The heights had been as enjoyable and exhilarating as something we’ve skilled with the Bruins of their 100-year historical past. The depths had been about as miserable as this crew has handled us to over time. Hopes had been raised, solely to be dashed in essentially the most painful of fashions. One period ended and a brand new one started with a glimmer of hope that regardless of who hangs up his skates, another person will come alongside to fill them. It will not be an ideal match, however the brand new man ultimately breaks them in his personal manner.
Here’s a glance again at some key dates in a outstanding calendar yr for the Boston Bruins:
Jan. 26-29 – The Bruins lose three straight to Tampa Bay, Florida (extra time) and Carolina. It can be the longest shedding streak of the 2022-23 common season. They would match it, nevertheless, in essentially the most premature style.
Feb. 23 – The Bruins receive Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals in change for a first-round choose (2023), a second-rounder (2025) and ahead Craig Smith. At the time, it regarded prefer it was a deal that will put them excessive, offering the B’s with a rugged two-way defenseman in Orlov and a sandpaper ahead in Hathaway.
March 2 – With Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno on the shelf with late-season accidents, GM Don Sweeney makes one ultimate roster addition, including Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit for a 2024 first-rounder and 2025 fourth-round choice. Bertuzzi offers the B’s one other high six ahead for the lengthy playoff push whereas Hall and Foligno can be prepared for the playoffs. Can’t miss, proper?
But the acquisition of Bertuzzi was not even the most important information of the day. Sweeney introduced the long-awaited contract extension for famous person David Pastrnak, making him the very best paid Bruin of their historical past with an eight-year, $90 million deal.
April 9 – In a 5-3 victory in Philadelphia over the Flyers, the B’s hit two momentous milestones. They break the NHL document for wins with 63 and David Pastrnak turned simply the second Bruin within the membership’s historical past to hit the 60-goal plateau, the opposite being Hall of Famer Phil Esposito. As ordinary, he did it in fashion, notching a hat trick which additionally gave him 300 profession objectives.
April 13 – In the common season and what would develop into the B’s record-setting sixty fifth win, captain Patrice Bergeron suffers what can be termed a “lower body injury” and he would go away the sport for “precautionary” causes. It turned out that he suffered a herniated disc in his again. He missed the primary 4 playoff video games in opposition to the Florida Panthers and by no means regained the common season kind that earned him his document sixth Selke Award.
April 30 – The B’s endure certainly one of their most cataclysmic losses of their century of existence. After main the sequence, 3-1, they lose three straight. Florida ties Game 7 with a minute left in regulation and the goalie pulled, then win it in OT on a Carter Verhaeghe objective. A season that held a lot promise is over.
July 1 – Bruins signal Morgan Geekie, James van Riemsdyk, Milan Lucic and Kevin Shattenkirk. Up in opposition to the wage cap and anticipating vital departs, the B’s signal 4 established veterans, amongst different items. All however Geekie are signed to one-year offers, signaling the transitional season for 2023-24.
July 25 – Patrice Bergeron retires by way of social media announcement. He would meet with reporters the following day in a Legends press convention that was no-frills, by his request. He took questions from print reporters, did a handful of one-on-one sitdowns with broadcast shops and was one of many final individuals to go away the room. He completed with one Stanley Cup, three Finals appearances and 6 Selkes. His subsequent cease would be the Hall of Fame.
Aug. 14 – David Krejci follows Bergeron out the door. In his ultimate sport, the clutch playoff performer, who himself had handled damage on the finish of the season, almost pulled the Bruins by means of to the following spherical. He figured in all of the B’s scoring, helping on two objectives and scoring the opposite. He could not have been as adorned as Bergeron, however the two centermen offered a one-two punch down the center that made the B’s formidable for over a decade.
Sept. 20 – Bruins identify Brad Marchand captain. Once thought-about an nearly laughable proposition, the oft-suspended dangerous boy had not solely develop into the only option to switch his good buddy and linemate as captain, he was the one selection.
Oct. 10 – Rookie facilities John Beecher and Matt Poitras make the opening evening roster. They would have the traditional rookie ups and downs, however their emergence got here on the precise second it was desperately wanted after the retirements of Bergeron and Krejci and the defection of Tomas Nosek.
Oct. 24 – Bruins beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 to stretch their document to 6-0, displaying that the crew wasn’t able to backside out, as some had feared.
Nov. 18 – Milan Lucic is arrested and later charged with assault and battery in a home incident. After being traded away from Boston in 2015, Lucic had re-signed with the B’s in the summertime and his return had been a feel-good story till he suffered a decrease physique damage on Oct. 21. Lucic would enter the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program. With authorized proceedings pending, the way forward for one of the vital recognizable Bruin of the previous twenty years is unsure.
Dec. 23 – Bruins lose in Minnesota. It is the B’s fourth straight loss, the longest shedding streak of the season. It’s one other indicator that issues is not going to come as simply for this crew this season because it did final. We’ll discover out in 2024 whether or not that’s a very good factor or a nasty factor.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”