I've Talked Myself Into The Bruins Being A Legitimate Stanley Cup Contender: 2024-2025 Season Preview

Marina10/08/2024 7:50 PM

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

We've made it folks! The leaves are falling, the air is crisp, apples are being picked and it's officially the start of a new season. Like every year for the last 30 years of my life I have convinced myself that the Boston Bruins are going to win the Stanley Cup. Am I delusional? Always. Homer? Absolutely. So if you're not a Bruins fan you can kick rocks. This team exceeded expectations last year, got defeated by the Panthers (once again), and retooled in free agency. There's a lot to be excited about (and maybe a lot to be worried about) so let's get into it.

NEW FACES:

OUT: Jake DeBrusk (Canucks), Danton Heinen (Canucks), Derek Forbort (Canucks), Jesper Boqvist (Panthers), Linus Ullmark (Senators), Matt Grzelcyk (Penguins), James van Riemsdyk (Blue Jackets), Jakub Lauko (Wild), Pat Maroon (Blackhawks)

IN: Max Jones (Anaheim), Elias Lindholm (Canucks), Nikita Zadorov (Canucks), Joonas Korpisalo (Senators), Riley Tufte (Avalanche), Cole Koepke (Lightning), Vinni Lettieri (Wild), Tyler Johnson (PTO, not signed yet)

The Bruins lost some scoring with Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen who both signed with the Vancouver Canucks together. Defenseman Derek Forbort joined them. DeBrusk's tenure in Boston was well reported as unsteady, he was a streaky player but really stepped up in the postseason and was always a pleasure to talk to. The B's will miss his speed and tenacity (when he was on). Letting him walk in free agency was probably the right move as the B's needed him last postseason, although you could've made the case to trade him when he asked… twice. All the best to him as he changes his scenery and moves closer to home. Heinen made the most of his PTO and cashed in on a 2 year deal with the Canucks. Can't blame him.

Linus Ullmark got dealt before the draft to Ottawa for a 1st round pick, Mark Kastelic and Joonas Korpisalo. Didn't love the trade then, don't love it now, but Dean Letourneau (1st round selection) may make me change my mind in the future. The Bruins took on Korpisalo's contract but perhaps Goalie Bob can work his magic and they can flip him before the deadline should a team need a solid goalie. More on that later.

Some guys on expiring contracts found jobs elsewhere, I will miss Matt Grzlecyk and wish him the best in Pittsburgh. JVR is a Barstool guy, glad he found a home in Columbus. Jakub Lauko was a (albeit niche) fan favorite, he was dealt to Minnesota. So, lots of new faces this year.

Now let's get into the men who will don the Spoked B this year…

FORWARDS:

Zacha - E.Lindholm - Pastrnak

Marchand - Coyle - Geekie

Jones - Frederic - Brazeau

Beecher - Kastelic - Koepke

Extras: Poitras (injured), Tufte

The Bruins went shopping on July 1 and picked up the centerman that they desperately needed in Elias Lindholm. They were interested in him from the jump but couldn't use their limited assets to acquire him before the playoffs, thus giving him a 7 year deal with a $7.75M cap hit. It was a bit of a steep price to pay but that's what happens when you are forced to shop in free agency vs. develop through the system or acquire through your own assets. The center position was by far the Bruins' biggest weakness last year and Lindholm should be a welcome addition. While Lindholm isn't a true No. 1 around the league, he's going to be a key cog on this team, as he flips Pavel Zacha back to the wing with David Pastrnak on the right. Pasta get's his center and Zacha will be able to open up more offensively. Lindholm was a little banged up during camp but he should be 100% or close to it come puck drop tonight. People will refer to him as Bergeron-lite, and while I don't doth compare to God himself, Lindholm is a really solid two way center that the Bruins desperately needed.

