The junk drawer is where you throw everything you cannot find a place for, so these articles will have a little of everything: some statistics, some prospects, some opinions, some information, no swearing (you’re welcome, John!), and anything else Bruins-related I feel like you all need to know. If there is ever anything you would like to read in The Junk Drawer, just let me know in the comments.
Let’s Dive In…
Through 22 games, the Bruins are toward the bottom of the league in every statistical category. The team has been worse in the second ten games of the season than in the first ten games. The Bruins have been playing undisciplined, uninspired, soft hockey – and this play led General Manager Don Sweeney to fire Head Coach Jim Montgomery and replace him with Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco.
Stats:
Here are the Boston Bruins league ranks after the first twenty-two games:
10-9-3 (23 points), Fourth in the Atlantic Division, -19 Goal Differential
Goals For: 51 (28th)
Goals Against: 70 (24th)
Assists: 84 (28th)
Shooting Percentage: 8.49% (29th)
Power Play Percentage: 12.8% (32nd)
Penalty Kill Percentage: 77.9% (19th)
Penalty Minutes: 259 (32nd)
Breaking down the stats, there are many reasons to be concerned. The Bruins’ power play has dipped to become the worst unit in the NHL. Boston had become too predictable in forcing the puck to David Pastrnak and an unwillingness to shoot the puck. A change had been made to take Charlie McAvoy off the first unit only to see Hampus Lindholm injured in the same game the change was made. Lately, the Bruins’ power play has been better with a power play goal in each of their last three contests. Hopefully, that is something the Bruins can build on moving forward.
News & Notes:
Head Coach Jim Montgomery was fired after leading the team to an 8-9-3 record in 20 games. Montgomery and General Manager Don Sweeney could not agree on a contract extension which led to the coach entering the season as a lame duck without a contract. There is plenty of blame to go around for what went wrong with the Bruins in the early part of the season. The roster that GM Don Sweeney said was unfinished before the season started. The coach’s inability to adjust to a different type of roster and his body language on the bench, especially during the second ten games. Finally, the players who have underperformed across the board should shoulder a lot of the blame.
Jim Montgomery is hired as the Head Coach of the St. Louis Blues and is signed to a five-year contract a mere five days after he is let go by the Bruins. Did Montgomery decline the Bruins’ contract offers because he knew he already had another job lined up? It all happened pretty quickly. Is it a coincidence? Maybe, but it seems more likely there may have been some back-channel discussions before Montgomery had been fired.
All three of the Bruins Head Coaches who were fired while Cam Neely was in the front office had jobs soon after they were let go. Claude Julien was hired by the Montreal Canadiens seven days after being fired by the Bruins. Bruce Cassidy lasted eight days on the open market after he was fired, he was hired by the Vegas Golden Knights and went on to win the Stanley Cup in Vegas. Montgomery was without a job for five days before getting hired by the St. Louis Blues. Does that say more about Sweeney and the Bruins organization or the coaches they let go? It seems the coaches were in high demand. The problems seem to lie with the Bruins front office and players rather than the coaches who were scooped up by other organizations almost immediately after their dismissals.
The core group of Bruins players has underperformed. All are on pace for drastic dips in production from a year ago: (2023-24 points > 2024-2025 points)
David Pastrnak: 110 > 71
Brad Marchand: 67 > 56
Pavel Zacha: 59 > 26
Charlie Coyle: 60 > 19
Trent Frederic: 40 > 22
Morgan Geekie: 39 > 15
Charlie McAvoy: 47 > 26
The Boston Bruins goal differential in the 3rd period has regressed in the last four seasons:
2021-2022: +54
2022-2023: +55
2023-2024: 0 (EVEN)
This Season: -11 (and they have been outshot 209-163)
Since the Bruins made the coaching change they have gotten back to what has made them successful in the past and the foundational core beliefs: Defense, Goaltending, and good Special Teams. The Bruins under new Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco have allowed only 1 goal in two games. The Bruins’ Penalty Kill has improved, and their overall team defense has been much better against the rush and in limiting the amount of high-danger chances. It is a positive trend with 60 games to play that could see the Bruins get back into playoff position by American Thanksgiving and it’s been said that once you’re in the playoffs anything can happen.
Injury News:
Bruins Defenseman Hampus Lindholm will be out multiple weeks after suffering a Lower-Body Injury blocking a shot in a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on November 12. Lindholm had been one of the most steady Bruins players until he was sidelined with the injury. Currently, there is no timetable for his return.
In the Minors:
The Providence Bruins have started the season in 4th place in the Atlantic Division at 8-7-2-0. Vinni Lettieri leads the team in scoring with 14 points (8g, 6a) in 17 games. Michael DiPietro leads the goaltenders with a 6-2-2 record, a 2.08 GAA, a .924 SV%, and 1 shutout. Bruins prospect Georgii Merkulov has 13 points (3g, 10a), and fellow prospect Fabian Lysell has 7 points (2g, 5a) in 14 games played. Defensive prospect Frederic Brunet has 4 points (2g, 2a) and is a +6 in 16 games.
Bruins Prospects In the NCAA:
Checking in on some Bruins prospects in Hockey East:
2022 4th Round Draft Pick Dans Locmelis has had a breakout Sophomore campaign at UMass-Amherst with 14 points (3g, 11a) in 14 games after scoring 14 points (7g, 7a) in 30 games as a Freshman.
2021 7th Round Draft Pick Andre Gasseau has 6 goals and 9 points in 12 games for the Boston College Eagles. The 6-foot-4 Junior had 29 points in each of his first 2 seasons at Chestnut Hill.
2021 4th Round Draft Pick G Philip Svedback has a 6-2-1 record in 9 starts, with a 2.38 GAA, and a .920 SV%
Other Bruins Prospects in Hockey East are Dean Letourneau and Oskar Jellvik.
Week ahead:
Week Ahead:
November 26 vs. Vancouver Canucks
November 27 at New York Islanders
November 29 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
December 1 vs. Montreal Canadiens
Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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