The Boston Bruins have had a historic start to the 2022-23 season, exceeding all expectations. The roster has talent, skill, and experience, but nobody could have predicted this type of beginning to a season that Bruins management and fans hope to be a memorable one. As the Bruins finish a 32-5-4 start to the season through 41 games, it is time to hand out grades in this midseason report.
Brad Marchand – B
13-24-37
Marchand returned early (November 1) from off-season double hip surgery and has produced offensively. The feisty winger is still finding his game but is improving daily and recently has gotten back to his signature edgy style.
David Pastrnak – A
32-26-58
Pastrnak has had a Hart Trophy type of first half for the Bruins. With his free-agent status still intact, the right wing continues to prove his worth. One of the top goal scorers in the NHL, Pastrnak, is adequate defensively and is playing the most ice time of any forward on the team.
Patrice Bergeron – A-
15-18-33
Opponents have scored 10 even-strength goals against Patrice Bergeron this season, and the veteran center may be having an even better defensive season than he did last year when he won his fifth Selke Trophy. Bergeron’s offensive production and his 62 percent success rate at the faceoff circle are still there. What will the Bruins do when he finally retires? Scary thought.
Taylor Hall – B
13-16-29
The former Hart trophy winner has been solid for Boston and provided a balanced attack with ten even-strength goals while playing on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic. The former first-overall pick has 104 points with the Bruins in 138 games and is one of the best acquisitions General Manager Don Sweeney has made in his tenure.
Charlie McAvoy – B
2-21-23
McAvoy missed the first part of the season after off-season shoulder surgery. The right-shot defenseman has been working his way back to form. In 28 games, McAvoy is a plus-13 and playing 23 minutes per game with 41 hits and 49 blocks.
Charlie Coyle – B+
10-13-23
The Weymouth, Massachusetts native has fit nicely with Hall and Frederic and continues to be a top possession center for the Bruins. Last season, Coyle had 16 goals and is on pace to surpass that mark this season. The 30-year-old center is a plus-16 with a 55 percent success rate on the faceoff dot.
Matt Gryzelcyk – C
1-11-12
The Charlestown native has been better of late. His lack of size can hinder him against heavier teams. He’s not providing a ton offensively, and his average ice time is down almost two minutes per game from previous seasons, but he is a plus-20 and has blocked 48 shots. The challenge will be in the postseason, where Grzelcyk’s play has been inconsistent due to the physicality of play in the past.
Pavel Zacha – B
5-20-25
The Bruins acquired Zacha for Erik Haula in the off-season, and the former New Jersey Devil has been a great addition. Zacha’s hockey IQ is an asset, and his 20 assists are tied with David Krejci for fifth on the team.
Jake DeBrusk – A-
16-14-30
DeBrusk has been one player who has benefited from the arrival of Jim Montgomery as head coach. The former first-round pick is back to the form that made him a fan favorite early in his career. DeBrusk was one of the more consistent players on the team before a broken fibula set him back. But before the injury, the right wing was playing terrific hockey.
Craig Smith – C-
2-3-5
Smith has been inconsistent since the second half of last season. The former Nashville Predator recently scored in a game against San Jose, but his scoring touch has eluded him. The 33-year-old might be seeing a decline, and the Bruins hope Smith can become a more viable offensive option in the second half.
AJ Greer – C-
3-4-7
Greer burst onto the scene early in the year with sneaky scoring ability and a willingness to fight, instantly making him a fan favorite. But that production has seemingly disappeared, which has been the knock on Greer in previous stints in the league. The second-round pick has only played in five games in the last month.
Hampus Lindholm – A
5-23-28
The Bruins are getting the player they hoped to get when they acquired him from Anaheim last season and re-signed him to a big deal. Lindholm is a league-leading plus-28 and has 56 blocks on the year. The left-shot defenseman also provides terrific puck movement in 24 minutes of ice time.
Tomas Nosek – C
3-4-7
Nosek is a good faceoff guy (58%) and a penalty killer, but he does not provide much offense. The fourth-line center is a free agent at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen whether the Bruins will upgrade this position for the playoffs.
Derek Forbort – B+
2-5-7
Forbort is a big reason that the Bruins are the top penalty-killing unit in the league. The steady defenseman blocks shots and helps shit down top lines. The tough defenseman is an unsung hero on the team.
Nick Foligno – B+
6-12-18
Foligno provides excellent leadership in the locker room and a much stronger presence on the ice this season. Fliggy also has 97 hits on the season and is a factor on the fourth line.
David Krejci – B
11-20-31
It is good to have the playmaking Krejci back in Boston. The Bruins are a much more dangerous offensive team with Krejci. Defensively, Krejci has lost a step, but his offensive creativity makes players better. After missing a season to play in Czechia, the 36-year-old has been very good for the Bruins and continues to build a strong legacy as one of the best centers in Bruins’ history.
Brandon Carlo – B-
1-6-7
Carlo has improved his play lately after another concussion forced him to miss a few days. The big defenseman is playing with more physicality and provides good penalty killing. Carlo has 59 blocks and just eight giveaways and has been more confident with the puck in his zone.
Trent Frederic – B
9-8-17
Frederic has revitalized his career with renewed confidence offensively and improved skating. Having Hall on his line has helped as well. The former first-round pick is in the last year of his contract and could be earning another deal from the Bruins.
Jakub Zboril – D+
1-0-1 14 games
Zboril has played just 14 games and cannot find a spot with the solid play of Connor Clifton and Derek Forbort. For now, Zboril provides injury insurance.
Connor Clifton – B
3-9-12
Cliffy Hockey has been a much better brand of hockey this season. Montgomery’s willingness to have defensemen jump into the play offensively has helped Clifton, and the right-shot defenseman also provides a tough physical game. Because of this, Clifton is playing almost three minutes more per game than last season.
Anton Stralman – D
8 games 0-0-0 -3
At the time, Stralman seemed like a good signing, as the statuses of McAvoy and Grzelcyk were up in the air before the season started. However, Stralman has not been needed and has played just eight games. When the 36-year-old did play, he was shaky, partly due to uneven playing time. Stralman last played on November 25th.
Linus Ullmark – A+
22-1-1 1.88 GAA .938 save percentage
Ullmark has been the best goaltender in the league and a big reason that the Bruins are off to such a stunning start. Every night, Ullmark has been sharp and has shown remarkable consistency. Ullmark leads the league in many goaltending categories.
Jeremy Swayman – B-
9-3-3 2.51 GAA .905
Swayman has had his ups and down and does allow a soft goal here and there. But the young netminder has been better of late, seems to be handling backup duties well, and has a great relationship with Ullmark.
Power Play – 3rd – B+
Krejci certainly helps the man advantage, and Pastrnak is always a threat from the left circle. Overall, the power play has improved from last season and needs to be a factor the rest of the way.
Penalty Kill – 1st – A
The Bruins have sometimes taken more penalties than they should, but the penalty-killing units have been terrific at an 86 percent success rate. Forbort and Carlo have been effective on the penalty kill and the forwards led by Bergeron, DeBrusk, and Marchand.
The Bruins begin the second half Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, looking to rebound after their first regulation loss at home all season. Barring injury, the Bruins will have a chance to have a special season.
Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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