Opinion: The Boston Bruins Might Be Big and Bad, But Is That Enough?

Trent Frederic Fight
Photo via NESN

The Boston Bruins have battled heavier, more physical teams in recent playoff series and fallen short. This offseason, General Manager Don Sweeney made a concerted effort to change that trend by adding roster pieces that now make the Bruins the heaviest team in the National Hockey League. Sweeney signed 6-foot-6, 250-pound defenseman Nikita Zadorov and obtained 6-foot-4, 225-pound forward Mark Kastelic as part of the return for departed goaltender Linus Ullmark.

With an average weight of 207 pounds, the Bruins enter training camp as the heaviest team in the NHL, just ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights (205 pounds). Boston is also tied with Vegas for the top average height among NHL rosters at 6-foot-2, with the Bruins potentially set to open the new season with 13 of its 20 skaters 6-foot-3 or taller. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy joked, “I’m the smallest D on the team now,” McAvoy (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) added after a captains’ practice. Forward Trent Frederic is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, and felt average size in the locker room.

Zadorov mentioned that the team has “a lot of horses” on defense and talked about teams in the Atlantic Division, like Florida, who are big and hard to play against. The Bruins are looking to emulate that formula this season. But does size matter most? Is there another element that the team lacks?

Sweeney was asked about team skating speed and said that even though players have great size and some nastiness, players will still need to have enough skating ability or “they won’t play”. Players like Kastelic, John Beecher, and newcomer Max Jones are big, but also have good speed and can skate and forecheck. But Head Coach Jim Montgomery said the emphasis might be down low.

“I think last year, we became a little bit more of a forechecking team than we were two years ago,” Montgomery noted. “And I think we have to wait and see exactly what our strengths are. … But I do imagine us trying to be a heavy, down-low offensive hockey team, and then also being heavy down low in our own end, killing plays, and getting out.”

People can debate if the Bruins are better than last year or not and goaltender Jeremy Swayman is still left unsigned as training camp begins on Wednesday. But there is no denying that the “Big, Bad Bruins” could very well be back in Boston.

Season 4. Episode 41. Is It Time Yet? Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- Bruins Top Prospects from two years ago. Who's left?- Will the Bruins make a trade before the season begins?- Has Fabian Lysell been given a fair opportunity?- Milan Lucic gets a chance in St. Louis. Thoughts?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 41. Is It Time Yet?
  2. Season 4. Episode 40. Summah Coolah
  3. Season 4. Episode 39. The Off Season
  4. Season 4. Episode 38. B.C. Bruins
  5. Season 4. Episode 37. Gimme a J. Gimme a G.

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

USA Hockey’s 2025 National Team Orientation Camp Begins Today

USA Hockey’s 2025 National Team Orientation Camp begins today, Aug. 26, in Plymouth, Michigan, and runs through Aug. 27 (USA Hockey, 2025). The two-day event is focused on administration and team building, with no on-ice sessions or public activities scheduled. Forty-four players representing 24 NHL teams will take part as preparations for the 2026 Winter […]

Read More
Sean Kuraly 'A' of the Columbus Blue Jackets

Player Profile: Sean Kuraly

Sean Kuraly was born on January 20, 1993, in Dublin, Ohio. The left-shot forward played for the Ohio Blue Jackets from 2008-10 and registered 37 goals and 61 assists in 86 total games before joining the United States National Development Program, where he played four games for the U17 team. The Indiana Ice drafted Kuraly […]

Read More
Red Wings Takeaways

Dylan Larkin Looking For his Version of Sergei Fedorov

The Detroit Red Wings recently announced that they will retire Sergei Fedorov’s jersey in January of next year. Fedorov was one of the critical members of the 1997 and 1998 Red Wings teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups. General manager Steve Yzerman, who was the captain of those Red Wings teams, was the leader of […]

Read More