Rear Admiral's 2018-19 Boston Bruins Preview
By most accounts, the Bruins had a decent season last year. Predicted by many to do shit, the Bs instead reeled off 50 wins, nearly swiped the Atlantic Division, and had yet another epic seven-game first round series win over Toronto before the dinged-up squad bowed out in early May to the perennially contending Tampa Bay Lightning. Though the 2017-18 season ultimately didn’t end they way fans and players wanted, there was plenty to be excited about for the team going forward.
The Bruins have a nice blend of top-tier veterans in their prime and talented kids just scratching the surface on their potential. While we know what we’ll be getting from the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Kevan Miller, Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara, et al., there’s still a bit of an unknown factor went it comes to the portion of the locker room that still gets carded. Annual progression will be assumed/counted on from Danton Heinen, Brandon Carlo, Jake Debrusk, Charlie McAvoy, Ryan Donato, and Matt Grzelcyk. (Even though he’s just 22, David Pastrnak is a wily veteran compared to his age-group peers as this will be his fifth NHL season. But I’d still love to see him “progress” from his 35-45—80 season.)
Unlike his predecessor, Bruce Cassidy will throw his youngsters into high-pressure situations to see how they respond and perform. It’s the best way to see what his guys are made of and he had to be happy the results he got last season. Heinen and Debrusk combined for 32-58—90 in their rookie years (Heinen played just 8 games in ’16’-’17, making him Calder-eligible last season). When injuries forced him into the line-up, Grzelcyk played with the poise of a veteran while seemingly always making the right play. Donato made an immediate impact after joining the team at the conclusion of his college career, putting up 5-4–9 in 12 games (though the playoffs proved to be a different animal). Carlo was just starting to come on strong after a slow start when he broke his leg late in the season, hurting the team’s chances vs. Tampa. And 20-year-old McAvoy had a nice rookie season with 7-25—32 in 63 games but a late-season knee injury no doubt affected his effectiveness in the playoffs.
Cassidy had a hell of a rookie year as well. He always had a great feel for his bench and whether a guy was going that night or not (and if not, so long ice time). He seemed to always make the right call (save for some of his playoff line-up calls). His candid pressers and scrums can actually be pretty useful and explanatory. In any other (non-expansion) season, Cassidy would’ve won the Jack Adams Award for the coach who “contributed the most to his team’s success” going away but Gerard Gallant turned the NHL season on its head by leading his Golden Misfits to the best expansion season by any team anywhere.
While the Bruins might not be one of the top three or four Cup contenders today, they certainly have most of the major parts in place for a Cup run come April. Though there was some standard roster turnover, it was nothing Earth-shattering. The Bs waved ‘bye’ to back-up goalie Anton Khudobin (Dallas), deadline pick-up Rick Nash (UFA), stay-at-home D-man Adam McQuaid (NYR), grinder-with-some-touch Tim Schaller (VAN), and versatile forward Riley Nash (CBJ). New to Boston are new back-up goalie Jaroslav Halak, grinding local lad Chris Wagner, defenseman John Moore, bottom six forward Joakim Nordstrom, and rookie D-man Urho Vaakanainen (2017 1st rd. pick). Journeyman Steve Kampfer returns to the place where he was a Black Ace for the 2011 Cup run.
Here’s a closer look at a few things…
SECONDARY SCORING
We know what to expect from the dynamic, dominant top line of Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak: roughly 100 goals, nearly 230 points, and not being broken up even if the team is desperate for offense in the playoffs. But we’re not so sure how the rest of the forward groups will produce. Hopefully, Goldilocks Krejci will find a RW that’s just right for him and Heinen will again get the first audition. DeBrusk, who became a playoff legend in his first-ever post-season series, will man Krejci’s left-side as both he and Heinen look to exceed their 16 goal outputs last season. But the Bs need more bang for their $7,250,000 bucks out of Krejci this season than the 17-27—44 he gave them in 64 games last year.
Sean Kuraly was centering the third line in Tuesday’s practice with rookie Ryan Donato on his left and veteran David Backes on the right side. Kuraly has some sandpaper to his game and was one of the Bruins better forwards in the playoffs but he’s not exactly renowned for his offense. If Butch isn’t comfortable with things, he doesn’t wait long to change them so he’ll have no issue sliding Backes over to the middle if need be. This is an intriguing trio that brings a mixed skill-set and could find success depending on match-ups; conversely, it can be history by Halloween. Either way, I think Backes bounces back from a hellish 2017-2018 season that saw him lose 10″ of innards, suffer a gruesome gash on his leg, and conclude with a concussion. His 57 games played was a (non-lockout year) career low and his 14 goals were his fewest since his second season. Anders Bjork will likely start the season as a health bomb but expect to see Butch give him a shot soon enough. Lee Stempniak isn’t traveling to D.C. but is still with the Bs on a tryout though he has yet to sign.