The offense will go as far as David Pastrnak goes, it's by far the biggest team weakness heading into the new season. Cam Neely alluded to the concern at the preseason press conference…

"It's just a matter of are we going to… I think we're going to defend extremely well. Are we going to get the offense we'd like? I mean, that remains to be seen. I mean, we know who can produce. We just will still need some guys to step up offensively. You know… our power play… we talked about that. It slipped a little bit in the last half of last year. I think that can come back now that maybe we have a little bit more of a bumper position solidified with Elias. I think he likes to play there…., so we'll see how that goes. But I feel like we're a strong contender if we’ve got our full lineup.”

And he's not wrong, I really like the makeup of this team but it remains to be seen how much offense they can provide. Pasta put up 47 goals, 63 assists for 110 points in 82 games last year. He stayed healthy too, second straight year he played all 82 games. Like I said, Bruins offense will have to be carried on his back, BUT Lindholm down the middle should help alleviate some of that pressure.

Brad Marchand had not one, not two, but THREE offseason surgeries. One on his groin, one on his elbow and one on his abodomen. He's good to go to start the season but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a slow start production wise. Marchand is a workhorse and should get up to speed rather quickly though. Him and Coyle have developed chemistry through last year and they'll have Morgan Geekie riding on them on the right side. Geekie can bounce all around the lineup, but Marchand and Coyle will be the ones driving the offense here. Marchand is in the last year of his deal and Sweeney is in talks with his agent to extend him, wouldn't be surprised to see a 2 or maybe even 3 year deal if Marchand can stay healthy and stay at the level that we all know he can play at. Like Lindholm, I think Coyle will be just as important this year. Offensively we have seen his numbers start to tick up each and every year, perhaps we even see a 30 goal campaign this year. He's a good No. 2 center but an even better No. 3 center. If the Bruins can find away to acquire a true No. 2, I would love it. Both he and Marchand are dogs on the puck but I don't think Geekie stays their linemate.

The most interesting line and maybe the most fun to watch?! is the current makeup of the third line with Max Jones, Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau. Three BIG boys who aren't afraid to go and muck it up. Max Jones plays a big in your face game and we know Frederic can provide that AND chip in offensively. He'll be manning the middle though so while the heftiness is great, need to see Jones and Brazeau be moving their feet to be effective. This could be a make or break line for the Bruins, it could be blown up with Geekie moving to center and Frederic back to wing, and could even see Matt Poitras center this line when he returns from injury. He is practicing in a non-contact sweater. So, as the season begins this is the line I'll be watching because it's the biggest question mark in the top 9.

Speaking of Poitras, he beefed up this summer #BulkUpSZN, now weighing in at 189 pounds, up from 176 at last year's training camp. After surprising everyone with a phenomenal camp last year, his year was cut short after he sustained a shoulder injury late in the season and opted for surgery. He's had a different set back in training camp here during the preseason, but should be back shortly. I could see him sliding in to play with Marchand and Coyle, leaving Geekie to slide down to the 3rd line if they don't want him playing down the middle to start. Couple different options for the kid. I'm really excited to see how he fares in year 2, though. Something to keep an eye on.

New faces on the 4th line with Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke who join Johnny Beecher. Beecher slides from center to left wing, but he'll be key for faceoffs should Kastelic get booted. Kastelic and Koepke are both big bodies (drink every time I talk about how beefy the Bruins are this year) and we'll see how they compliment Beecher's speed. Again, another line that may not stick together. Especially with Tyler Johnson (PTO) in limbo.

Tyler Johnson looked like a serviceable player during preseason and I imagine it'll be a Heinen 2.0 situation where he signs a few games into the season once they figure out their cap. Like I said, some moving pieces here in the bottom six. Riley Tufte is available but will most likely be sent down once Poitras is cleared.

TLDR: Marchand is coming off three offseason surgeries and may have a slow start, Bruins get help down the middle with Lindholm and Pastrnak should be Pastrnak…. that being said they are a scoring winger away and or another key center from maybe TRUE contention.

