Imagine it or not, there’s only one week to go earlier than the Bruins and the remainder of the NHL open the 2024-25 season.
Boston nonetheless has a couple of preseason video games to play earlier than dropping the puck for actual on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Florida towards the defending Stanley Cup champions. From the surface, it seems the roster is essentially set with a veteran-heavy core again within the fold on Causeway.
That being mentioned, there are nonetheless some roster strikes that can shake out, and we have achieved our greatest with what data now we have proper now to challenge Jim Montgomery’s opening night time lineup beneath.
FORWARDS
Pavel Zacha — Elias Lindholm — David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand — Charlie Coyle — Morgan Geekie
Trent Frederic — Matt Poitras — Justin Brazeau
Tyler Johnson — John Beecher — Mark Kastelic
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The highest six feels prefer it ought to be fairly shored up — at the least for now. The Bruins raised some eyebrows with a handful of roster strikes over the weekend. Included was sending Fabian Lysell to Windfall. In an ideal world, he would have compelled the Bruins’ hand as a no-doubt possibility for the second-line proper wing, however he apparently did not present them sufficient. Boston’s mind belief did not rule out he may nonetheless make the crew, but it surely was a reasonably obvious transfer.
The domino that falls right here is Geekie slides in on Charlie Coyle’s proper, and Justin Brazeau lands on the third line. Brazeau scored 5 objectives in simply 19 video games final season as a bottom-six ahead. He’ll be a stable possibility, but when somebody like Lysell did come out flying, it could have made Brazeau an ideal fourth-liner. The opposite bottom-six query mark is Tyler Johnson. The veteran is hanging round and has impressed. If he makes the roster, perhaps the road of considering is the crew desires to place out its smartest, most accountable lineup till the Jeremy Swayman state of affairs is settled. The Johnson determination would possibly finally come down as to whether Max Jones — who would carry loads to the lineup — is wholesome sufficient to be within the lineup immediately.
One factor so as to add right here: Within the season premiere of “Behind the B,” basic supervisor Don Sweeney acknowledged a want to put aside some cap area for a possible in-season ahead addition. It could in all probability require some cap maneuvering, however the Bruins have been capable of do as a lot previously when wanted.
DEFENSEMEN
Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm — Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei — Andrew Peeke
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This grouping has been pretty set in stone as soon as the ink dried on Zadorov’s six-year, $30 million deal signed on the primary day of free company. The Zadorov-McAvoy pairing has all of the potential to be one of many NHL’s finest, particularly if Zadorov seems just like the participant he was within the playoffs final season and McAvoy can absolutely regain the shape that made him a Norris Trophy hopeful simply a few brief years in the past.
Lohrei could be one of many extra vital gamers to observe on this group and actually your complete roster. If he can take a large step ahead, it considerably raises each the ground and the ceiling of this group. He shined at numerous factors in his 52 video games (counting playoffs) final season and largely held his personal. Sweeney praised the 23-year-old for his skill to take teaching, and his skill with the puck on his stick is second to none amongst Bruins D-men. If he can restrict his studying curve errors, he could be an important piece to the puzzle.
GOALIES
Joonas Korpisalo
Brandon Bussi
So, you may need heard, however Swayman will not begin the season between the pipes for Boston. The restricted free agent has but to report, as he seeks a brand new contract. The Bruins sound optimistic that can ultimately occur, however as Montgomery famous this week, the membership will nearly actually break camp with Korpisalo because the No. 1 man. In that case, we’ll know early simply how a lot Boston’s system and training can enhance a goalie. Korpisalo is coming off a tricky season. His .890 save proportion was the worst of his profession for a full season, down from his .904 profession mark getting into the season. The Bruins actually have earned the precise to imagine they’ll get Korpisalo again on the precise path of their system with goalie coach Bob Essensa getting his arms across the 30-year-old. That is in all probability essentially the most proficient crew Korpisalo has performed for thus far in his profession, and he may actually profit from that in entrance of him.
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Bussi, in the meantime, has but to make his NHL debut. He has been stable on the AHL stage, and will probably be fascinating to see what he can do at this level if and when he will get his shot with the large membership. The Bruins haven’t got a back-to-back till late November, so it is not like they will must go loopy managing Korpisalo’s workload early, however they will work Bussi in as they see match till Swayman’s state of affairs will get resolved.
