Boston in July and began the season in Providence before earning an NHL spot due to forward injuries. He has since tallied six goals and two assists over 16 games. On Thursday, he skated on the first line alongside Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm as the Bruins defeated the Winnipeg Jets 6-3. Teammate Geekie praised Steeves' physicality and two-way play: "He’s always leading us in hits and scoring goals. He’s all over the ice."
The Winnipeg game held personal significance for Steeves, whose father Glen grew up there and met his mother at the University of Manitoba. Steeves spent his early childhood in Minnesota before moving to New Hampshire but rooted for the Jets, influenced by his grandfather. His parents drove from Minnesota with their Jack Russell terrier, Hatty, to attend the game and the following Sunday matchup against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center—Steeves' first NHL appearance there.
"It is kind of a crazy road trip in that regard, back-to-back family things," Steeves said. "Over a long season, it’s really refreshing."
A University of Notre Dame alum from 2018-2021, Steeves joined the Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent and spent four years in their system, mostly in the AHL. Now with Boston, he feels he must earn his spot daily. Former teammate and captain Andrew Peeke noted Steeves' college scoring touch and adaptability: "The scoring was always there... To see him be able to play both, it speaks a lot to the type of player he is."
Head coach Marco Sturm described Steeves as a "hockey nerd" with deep game knowledge. Steeves credits mental preparation, including visualization and video study, for his success. "I don’t feel like I am the most naturally talented person ever," he said. "I’ve worked at that."