By Mike Rifkin
The Boston Bruins have been a model of consistency over the last 15 years, only missing the playoffs twice since the 2007-08 season, and winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. People have been wondering when the Bruins’ would fall off and it has yet to happen. During the 2022-23 season the Boston Bruins set a record for most wins in a season with 65 and points with 135. But while those records are nice, it means nothing as the Bruins blew a 3-1 lead to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs. This season the Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division, beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round. But like last season the Bruins were sent home by the Florida Panthers in six games.
Prior to this season the Bruins top two centers David Krejci and captain Patrice Bergeron retired. Bergeron (who is a future hall of famer) and Krejci last season combined for 43 goals and 114 points. Instead, of going out and acquiring a true number one Center the Bruins opted to use Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha in those roles and both posted or in Zacha’s case a career high in goals ( Coyle : 25, Zacha 21) and the two combined for 119 points as well.
But when you talk Boston Bruins forwards you have to talk about David Pastrnak, one of the most dynamic players in the NHL. Pastrnak has hit the 30 goal mark in six of the last seven seasons, the only miss being 2020-21 shortened season. Pastrnak had 47 goals on the season and 110 points on the season, both top ten in the NHL.
Over the last two seasons the Bruins goaltending duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have been nothing short of fantastic. The duo last season won the Jennings trophy (fewest goals allowed) and Ullmark won the Vezina trophy. Both Ullmark and Swayman were top five in Goals Against Average and save percentage. This year both were great again and were top 10 in those same categories. At the trade deadline there was a report that the Los Angeles Kings tried to acquire Ullmark, but he nixed that deal. With Swayman being a restricted free agent, it is likely that we have seen the end to that duo.
BRUINS FREE AGENTS (WITH 2023-24 Stats)
RESTRICTED
JESPER BOQVIST – (6 goals 14 pts)
JEREMY SWAYMAN (25-10-8 2.53 GAA .916 SAVE PERCENTAGE 3 Shutouts)
BRANDON BUSSI (AHL STATS : 23-10-5 2.67 GAA .913 SAVE PERCENTAGE 1 Shutout)
UNRESTRICTED
JAKE DEBRUSK ( 19 GOALS 40 POINTS)
DANTON HEINEN ( 17 GOALS 36 POINTS)
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK ( 11 GOALS 38 POINTS)
PAT MAROON ( 4 GOALS 12 POINTS)
MATT GRZELCYK ( 2 GOALS 11 POINTS)
KEVIN SHATTENKIRK (6 GOALS 24 POINTS)
DEREK FORBORT ( 0 GOALS FOUR POINTS)
Let’s start with the two big free agents and then we’ll get to the team as a whole. There is no question in my mind that Jeremy Swayman is a number one goalie and deserves to be paid as such, so that is the top priority of the offseason. Now when it comes to Jake DeBrusk it’s difficult. I like the player a lot, the last two seasons he had 25+ goals and led the team in points in the playoffs, but the consistency is where it gets me. DeBrusk is coming off a two year eight million dollar contract, so he is going to look to be bumped north of the four million he was making.
The Bruins are expected to have 22.5 million dollars in cap space with the cap rising this summer. So how should they spend that money plus whatever else might the offseason hold for them?
Let’s start with the Linus Ullmark situation, because as mentioned above Swayman has taken the reins of the net. And if Brandon Bussi is ready to be the backup or the Bruins can sign a cheap backup. Teams like the Kings, Oilers and Devils all are in need of a true number one goalie. Now the question would be does this happen at the draft or after? Or do the Bruins wait to see what Calgary does with Jacob Markstrom?
STAYING : SWAYMAN, BUSSI, MAROON, SHATTENKIRK (IF PRICES ARE RIGHTS)
LEAVING ULLMARK, DEBRUSK GRZELCYK, FORBORT, HEINEN, JVR
Acquiring ( WON’T PUT MONEY OR TERM OF DEAL) : Elias Lindholm (unless Ullmark trade nets them a number one Center), Yakov Trenin, Alex Carrier, Ian Cole (or Dylan Demelo).
Now if Bussi isn’t ready then you could add a veteran backup goalie. But the reason for the three defensemen is if anything is true in hockey it’s that depth on the backend is needed, I expect Parker Wotherspoon and Mason Lohrei to continue their progression.
https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/cap/_/year/2024/sort/cap_maximum_space2
The Sports Insanity Network 