Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2024-25 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2024-25 Boston Bruins.
2024-25 Boston Bruins
2023-2024 Season
The Boston Bruins exceeded expectations that were laid upon them this past season. Boston finished the season second in the Atlantic division and secured a playoff series win against a Toronto team that was better on paper. David Pastrnak was the main contributor to the teams’ success, putting up 47 goals and 63 assists for 110 points in 82 games. A tremendous goaltender tandem also led the team in Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark.
Sweeney wasn’t so aggressive at the deadline, however, he still made two moves in acquiring Pat Maroon from Minnesota and Andrew Peeke from Columbus. Maroon was brought in as a physical fourth-line player and as a veteran presence with Stanley Cup experience. Peeke was dealt to Boston and was in and out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. Unfortunately, the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers eliminated Boston in the second round. After a surprising 2023-2024 season, the Bruins look to build off their success from last season and hopefully make a deeper playoff run.
2023-2024 Offseason
Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins had plenty of money to work with this offseason. Sweeney’s first big move was sending goaltender Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators. In return, Boston received a 2024 first-round pick, centre Mark Kastelic and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. Korpisalo will takeover the backup goaltending duty for the team however, Boston will likely not alternate games with the two goaltenders as they did with Swayman and Ullmark. With the departures of Jake Debrusk, Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort, Don Sweeney needed to be aggressive in the offseason to replace the missing pieces heading into this upcoming season.
Sweeney made two other big signings during free agency bringing in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Lindholm will fill a much-needed centre role for Boston, and with the loss of two left-handed defencemen, Zadorov will have a major role this upcoming season. With money still to work with and Swayman still needing an extension, Sweeney brought in more depth pieces in forwards Max Jones and Riley Tufte. Jones will provide depth in the bottom of Boston’s lineup, while Tufte will be utilized more in the minors. Additionally, opportunities in the lineup will be available for some prospects to earn.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Pavel Zacha – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Fabian Lysell
Trent Frederic – Matthew Poitras – Morgan Geekie
Max Jones – John Beecher – Mark Kastelic
Top Six
The top six unit for Boston has greatly improved this offseason with the signing of two-way centre Elias Lindholm. Lindholm will slide in between the two Czechs on Boston’s first line and will make an impact all over the ice. Lindholm will provide more scoring opportunities for both Zacha and Pastrnak with his playmaking ability and high-level IQ. He also possesses a strong 200-foot game, making him a versatile player in the defensive zone. This complements the Bruins’s style of play.
Pavel Zacha is coming off his best season where he put up 59 points. He hopes to continue that success next season and build off his chemistry with Pasta. Zacha will slide over to the left wing where he is more comfortable playing, and where he will be more productive. Sweeney brought in depth all around their lineup however the first line will be the main contributors to the team’s goal-scoring.
The big surprise to the Bruin’s top six unit is Fabian Lysell slotting in on their second-line right wing. The 21-year-old prospect hasn’t made his debut yet in the NHL; however, there is a wing spot open on the team’s second line. Other prospects will also be looking to earn that spot, but it is believed it’s the highly skilled Swedish prospects’ spot to earn. Playing alongside veterans Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle would benefit Lysell’s development and allow him to adapt to the NHL level faster. Lysell is still only 21 years old and giving him an important role to start his career would develop his game faster. It would also provide him with the confidence he needs. Also, don’t be surprised if young prospect Matthew Poitras slides up to that second-line centre role at some point this season.
Bottom Six
Having depth has been one of the Bostons’ biggest issues over the past couple of seasons. 20-year-old Matthew Poitras will be the centre of Bostons’ third line and could earn his way up to the top six later in the season. His season last year was cut short due to injury. The Bruins hope he will provide the team with some much-needed depth this upcoming season. Playing alongside Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie would give Poitras two forechecking forwards who will wear other teams down, while also possessing speed with Poitras. The fourth line consists of two solid center options in Beecher and Kastelic. They both had their teams’ best faceoff percentages when in the lineup last season. Sweeney also brought in another physical body for their fourth line to hopefully bring more physical play to the team’s bottom six.
