The truth many knowledgeable observers imagine the Bruins will make the playoffs – in fact, the Bruins at all times determine it out, proper? – is a testomony to the tradition that has been constructed and expertise assembled on Causeway Street over the previous 15 years.
But the post-season isn’t any given.
The B’s misplaced practically half the roster from final yr’s record-breaking 65-win group that sputtered disastrously within the playoffs. That a lot turnover in a depth-driven sport is horrifying.
Yet the B’s nonetheless have some items. The have a bona fide celebrity on proper wing, two gamers who may very well be within the Norris Trophy dialog and the returning Vezina Trophy winner who’ll be sharing the web with a netminder who very might be his equal.
So, sure, the B’s have a good shot to make the playoffs. But not like final season, they may very well be taking part in some very significant, uncomfortable video games in late March and early April.
Here is how the roster breaks down:
LW C RW
James van Riemsdyk Pavel Zacha David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand Charlie Coyle Jake DeBrusk
Morgan Geekie Matt Poitras Trent Frederic
Milan Lucic John Beecher Jakub Lauko
Patrick Brown
THE SKINNY – The place that has lengthy been the B’s power is the most important query mark. They misplaced a sure-fire Hall of Famer in Patrice Bergeron, a man who ought to most likely have his quantity within the Garden rafters in David Krejci and a really helpful fourth line pivot in Tomas Nosek. Stepping into the breach can be a man who performed wing final yr (Zacha), two rookies in Poitras and Beecher, whereas Coyle is taking a large step up from his third line middle function. It’s going to be attention-grabbing.
LD RD
Matt Grzelcyk Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort Kevin Shattenkirk
Ian Mitchell
THE SKINNY – As good as this group is – and it’s good, not fairly nice – there’s a sense there may very nicely be some adjustments by mid-season. Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort are within the remaining years of their contracts whereas the B’s are very excessive on rookie Mason Lohrei. They saved him in camp till Monday, after they needed to ship him to Providence as a consequence of wage cap constraints. Whether or not it was an meant message to some gamers within the group, it might be greatest that they take it that method.
GOALIE
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
THE SKINNY—What occurred within the playoffs should be handled when – and if – the B’s earn their method again into the event subsequent April. But there’s no indication that the B’s ought to anticipate something lower than the stellar goaltending they obtained final season. Both netminders performed nicely within the preseason, regardless of the same old defensive lapses you’d anticipate within the observe video games. It could also be a tall activity to anticipate one other Vezina for Ullmark or the primary for Swayman, however this most vital of positions shouldn’t be a priority.
COACH
Jim Montgomery
THE SKINNY—Montgomery has mentioned he’s extra comfy in his second season, which is smart. He is aware of his gamers and his bosses higher. But in some methods it appears like he’s beginning over. He’s acquired a a lot totally different group – and totally different job description. Last season he may let Bergeron run the dressing room, a lot as Bruce Cassidy did earlier than him. But whereas Brad Marchand was the one option to succeed Bergeron as captain, and we expect he’ll be good on the job, you by no means know till you see all of it play out, particularly with so many new faces coming into the combo. There are loads of variables with which Montgomery will now should take care of.
2023-24 SCHEDULE
Wed, Oct. 11 vs Chicago 7:30 PM
Sat, Oct. 14 vs Nashville 7:00 PM
Thu, Oct. 19 @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Sat, Oct. 21 @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Sun, Oct. 22. @ Anaheim 8:30 PM
Tue, Oct. 24 @ Chicago 8:30 PM
Thu, Oct. 26 vs Anaheim 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 28 vs Detroit 7:00 PM
Mon, Oct. 30 vs Florida 7:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 2 vs Toronto 7:30 PM
Sat, Nov. 4 @ Detroit 7:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 6 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 9 vs New York 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 11 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Tue, Nov. 14 @ Buffalo 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 18 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 20 @ Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Wed, Nov. 22 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 24 vs Detroit 1:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 25 @ New York 1:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 27 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 30 vs San Jose 7:00 PM
Sat, Dec. 2 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Sun, Dec. 3 vs Columbus 7:00 PM
Thu, Dec. 7 vs Buffalo 7:00 PM
Sat, Dec. 9 vs Arizona 1:00 PM
Wed, Dec. 13 @ New Jersey 7:00 PM
Fri, Dec. 15 @ New York 7:30 PM
Sat, Dec. 16 vs New York 7:00 PM
Tue, Dec. 19 vs Minnesota 7:00 PM
Fri, Dec. 22 @ Winnipeg 8:00 PM
Sat, Dec. 23 @ Minnesota 7:00 PM
Wed, Dec. 27 @ Buffalo 7:30 PM
Sat, Dec. 30 vs New Jersey 7:00 PM
Sun, Dec. 31 @ Detroit 5:00 PM
Tue, Jan. 2 @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Thu, Jan. 4 vs Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Sat, Jan. 6 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Mon, Jan. 8 @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Tue, Jan. 9 @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Thu, Jan. 11 @ Vegas 10:00 PM
Sat, Jan. 13 @ St. Louis 8:00 PM
Mon, Jan. 15 vs New Jersey 1:00 PM
Thu, Jan. 18 vs Colorado 7:00 PM
Sat, Jan. 20 vs Montreal 7:00 PM
Mon, Jan. 22 vs Winnipeg 7:00 PM
Wed, Jan. 24 vs Carolina 7:30 PM
Thu, Jan. 25 @ Ottawa 7:00 PM
Sat, Jan. 27 @ Philadelphia 12:30 PM
Tue, Feb. 6 vs Calgary 7:00 PM
Thu, Feb. 8 vs Vancouver 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 10 vs Washington 3:30 PM
Tue, Feb. 13 vs Tampa Bay 7:00 PM
Thu, Feb. 15 vs Seattle 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 17 vs Los Angeles 5:00 PM
Mon, Feb. 19 vs Dallas 1:00 PM
Wed, Feb. 21 @ Edmonton 10:00 PM
Thu, Feb. 22 @ Calgary 9:00 PM
Sat, Feb. 24 @ Vancouver 7:00 PM
Mon, Feb. 26 @ Seattle 10:00 PM
Thu, Feb. 29 vs Vegas 7:00 PM
Sat, Mar. 2 @ New York 3:00 PM
Mon, Mar. 4 @ Toronto 7:00 PM
Tue, Mar. 5 vs Edmonton 7:30 PM
Thu, Mar. 7 vs Toronto 7:00 PM
Sat, Mar. 9 vs Pittsburgh 3:00 PM
Mon, Mar. 11 vs St. Louis 7:00 PM
Thu, Mar. 14 @ Montreal 7:00 PM
Sat, Mar. 16 vs Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Tue, Mar. 19 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Thu, Mar. 21 vs New York 7:00 PM
Sat, Mar. 23 @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar. 26 @ Florida 7:00 PM
Wed, Mar. 27 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Sat, Mar. 30 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Tue, Apr. 2 @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Thu, Apr. 4 @ Carolina 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr. 6 vs Florida 3:30 PM
Tue, Apr. 9 vs Carolina 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr. 13 @ Pittsburgh 8:00 PM
Mon, Apr. 15 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Tue, Apr. 16 vs Ottawa 7:00 PM
Source: www.bostonherald.com