Schaller and Riley Nash combined for 27 goals last year but it’s not reasonable to expect that output from their de facto replacements Nordstrom and Wagner (combined salary for Nash & Schaller this year is $4.65M; $2.25M for Nordstrom & Wagner). Nash was a great pick-up for the Bs and the team went back to the Carolina free agent well again hoping for a similar career progression from Nordstrom. Wagner is what my Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Biz calls a “honey badger” because of his willingness to be a pain in the ass to the opposition. Even if it might not be as much as an offensive threat, this threesome, centered by Noel Acciari (10-1–11 last year), should be yet another quality fourth line for the Bs.
RASK NOISE
After a slow start and an extended appearance by Anton Khudobin, Rask was lights out down the stretch as the Bruins made a bid for the division. He played like a Vezina winner for the second-half of the season but his early-season woes torpedoed his numbers and any real chance at the award. Unfortunately, his playoff performance was a little too helter-skelter for my liking. Even if you want to give him (and Freddie Andersen) a pass on the first round due to the fire wagon hockey and porous D by both teams, he needed to be much better against a much higher caliber opponent in the second round but he wasn’t. Still, I’m not throwing out the baby with the bath water as he was hardly the only guy to blame for the series loss.
The addition of Halak should push Rask because he’s not a journeyman back-up but a former #1 who is capable of playing well for long stretches now that he’ll now longer be hung out to dry like bedsheets on a back porch as he was on Long Island. Though Rask is the clear #1, don’t be surprised to see Halak make the decision tough for Butch at points this season. Regardless, Rask needs to be more consistent this regular season and has to improve should the Bs return to the playoffs as expected.
THE TIME IS NOW
Although it seems at times that all we hear about is the wunderkinds on the roster, it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is a quickly closing window for the grizzled vets on the Bs. Each season means one less kick at that Cup can. Legacies, Hall of Fame candidacies, and personal accomplishments are at stake. This isn’t a rebuild for Bergeron, Chara, Rask, Krejci, Marchand, and particularly Backes (whose Blues made but one conference final in 10 seasons)—it’s Stanley Cup or bust. Most of these guys have more hockey behind them than they do in front of them. But they’re here to win this year.
GIMME THAT D
The back end will look very similar to last season as McQuaid is the only regular not returning. While he was never flashy or a headline grabber, the tough-as-hell Quaider will be missed by fans and teammates alike. He was essentially replaced by former Devil John Moore. Vaakanainen was a bit of training camp surprise and looks like he can jump right in. If Grizzy can’t go tonight, Vaakanainen will take his place. Even if it’s not tonight, we should get a peek at the Finnish teen soon enough. Kampfer is the eight D-man and will travel with the team to start the year. He’s also likely the first to go to Providence when injured PP QB Torey Krug returns.
But the rest of the D corps is the same and that’s a good thing for a team that surrendered the third fewest goals last season. The 40-year-old Chara, perhaps the most under-appreciated star in Boston this century, returns for his 21st NHL season and 13th as a Bruin. While he’s not the suffocating force of 5-6 years ago, the future Hall of Famer is still a pretty goddamn good defenseman who never stops working on his game or his fitness. He’s also a stabilizing presence on the ice and in the room. His partner McAvoy was hampered a bit last year between his knee and ticker issues. Still, he had a nice rookie campaign and I’m expecting more out of him this year.
Carlo had a bit of a drop-off in his second year but improved steadily until he was felled by injury. He should have a little more offensive pop this year and will be paired with Moore to start the year. Grzelcyk and superstrong human Miller will begin the year as the third pair. The physical Miller shows the occasional offensive flash but specializes in protecting his own end. Look for Grizzy to play his brand of smart hockey while also contributing on the scoresheet.
WELL?
Last year, I had the Bs as a playoff team that would contend for the very top-heavy Atlantic Division crown (the Atlantic’s top three teams garnered 330 points last year, just two fewer than the powerhouse Central’s top three teams; the Pacific had 310 and Metro 303). And that’s how I have them again this year in a four-horse race. Tampa will again be a wagon. Toronto, already a rising beast, got even better with the addition of John Tavares. And Florida, a team with a ridiculous top-six, will contend provided Roberto Luongo stays healthy. If the Bs don’t win the division, they’ll still be one of the three divisional playoff bids and will make a run to at least the Eastern Conference Final. And if they get the bounces, we can stage this photo again.
