The Boston Bruins are the proper staff within the NHL to have the eternal-long fatalism vs. determinism debate. They sit atop the Atlantic Division and Japanese Convention as soon as once more, simply as they did final yr. Simply as final yr, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are two of one of the best gamers within the league. The goaltending is excellent, and that’s with utilizing two goalies equally. They’re prime 5 in goals-against per sport, the particular groups are each above common. Seems to be all the identical as once we had been right here final yr.
In fact, we all know how final yr ended. A file points-haul, that together with $2.40, would have gotten them on the T to get dwelling, which they wanted after seven video games with the Panthers within the first spherical. The distinction of their anticipated aim rely from the season, and the considerably extra objectives they did rating, immediately a key signal that the Bs weren’t all they had been cracked as much as be. Or they simply misplaced two time beyond regulation video games to a Panthers staff that was higher than its common season file confirmed. No matter your taste, you wouldn’t be blamed for pondering the cycle was repeating itself this yr.
The Bs have some convincing to do of followers and observers alike of their potential to perform a little greater than be an upset come Spherical 1 once more. Nobody’s going to consider a goalie tandem can do the enterprise within the spring till it does, and neither Jeremy Swayman nor Linus Ullmark have carried the mail for a playoff staff making a critical run, ought to they select only one to backstop them within the postseason. Their defensive numbers aren’t pretty much as good, metrically, as they had been final yr (2.55 xGA this yr at even-strength, 2.36 final yr), which the goalies have principally coated up.
However what may have most trying on the Bruins with a raised eyebrow and maybe a snicker is that come April, as constituted, the Bruins might be trotting out a gaggle of third and fourth-line facilities they should pose as No. 1s and No. 2s. No, it’s not straightforward to label the Bruins a Cup favourite when Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha are the primary two off the bench within the pivot. Which is one thing Boston could look to deal with earlier than the league’s commerce deadline.
To be honest to Coyle and Zacha, they’re helpful gamers. When he first got here into the league, Coyle appeared to have the potential to be a two-way, imposing middle that would bully his means wherever he wished. There was a purpose he was traded for Brent Burns, in spite of everything. However that was means again when. Since then, Coyle has settled into a fairly comfy function as a checking middle with dimension, who can chip in offensively a bit of greater than most No. 3 facilities. He was completely slotted hiding behind Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci final season. However with each retiring, immediately the winds are free to tear at flesh.
Coyle’s metrics, in each shot makes an attempt and expected-goals share, are beneath 50 %, which his constant operating buddy Marchand has been capable of outshoot and out-create whereas the goalies have bailed out that line when wanted. Coyle continues to be principally taking the dungeon shifts he used to to save lots of Bergeron from having to do (42 % of his shifts begin within the offensive zone), however centering Marchand means taking over an expanded scoring function, too. Thirty factors in 45 video games is hardly a nasty return, however contemplating the opposite No. 1 facilities within the East, or simply the listing of potential ones the Bs must undergo to get out of the convention (say, Brayden Level-Sasha Barkov-Sebastien Aho/Jack Hughes/Sidney Crosby?), and it’s straightforward to see why Bruins followers would have some trepidation about heading into the playoffs with a middle who’s mainly “fine.”
Zacha is extra of the identical story, having one of the best seat in the home for an additional season of brilliance from Pastrnak without having all that a lot to do with it. Zacha has been extra of a creator than Coyle, however identical to Coyle, the metrics have him underneath water whereas getting the advantage of beginning most of his shifts within the offensive zone (68 %) that Coyle doesn’t. Once more, look across the East and nearly each potential playoff staff is carrying at the very least two plus-centers. The Bs arguably don’t have one, simply two our bodies.
So what’s to be finished? The identify that might be most linked to the Bruins is Elias Lindholm, a pending free agent on the Flames. Calgary can nonetheless declare to be within the playoff race – two factors out of a wild-card spot within the West – and whether or not they wave the white flag has but to be decided. Lindholm is extra of a shooter than a creator, however that may work simply nice with Marchand. And Lindholm can produce off cycles and forechecks, which playoff hockey tends to dissolve into.
However he’ll be closely pursued and the worth might be excessive if he even goes available on the market. A extra intriguing, and higher-risk, identify to look at is Trevor Zegras. The Geese aren’t precisely procuring the once-upon-a-time phenom, however they’re additionally reportedly not completely satisfied he isn’t far more than a flashy hood decoration. As they’ve buffeted their young-forward core with Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier up to now yr, Zegras is likely to be a chip they’ll get again a number of items for. The Bruins solely have three picks within the first two rounds within the subsequent three years and will should jettison Mason Lohrei, Matthew Poitras, or Fabian Lysell to get a deal like that throughout the road. Zegras doesn’t scream “Bruins-type,” but neither did Hampus Lindholm who turned a Norris candidate within the Hub, nor did Tyler Bertuzzi final yr and he parlayed his transient keep in Boston into a ridiculous contract with the Leafs. If Zegras goes so as to add some substance to the fashion, Jim Montgomery might be the coach to do it.
And Zegras’s age matches into the Bruins pivot to what’s subsequent. Marchand is 35. Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy are proper within the wheelhouse of their primes. There is probably not too many swings left with this explicit group and Zegras helps bridge to the following one. Regardless of the Bs resolve to do, dwell within the now or eye the long run, the speedy future appears to be like a bit of spotty with their present middle scenario.
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