I'm Ready To Get My Heart Broken Again... 2023-2024 Bruins Season Preview

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It is time… the leaves are falling, it's officially hoodie SZN and the Boston Bruins play hockey tonight to kick off their 100th season in the NHL. While I have only been alive for 29 of those seasons, I think it's pretty special that the Bruins will honor their history and they've done a great job so far in their activations. You could argue the Centennial Jerseys have too many stripes, though. So, how do we move on after a historic season ends in complete heartbreak? You pick up the pieces, get back up and get ready to have your heart broken once again. That's life as a sports fan. 

The Bruins will embark on their 100th season without the services of Patrice Bergeron, whom opted for retirement in July. 20 years later, they will open the season without Bergeron taking the ice. Which will take some getting used to, to be quite frank. I'm still not over it, it's like losing a family member! The first person I heard from was none other than the Boss man himself, Dave Portnoy.

So we begin a Bergeron-less year, let's get into the 2023-2024 Boston Bruins and forget last year ever happened!

OUT: Patrice Bergeron (retired), David Krejci (retired, again), AJ Greer (claimed on waivers by CGY), Nick Foligno (CHI), Taylor Hall (CHI), Tyler Bertuzzi (TOR, this one still hurts), Connor Clifton (BUF), Garnet Hathaway (PHI), Dmitry Orlov (CAR), Mike Reilly (FLA), Tomas Nosek (NJ)

IN: Matthew Poitras, Johnny Beecher, James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Geekie, Danton Heinen (PTO), Ian Mitchell, Patrick Brown, Jesper Boqvist (waived to Providence)

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Going into the summer I thought the Bruins would have to choose between Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi, nope they traded Taylor Hall (with Nick Foligno) to Chicago to alleviate some cap room and Tyler Bertuzzi signed for 1 year in Toronto after not getting the deal he would have hoped to. Disappointing all around as both Hall and Bertuzzi had great postseasons. But that's what happens when you go all in, lose in the first round and are strapped for cash. Connor Clifton opted for Buffalo, Dmitry Orlov got PAID by Carolina and Garnet Hathaway, Mike Reilly and Tomas Nosek all moved on to their respective teams. I think the Bruins could have explored Linus Ullmark's market a bit harder as his trade value literally will not be higher after an unbelievable year saw him capture the Vezina, and that would've allowed them to keep one of Hall/Bertuzzi.. but with No Bergeron or Krejci they're going to need their goalie duo to be outstanding this year once again to give them a chance come April.

So here is where the Bruins shake out on Night 1…

FORWARDS:

James van Riemsdyk - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak

Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk

Trent Frederic - Matthew Poitras - Morgan Geekie

Milan Lucic - Johnny Beecher - Jakub Lauko

Danton Heinen (PTO), Patrick Brown

The Bruins went bargain shopping in the offseason, signing forwards James van Riemsdyk (what year is it!), Morgan Geekie, Milan Lucic and Patrick Brown in free agency. Danton Heinen came in on a PTO and will likely lock down the 13th forward spot, but he remains un-signed for now, but with AJ Greer (who lost his role to Lucic/Heinen, and was picked up by Calgary in the waiver wire) to the Flames, I imagine a Heinen contract will come in due time after the season starts (I believe they get a bit of cap relief if they sign him after Game 1 as opposed to before). Patrick Brown is likely the 13th forward until Heinen signs.

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The story of camp so far has been the play of 19 year old Matthew Poitras (pronounced Pott-tras, per him). The 2022 2nd round pick (54th overall) had 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in 5 preseason games. He's a smaller body (5'11), but his speed and tenaciousness as a Center is a sight to behold, especially at his age. Quite frankly it's been a godsend seeing him perform so well after Boston lost 2 centers in Bergeron and Krejci in the offseason. Time will tell if Boston keeps him longer than the 9 NHL games (before burning a year of his ELC), or sends him back to the OHL. He's not eligible to play in the AHL due to his age (which I think is crazy)… but to begin the season he'll be in the starting lineup. Poitras will center the third line with Trent Frederic flanking his left, and former Seattle Kraken Morgan Geekie on his right. I'm allllllll aboard the Poitras hype train. Jim Montgomery opted to keep Trent Frederic on the wing as opposed to Center, but that may change if the Bruins send Poitras back to the OHL. Frederic was awarded a two year deal through arbitration at 2.3 million per.

Unlike most of the guys who signed July 1, Morgan Geekie was the only one who signed for more than one year. He had 28 points in a breakout year for him with Seattle last year (9G, 19A) in 69 games. Excited to see what he'll bring to the table in Boston and if he can keep developing under Jim Montgomery. He will slot in at wing but can play center, and if Poitras gets sent back after 9 games, I imagine we'll see Geekie as 3C.

All eyes will be on who performs best at the Center position this year. Like I said, no Bergeron or Krejci and it'll be Zacha and Coyle as your top two centers. We've seen the chemistry start to develop between Zacha, James van Riemsdyk (on a 1 year, $1 million dollar deal) and David Pastrnak on the top line during preseason already. Gonna need to maximize David Pastrnak's offensive production if the Bruins want to have any success this year. Can he repeat his 60 goal campaign with Zacha and JVR? If he does, he'd be the first Bruin to post back to back 60 goal seasons since Phil Esposito did in 1974+1975. 

