Boston has found a way to survive an offseason that most would consider abysmal. Krejci and Bergeron retired, and Bertuzzi, Orlov, Clifton, and Hathaway all slipped away during free agency. This accounts for three top-six players, two really good defensemen, and one rougher-edged player who left during free agency.
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The Boston Bruins, head coach Jim Montgomery, and general manager Don Sweeney seemed destined to fall out of this year’s playoff hunt. However, the Bruins have started their 2023-24 season quite strong by securing six wins. The Boston Bruins currently hold an undefeated record, and while they aren’t expected to beat their 65-win record-setting season, Boston’s strong start makes it look like they’ve truly turned back the clock.
The season without franchise centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci is starting to settle in, but it seems as if Jim Montgomery has one huge trick up his sleeve. Pavel Zacha and Matthew Poitras were trusted to take over the open roles; Montgomery has been incredibly effective at executing these two centers to be as strong as they are. Now, the question for Montgomery and the Bruins is, where do they finish on the year? Boston has looked so impressive up to this point that it’s only a matter of time before they start to look like a third or fourth-placed team again.
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Don’t count out major surprises from this team either, and nobody had Boston winning 65 games in the 2022-23 season. Nobody had Boston starting the season on a five-game winning streak and being tied for second in the entire league. You can joke around and say they’re only 59 wins away from tying their own record, but it’s only a matter of time before Boston meets their match.
The many surprises that this team has presented up until this point are far greater than currently expected. While most can argue that Boston hasn’t faced a top team yet, they’ve started the season undefeated, and the entire team looks to be on the same page. As the season progresses, I think my season predictions of where the Bruins would land, a wildcard spot, might prove to be incredibly wrong.
Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season – Bruins Benders Podcast
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