NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the Boston Bruins.
[Bruins 32 in 32: Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Can the Bruins revisit their past glories?
Two big names signed with the Bruins on Aug. 8, names that should be very familiar to Bruins (and NHL) fans. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci Each signed a one-year contract, Bergeron for $2.5 million with $2.5 million in performance-based bonuses and Krejci for $1 million with $2 million in performance-based bonuses.
The centers, who will likely anchor the Bruins’ top two lines, clearly are chasing another run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, perhaps another championship after winning one together in 2011 and playing in the Final in 2013 and 2019.
The question, then, is whether the returns of Bergeron and Krejci will be enough for another deep run. Bergeron is 37 but won the Selke Trophy last season as the best defensive forward in the NHL for a record fifth time. He also had 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games, which team president Cam Neely called “a pretty [darn] Krejci, 36, had 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 51 games for Olomouc in his native Czech Republic last season.
2. What will new coach Jim Montgomery add?
On June 7, the Bruins fired coach Bruce Cassidy, believing they needed a new voice in the room, especially with their younger players.
The Bruins hired Montgomery, most recently an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues, on July 1 with the belief that he could get more out of their roster offensively, while also potentially improving the dialogue between coach and players.
“For us, it just checked off the boxes of a winning history, a coach that has an open mind to communication as well as evolving style of play,” Sweeney said.
It will be up to Montgomery to reward that faith.
“One of the things that kind of stood out early on was Jim’s philosophy of getting our defensemen to move a little bit more on the offensive blue line,” Neely said. “Whether they end up scoring the goals is going to be one thing, but they can create a little more offense from being fluid on the offensive blue line.”
3. How will they fare in the first few months of the season?
When the season begins, the Bruins will be without three key players, forward Brad Marchand and defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk .
Marchand (both hips) and McAvoy (left shoulder) had an expected recovery timeline of six months, putting their return in December. Grzelcyk (right shoulder) is expected to be out until November.
“With the injuries, I think there is a heck of an opportunity for somebody to emerge and create internal competition,” Sweeney said on July 13.
Of course, it will also mean that the Bruins will have to at least tread water over the first 2-3 months of the season to keep their chances of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs alive. A rough start could sink their hopes by the time their stars return.
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