Defence
Nikita Zadorov – Charlie Mcavoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei – Andrew Peeke
Top Four
Boston’s top-four unit will feature three returning players and their big new addition Nikita Zadorov. Zadorov is coming off a tremendous season with Calgary and Vancouver where he was dominant all over the ice. Zadorov will be paired with superstar defenceman Charlie Mcavoy, who is the backbone of Boston’s defensive core. The two would complement each other very well with Mcavoy’s ability to play a two-way game, and Zadorov’s size and physicality. The pairing will be a great combination of physical defensive play, while also making an impact offensively.
The second pairing consists of Lindholm and Carlo. They have played as a pairing many times in the last three seasons and are a great combination of size and speed. Carlo doesn’t make an impact much offensively, however, is reliable in the defensive zone and on the penalty kill. Lindholm is coming off a slower year but was still a key piece to the team’s blue line. He is looking to be more consistent this upcoming season which is something he struggled with this past season.
Bottom Pair
The bottom of Boston’s defensive core features Andrew Peeke who they acquired last season at the deadline from Columbus, and also a young talented defenceman in Mason Lohrei. Peeke is mainly known for his defensive abilities. He is a physical player who likes to block shots and knows where to be at all times. Lohrei is mostly known for his offensive production and tremendous skating ability for being 6’5. The two played together a couple of games last season, but Lohrei mostly played a top-four role when in the lineup last year. Jim Montgomery hopes that this pairing will contribute both offensively and defensively and increase production deeper in Bostons’ lineup.
Goalies
Jeremy Swayman
Joonas Korpisalo
Boston’s goaltending tandem will look a lot different compared to last year. The Bruins will still have young star goaltender Jeremy Swayman as their starting goalie, and Don Sweeney hopes to sign him to an extension by the start of training camp. The team brought in a new backup netminder from the Ullmark trade in Joonas Korpisalo. Even though he struggled last season, the team believes that a fresh start for the 30-year-old goaltender and improved goaltending coaching will bring Korpisalo back to his old self. Boston will most likely not alternate goalies as much as they did with Swayman and Ullmark.
Players to Watch
David Pastrnak
Superstar forward David Pastrnak is coming off a stellar season with the Bruins. This upcoming season he will be closing in on his 400-career goal milestone, after having a career-best 61 goals this past season. Pastrnak is looking to have another breakout season. With the addition of Elias Lindholm to his line, it’s looking like Pastrnak will have another incredible season. Pasta is the most dynamic forward on the Bruins roster and loves to make his teammates better. Even with the improvements to the roster, Pastrnak will still be relied on offensively.
Elias Lindholm
Lindholm is coming in and immediately bolsters the team’s top six forward unit. Lindholm was Bostons’ big free agent splash this offseason, which leaves many fans ecstatic to see him play for the B’s this upcoming season. He is looking to avenge last season, and being on a line with David Pastrnak increases that possibility. Lindholm has been known to have a Patrice Bergeron-like style to his game which is exciting for Bruins fans. Lindholm didn’t have as big as a role when he was dealt to Vancouver last season. He is looking forward to the opportunity to be the number one centre again.
Prediction For 2024-2025 Boston Bruins
The Bruins are looking to follow up their success from last season. They hope to make a deeper push in the playoffs this upcoming year. A decent amount of the players from last season left for free agency. However, Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins had money to spend this offseason and were able to fill in the missing pieces. They also brought in more much-needed depth.
The Bruins have plenty of talent all around their lineup to be a good hockey team. They even have one of the best young goaltenders in the league. The team features a respectable mix of experienced stars and younger talent who are ready for the NHL level. Boston will be a strong team this upcoming season as they improved the most out of any team in their division. If Boston can play their style consistently the whole season, there is no reason this team can’t make a deeper playoff run next season.
Prediction: Second in the Atlantic
Main Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
