Never has a rollercoaster derailed quite like the Boston Bruins’ 2022-23 season. Blessed with extraordinary goaltending, an embarrassment of riches offensively, and a rock-solid defensive core, all of which was blown to smithereens by a 92 point Florida Panthers team that eked their way into the playoffs due, in large part, by a Pittsburgh Penguins loss to a bare-boned Chicago Blackhawks roster in late April.
Shock became a theme of the spring, and the surprises continued to roll into summer as Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno were traded to Chicago for pennies on the dollar. Seemingly for the salary cap flexibility required to sign deadline acquisition and first-time playoff dynamo Tyler Bertuzzi to an extension. Unfortunately, miscommunication eventually would lead to Bertuzzi signing a one-year deal with a heated divisional rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Insult quickly developed into injury when both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci publicly announced their retirements in August. Raising long-term concern not only for the culture of the organization but also Boston’s ability to compete down the middle against the likes of Alexsander Barkov, Brayden Point, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Tage Thompson, and Claude Giroux, just to name a few.
Needless to say, the situation has not appeared this dire since before Marc Savard and Zdeno Chara dawned the spoked-b 17 years ago. All of which is excellent cannon fodder for afternoon sports radio talk and thought pieces with titles that make you realize, “these truly are the dog days of summer, huh.”
But should public perception be so jaded? Glancing across Boston’s division, an argument certainly can be made that with a favorable start and good health, the Bruins, as constituted, are a Wild Card team.
Take the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Florida Panthers, for example. Both Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad, two critical pieces on their backend, are starting the season on LTIR. Straw to the proverbial drink Matthew Tkachuk is rehabbing from a broken sternum suffered during the Stanley Cup Final. Radko Gudas and Anthony Duclair, whose importance goes without mention, became salary cap casualties. Lest we forget about the decision in goal, would you be willing to bet on 34-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky and his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act? Or is the youngster Spencer Knight ready to resume the crease?
Onto the Gulf coast- sure, the Tampa Bay Lightning boast a murders row of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Mikhail Sergachev, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and the boogeyman himself, Andrei Vasilevsky. But that’s about where things end. For a fourth consecutive offseason, Tampa had to trim key players to retain the aforementioned core. Meaning Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon, Corey Perry, and Ross Colton, all needed new homes. To be fair, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and newly signed Conor Sheary are stellar complimentary pieces, but is that alone enough to capture the franchise’s fourth Cup?
In the motor city, Steve Yzerman has opted for a slow-burn approach to getting his Detroit Red Wings back to the playoffs, much to the chagrin of the fanbase. Taking a big swing and prying Alex DeBrincat from Ottawa this summer and signing team captain Dylan Larkin to an 8 year deal in March speak to maintaining a winning atmosphere. J.T. Compher adds a creative secondary scoring option down the middle, but is there enough meat on the bone?
Buffalo has been without playoff hockey since 2011, and if there is ever a team to break that cruel streak, it’s this one. Tage Thompson exploded onto the collective hockey scene last season and shows no signs of slowing down, Jeff Skinner got his mojo back, and Dylan Cozens is set to terrify opposing defenses for years to come. While Rasmus Dahlin is evolving into a future Norris trophy winner right before our eyes. Goaltending, however, is an ugly smudge on their depth chart.
Pressure is a funny thing. The Toronto Maple Leafs slayed their dragon during the 2023 playoffs. The only problem ended up being that the Cup didn’t get handed out after one round. Jokes aside, Toronto is a betting favorite, again, to win it all and, by default, is the best bet to win this division. Their “core four” of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander will always be at the forefront of controversy or praise. The emergence of Matthew Knies as a viable top-9 forward, signing Tyler Bertuzzi, and Morgan Reilly willing their backend to victory ensure this team is more than just four players. Speaking of which, Tyler Bertuzzi offers a net-front option which is set to enhance an already ridiculously effective power play. Ultimately, success or failure falls on the tandem of Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll in net.
A tumultuous season of proposed arena deals and Ryan Reynolds overshadowed an Ottawa Senators campaign with distinct positivity. Sure, a wretched start essentially sealed their fate. But strong offensive numbers from Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, and Claude Giroux meant they were far from an easy out by season’s end. A midseason trade with Arizona for Jakob Chychrun only helps to bolster a blueline historically carried by Thomas Chabot. But a revolving door of Anton Forsberg, Joonas Korpisalo, Kevin Mandolese, and Mads Sogaard in net leaves much to be desired.
In a division largely considered the strongest in the sport sit the Montreal Canadiens. Hockey’s most decorated team endured a lackluster 2022-23 with very few bright spots. Missing out on the chance to select Connor Bedard was salt in an open wound. However, Nick Suzuki, who managed 66 points with very little help, shows the captaincy is in the right hands. Plus, healthy seasons from Kirby Dach and Cole Caufield will gain much of their offensive punch back. Selecting human battering ram David Reinbacher fifth overall will help to rebuild their blueline in years to come.
Bringing the scope back into focus, there is a much-needed box Boston needs to check before the puck drops for real in October. That of new leadership.
One does not simply replace what Patrice Bergeron, who succeeded Zdeno Chara, did for this organization. However, there is an inherent danger of neglecting to select a centralized leader in favor of multiple assistant captains. Take, for example, last year’s Calgary Flames. Elliotte Friedman mentioned on his ‘32 Thoughts’ podcast as times went from bad to worse in Alberta, players referenced that not having an identified leader became an “issue” for the team.
Whether you believe it should be Brad Marchand or Charlie McAvoy, one is better than none.
Boston has two massive Bergeron, and Krejci sized holes in their depth chart. Prompting Don Sweeney to dip his toe into the college free agent market once again. Signing Harvard standout John Farinacci, who just so happens to be a natural center, to a two-year deal. Add this to the signing of Boston College’s Marc Mclaughlin in 2022, and it’s safe to assume Don, lacking significant draft capital, will frequent the NCAA well to replenish his center prospects. If nothing else, there will be plenty of healthy competition for Boston’s fourth line center at camp.
While on the subject, competition is precisely what to expect at Warrior Ice Arena come September. After a flurry of low-risk, high upside one-year free agent signings in James Van Riemsdyk, Milan Lucic, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Jesper Boqvist, to name a few. Don managed to add while maintaining key cap flexibility ahead of a loaded 2024 free agent class and an expected bump in the salary cap ceiling.
Boston still fronts a core of Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, and Charlie Coyle. In terms of key depth, the likes of Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Jakub Lauko, and Jakub Zboril round out the group. All of whom are motivated to build off strong campaigns in 2022-23, and in the case of Zboril, step into a spot left vacant by Connor Clifton.
Between the pipes, Boston is the envy of their division. Linus Ullmark is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Behind him is Jeremy Swayman, who is as talented a backup as they come. Down in Providence, Kyle Keyser and Brandon Bussi were just as spectacular as their National League teammates and show no signs of regressing. So, Boston should have no issue keeping the games maintainable night in and night out.
Now does this all but ensure a smooth path to a playoff spot? Absolutely not. Both Coyle and Zacha being propelled into top-six center positions will come with a fair amount of adjusting. But despite that circumstance, Boston was without a major injury entering the offseason. Meaning a roster of fully healthy participants come training camp. Milan Lucic, JVR, and Shattenkirk can step in to fill any missing veteran leadership void. By then, a captain will be named, and the tandem of Ullmark and Swayman will keep opposing offenses at bay. Pastrnak, Marchand, and DeBrusk will lead the charge offensively on the wings. Lindholm and McAvoy, both firmly in their prime, will put on Norris Trophy caliber seasons, and the Boston Bruins will make the playoffs.