Newly appointed Captain Brad Marchand flanks the "2nd" line, but I'd be curious how TOI between the two actually shakes out. I imagine it'll be a bit more even spreading the offense out. It's his first year without Patrice Bergeron, and it'll be Charlie Coyle centering him with Jake DeBrusk (pending UFA) on the right. DeBrusk's has had a revival as of late, and I believe the Bruins and his camp would like to get a deal done sooner than later. No update from Sweeney yet but they're in negotiations. Where that number falls is anyone's guess. Bruins have a ton of cap space to play with this summer. Coyle and Marchand are two puck hounds and DeBrusk's speed makes this line defensively sound and potentially lethal offensively. Marchand without Bergeron just feels wrong but Coyle is more than capable and I believe he'll be extremely complimentary playing with Marchand. 

It's a new look 4th line with Milan Lucic (obligatory LOOOOOCH) doing his 2nd tour in Boston and Johnny Beecher finally breaking through to the big leagues. The 2019 1st round draft pick spent all of last year with Providence after spending 4 years at Michigan. Big beefy center, will win some draws and bring some fresh legs to the 4th line. Bruins fans know Jakub Lauko will bring the energy and help draw penalties. An intriguing line for sure, I think there will be some growing pains with these three just trying to develop some chemistry. Excited to see Lauko's first full season with the big club. That being said, they do have Jesper Boqvist, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Patrick Brown and Danton Heinen (un-signed) waiting in the wings if these guys do not click.

Of all the lines, the bottom six is not set in complete stone. I imagine there will be some tinkering throughout the year.

DEFENSE:

Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort - Kevin Shattenkirk

Ian Mitchell

Mason Lohrei assigned to Providence but will be back

Charlie McAvoy reunites with his groomsman and former BU D partner Matt Grzelcyk (who was subjected to some trade rumors in the offseason). I think this is the year McAvoy really stamps his name and becomes a Norris Trophy Candidate. Without Bergeron, who made life so much easier for his defenseman, I think Charlie McAvoy makes the greatest impact on defense this year. And boy are the Bruins gonna need him to. Grzelcyk is slick with moving the puck, I love this pair together but can see Montgomery changing things up if the 3rd pair gets eaten alive every night.

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Hampus Lindholm didn't record a single point in last year's postseason (or the year prior), and was playing with a broken foot suffered late in the season against Chicago. He's all healed now I'm looking at Lindholm and Carlo to really step up this year. With McAvoy getting the main attention (and rightfully so), I still think Lindholm is perfect in his role and should thrive this year with more leniency to go out and make plays happen under Montgomery. He's at his best when he's jumping up into the play and playing loose.

Prior to Monday, the Bruins weren't sure if Mason Lohrei (58th overall pick in 2020) would be better suited starting in the NHL (and like Poitras, he's had a great camp), or starting the year in Providence, but he will be a mainstay on the Bruins' blueline for years to come. I think a trade (maybe Forbort or even Grzelcyk since both are UFA's at year end) will open up a spot for him. For now I'd have him eat minutes in Providence until that comes to fruition even though he's earned it. He's better off playing a ton in the AHL vs. sitting around and waiting for a spot to open up in Boston.

Ian Mitchell, acquired in the Taylor Hall-Chicago trade, is likely you're 7th defenseman. I do think he'll push for a spot with Kevin Shattkenirk, as that 3rd pairing is by far the weakest of them all. Jakub Zboril cleared waivers and was assigned to Providence. Disappointing for the 2015 1st round pick but here we are.

GOALTENDERS:

Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman

Linus Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie with a .938 SV%, 1.89 GAA and a 40-6-1 record. There will be no doubt that he is your 1A and Jeremy Swayman is your 1B. They will continue to alternate like they did last year, however with a weaker team the Bruins will be relying on their defense and goaltending to help them out more than they did in the past. 

Jeremy Swayman was awarded with a $3.475 million contract through arbitration this summer. Any time you go to arbitration with any player, it's not a good feeling. I was pretty surprised it went to arbitration (same with Frederic), as it's not really Sweeney's MO. But I'm guessing with how strapped they were they were hoping the comps would be lower. Hopefully Swayman won't take anything to heart and will just play his ass off this year.

Brandon Bussi did have a great training camp, and I'd be curious if a goaltender would be on the move for a potential 1C knowing that Bussi is developing well in Providence and is quite frankly already NHL ready. Just something to keep an eye on.

ODDS:

via the Barstool Sportsbook

I think the Bruins hang around in the Atlantic either as the 3rd spot or the 1st Wild Card team in. I like that the team has low expectations (after an unbelievable season the year prior), but they'll need to hang around and stockpile some points. That being said, I expect Tampa to fall off a bit especially with no Vasilevskiy early. Toronto is always Toronto, and they've got some new weapons. Then I suspect it'll be a toss up between Florida and Buffalo in my opinion.

The B's still have some really fucking amazing players in Pastrnak, Marchand and McAvoy… and it'll be time for them to lead the way for the next generation. Some may call it a "bridge" year due to the cap but I don't believe in wasting a year… these guys are too good and too competitive. Get into the playoffs and anything can happen. It'll take some time to get used to not seeing No. 37 on the ice, but I'm running on pure vibes for this team. Nothing can hurt me, they already ripped my heart out last year and I'm ready to get hurt again. No expectations, just vibes.

GEAR UP:

It's a great night to win a hockey game.