The Boston Bruins received off to a rocky begin to start the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
The Black and Gold stumbled out of the gates with an 8-9-3 report, which led to normal supervisor Don Sweeney firing Jim Montgomery and naming Joe Sacco because the interim head coach on Nov. 19. Because the change behind the bench, the Bruins have begun to play to their identification and are 12-6-1 below Sacco.
Let’s run by way of three random (and maybe daring?) predictions for the Bruins within the new yr, which is able to encourage optimism all through the remainder of the season.
Elias Lindholm continues to seek out his recreation
The 30-year-old former first-round decide wailing not attain his profession milestone of 82 factors in 82 video games when he centered Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk in Calgary throughout the 2021-22 season. However since transferring down a line to middle Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, Lindholm has began to seek out chemistry together with his linemates, in addition to a bit little bit of his scoring contact. He has two targets and an help in his final 5 video games.
Lindholm will do all of it for the Bruins within the new yr. Together with Marchand, he’ll proceed to drive the five-on-five offense. He may even take necessary faceoffs and be a key element on the ability play and penalty kill.
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With a modest 19 factors (six targets, 13 assists) to date, we’re predicting Lindholm closes out his first season in Boston with 20 tallies and 50 assists.
Justin Brazeau solidifies middle-six scoring
The undrafted ahead got here out of nowhere and confirmed actual promise within the small pattern measurement with the Bruins final season. Brazeau impressed the Boston brass together with his willingness to be bodily and his presence on the forecheck, traits the Bruins proceed to construct their identification on.
At 6-foot-6, 227 kilos, Brazeau’s massive physique is made for net-front greasy targets. He has 17 factors in 37 video games for Boston this season, together with three targets in his final 4 video games.
Charlie Coyle pots 30 targets
The veteran middle has been up and down the lineup by way of 37 video games however has appeared to seek out the right spot skating on the second line with Marchand and Lindholm.
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Coyle registered profession highs in targets (25) and factors (60) final season. Regardless of getting off to a sluggish begin, he has scored three targets in his final 5 video games. Though he has solely 10 targets this season, Coyle has actually discovered his groove, exhibiting off his versatility and stepping up his recreation alongside Marchand and Lindholm.
His physicality, hockey IQ, and skill to win puck battles alongside the boards have completely matched Marchand and Lindholm’s two-way recreation, making the trio harmful at each ends of the ice. We’re predicting Coyle pots a career-best 30 targets this season.
Coyle’s transfer to the second line has additionally helped Boston solidify its prime line of David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie, which additionally seems to be discovering its offensive contact within the final handful of video games.