DEFENSE:

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

Lindholm - McAvoy

Lohrei - Carlo

Zadorov - Peeke

Extras: Wotherspoon, Mitchell

Talk about big boy defense… the Bruins beefed up by adding Nikita Zadorov to their back end with an equally as hefty 6 year deal. Every single member of the back end is above 6 feet and all heavier than 190 pounds. BEEFY! The Bruins got manhandled at times by the Panthers and they addressed that this summer. I was ready to run through a brick wall just from hearing Marchand describe Zadorov alone…

6’6 and 248 pounds how are yaaaa. He'll be punishing to play against which is exactly what the Bruins were missing in their playoff series against the Panthers. He can chip in offensively here and there as well, he had 20 points (6G, 14A) in 75 games with the Flames + Canucks last year, as well as 4 goals and 4 assists in his 13 playoff appearances. Looks like he'll start on the 3rd pairing with Peeke but man if I'd love to see McAvoy and Zadorov together when things really get going. Bash brothers. Peeke is no slouch when it comes to punishing people, either.

Charlie McAvoy again will lead from the back end, but the Bruins will need him to continue to develop offensively as well. Every year I feel like I say Chuckie Mac will contend for the Norris so I'm gonna say that this is the year. It's insane to think of him as a veteran already, but he really does it all for Boston. He'll benefit from Zadorov and Swayman will be happy to have 6 guys in front of him willing to put it all on the line. It starts with 73, though.

Mason Lohrei the Bayou Boy made strides towards the end of last year and the playoffs. He'll be a mainstay with the big club for the first time in his career and he is my player to watch develop on the back end. They let Matt Grzelcyk go to Pittsburgh because they knew how well Lohrei could move the puck up the ice. I love his creativity and his reach. You just hope he doesn't put himself in bad situations and take too many penalties. Really my only gripe when it comes to him but its just growing pains. He'll start paired with Carlo who is a steady stay at home defenseman in his own right.

I really, really love this defense. Just hope the Bruins can win games 1-0.

Again, I don't think these pairings are set in stone, but it's likely what we'll see tonight against Florida. Parker Wotherspoon and Ian Mitchell are waiting in the wings barring any injuries.

GOALIES:

Jeremy Swayman had quite a dramatic negotiation but all that noise is behind him now. He's a Bruin for the next 8 years, it's his net and the Bruins will go as far as he does. He wanted to play 55 games, Ullmark wanted to play 55 games and Don Sweeney ultimately chose him and handed him the keys to the franchise. He's behind the 8 ball a bit with missing the first few weeks of camp, but he's been training at BU and should get up to NHL speed soon. Time for him to deliver as the No. 1 goalie for the B's. 66 million reasons to play hockey, but all he wants to do is lift Lord Stanley's Cup. Korpisalo is likely the starter tonight, and we'll see if Swayman gets the net Thursday or this weekend.

While I absolutely despised acquiring Joonas Korpisalo in the Ullmark trade strictly because of his contract, I do think he'll be a serviceable backup for Swayman. The Bruins had the luxury of a grade A tandem with Ullmark and Swayman, and now with Swayman taking on most of the work load the B's will need Korpisalo to step up. He had abysmal numbers last year but I believe goalie coach Bob Essensa will put in the work to help him. It would be a dream to be able to flip Korpisalo at the deadline should he play well, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Brandon Bussi cleared waivers and will head to Providence. Should Korpisalo falter, Bussi will be right there.

ODDS:

Stanley Cup odds…

Atlantic Division odds…

Odds via DraftKings

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Now, like I said, I live in a state of delusional and rainbows and butterflies. Every year I buy into this team. But that's the beauty of sports, how great is it to love something so much? I sent this text to Grinnelli and Feits this morning. Do I send this text every year? You're god damn right I do.

I've convinced myself they'll be a real contender and that they are simply a piece or two away. The Bruins start their season watching the Panthers raise their banner, what more motivation do you need than the team who put you away two years in a row? Let's go win a cup.