With the NHL season now underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in 2017-18. Next up in our team-by-team primers is the Boston Bruins.
Last Season: 44-31-7 record (95 points), third in Atlantic Division (lost in the first round to Ottawa)
Remaining Cap Space: $271K per CapFriendly
Key Additions: F Anders Bjork (Notre Dame, NCAA), D Paul Postma (free agency, Winnipeg)
Key Departures: F Jimmy Hayes (buyout, New Jersey), D John-Michael Liles (free agency, unsigned), D Colin Miller (expansion, Vegas), F Dominic Moore (free agency, Toronto), D Joe Morrow (free agency, Montreal), F Drew Stafford (free agency, New Jersey)
[Related: Bruins Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: D Charlie McAvoy – Not many rookies drafted outside of the top two or three have a lot of pressure on their shoulders in their first NHL season but that isn’t the case with McAvoy. After a strong showing in the playoffs against Ottawa back in April, expectations are quite high.
It’s not often that teenage defensemen jump into a top-four right away but Boston’s defensive depth isn’t the strongest in terms of proven talents just yet so that’s the role they’re asking him to take on. Early returns suggest he should be up to the task but if not, GM Don Sweeney may have to look to the trade market to find a more suitable top-four fit.
McAvoy has been a high-end point producer wherever he has played and the Bruins are certainly hoping that he will continue that trend in the NHL where he and Torey Krug could become a very potent one-two punch that most other teams can’t match up with. That would also help offset the decline at the offensive end of Zdeno Chara who isn’t the high-end threat he was just a few years ago. McAvoy may be a rookie but he already looks to be a key cog on their back end which is certainly putting a lot of pressure on someone who was playing college hockey just six months ago.
Key Storyline: While there is definitely a shift towards playing the rookies like McAvoy, Bjork, and Jake DeBrusk, there is also a trio of veterans who are looking to bounce back from below average seasons.
David Backes’ first season with the Bruins did not exactly go as planned. His production was his lowest full-season output in nearly a decade while he played a lesser role than he did with the Blues. They’re certainly banking on a rebound from their top free agent signing in 2016 although he’s currently out for a few weeks with diverticulitis.
Matt Beleskey’s first year in Boston wasn’t bad but his second one (2016-17) was a disaster. He was banged up at times with knee trouble while at others he was a healthy scratch. All in all, he totaled just eight points which was hardly what they were expecting.
Ryan Spooner was the subject of frequent trade speculation during the year as he saw his role reduced and the talk of a possible deal carried over into the summer. He wound up signing a one-year, $2.825MM contract but a slow start could have him back in the rumor mill quickly.
The Bruins are undoubtedly hoping that their youngsters will progress through the season but the key to their overall success may come from some of their veterans rebounding to provide them with a much deeper attack. If that doesn’t happen, Sweeney will be hard-pressed to add some help considering how tight they are to the salary cap.
If they need help they can just attach a pick to Beleskey (if he’s bad… if he’s good they won’t need another forward)and use the cap space to improve.
Or Spooner I would rather see him go than Beleskey at least he goes in the corner and will fight for his teammates
Spooner so far has been battling much more. He’s said to have put on a good amount of weight too
Good looking young players and obviously a bright future. Interesting to see where it all goes and Cassidy seems like the right fit. At this time we must give Sweeney some credit for his patience. He struggled to make a major trade but now might not have to.