NHL.com offers in-depth analysis of each of the 32 teams between August 8 and September 8. Today, the Boston Bruins.
32 AND 32 BROWN : The best hopes | Three issues to watch | Analysis for poolers
When Jim Montgomery assembles his roster as the new Bruins coach, he can count on two well-known faces in Boston to ease the transition: Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
After hinting throughout the offseason that Bergeron and Krejci would return to Boston, Bruins management signed the two centermen to a one-year contract on August 8. This completely changes the assessment of the Bruins’ work in the offseason and raises expectations for the 2022-23 season.
That said, returning to the level of play they once offered won’t be easy for either player, and there will definitely be differences.
The Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy after six seasons behind the bench and replaced him with Montgomery. One of the goals behind this decision is to establish better and more positive communication with the players, and achieve greater attacking input.
“We’re going to compete,” Montgomery replied when asked about his team’s identity on July 11 when he was introduced to the media. “We will be a team known for effort and execution. I want other teams across the league to know that you have to be prepared to face us, otherwise you’re going to be on your heels. »
The Bruins broke the 100-point plateau last season with a 51-26-5 record, but lost in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston president Cam Neely made no secret that everyone in the organization believed it was going to have a longer run in the playoffs.
Boston fired Cassidy on June 7 and hired Montgomery on July 1.
“We’re talking about a team that had 51 wins last year, so I think the staff did a really good job,” Montgomery said. For the future, I think there are aspects that can be improved. Hopefully with a new and different style – every coach has a different way of leading – we can generate a bit more offense. »
The Bruins averaged 3.09 goals per game last season, ranking 15th in the NHL. But in the playoffs, that average slipped to 2.86 goals per game.
“One of the things that came out quickly was Jim’s philosophy of involving our defensemen on the offensive blue line a little more,” Neely said. It will be one thing to score more goals, but they can generate a little more offense by being fluid on the blue line in the offensive zone. »
Fortunately, the changes for the Bruins are not as profound as they could have been.
Bergeron, captain of the Bruins, will pocket a salary of $2.5 million with the possibility of obtaining an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses. Krejci agreed to a $1 million deal and he could pocket $2 million in performance bonuses. They should be the center of the first two lines, as they have been for more than a decade in Boston.
Bergeron, who has considered retiring, will instead be back for his 19th NHL season. He scored his 400th goal in his final game of the 2021-22 regular season with a hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 28 for 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games. He won the Selke Trophy, given to the best defensive forward in the NHL, for the fifth time, a record in League history.
Video: BOS@CAR, #2: Bergeron completes McAvoy for his 2nd goal
“Hopefully he’s still confident in his abilities because he’s just had a stellar year,” Neely said in May.
Krejci returned after a season out of the NHL. He will play his 16th campaign in Boston. He had 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 51 games last season with Olomouc, in his native Czech Republic’s top professional league.
But even with Bergeron and Krejci in the lineup, the Bruins could have a rocky start to the season. Three key players will start the campaign sidelined due to offseason operations. Forward Brad Marchand (both hips) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (left shoulder) are expected to return in December, while defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (right shoulder) is scheduled to return in November.
Video: BOS@MTL: McAvoy scores Bruins 4th
In the best of scenarios, the Bruins will have the chance to see some of their young players at work, like Fabian Lysell for example. The team hopes to keep its head above water while waiting for the return of Grzelcyk, Marchand and McAvoy.
For now, the return of Bergeron and Krejci has the Bruins believing they could have another long run in the playoffs.