Bruins 2024-2025 Season Preview
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
The Bruins start their season tonight at 7:00ET against the defending champions, The Florida Panthers. The Bruins will have a different look this year. They lost players at every single position. Even us fans lost long time play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards. The Bruins also made some big-ish additions as well.
Additions:
The Bruins signed Elias Lindholm this offseason and finally added a first line center. Lindholm will provide a great boost in faceoffs and will pair with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, who is going back to his original position of winger. Zacha's best moments so far in his short tenure as a Bruin have commed at winger. Pasta also gains a true center since his days playing with Krejci. I think this line can be phenominal for the Bruins this year. I don't see a reason why Pasta can't put up 105+ points like the last three years, lindholm having 70+ points, and Zacha having 55+ points. To me, that would be a successful season. That kind of production from them could make the Bruins a serious candidate for the Atlantic division winner, along with a high seed in the playoffs.
The Bruins also add Nikita Zadorov. Hes paired up with last year's trade deadline aquisition, Andrew Peeke. This pairing excites me. Peeke dealt with an injury in the playoffs, but before that he looked really good. He made questions of why the Bruins aquired him disappear. Peeke was great on the PK, too. Pair him with Zodorov and the Bruins will have a pretty solid third line pairing. Two guys that can be very physical, and dictate the game through that.
Subtractions:
The Bruins lost top 6 winger Jake Debrusk in free agency to the Vancouver Canucks after he signed a multi-year deal. I'll be honest, I am in the few and far between that actually thinks that Debrusk will be a hole to fill in the Bruins' lineup. Was Debrusk was an inconcistent at times? Yes, he definitely was. However, his speed will be missed, his presence on the forecheck will be missed, and his ability to create in what seemed to be the most crucial times will definitley be missed. Let's be honest, Debrusk was probably the second best player for the Bruins in the playoffs last year with Swayman. Now, Morgan Geekie slots into Debrusk's spot paired with Marchand and Coyle. Last year, Geekie had 39 points in 76 games. Geekie is a good player but theres definitely a question mark there. There's added pressure now being a top 6 forward. Lets hope for a great year from Geekie.
As mentioned above, they lost first line pairing Matt Grzeleyc. I dont really think this is a big loss for the Bruins. I liked Grzeleyc. I did, but maybe putting giving Haampus Lindholm on the top line and giving him a skilled linemate like McAvoy could return him to his production from two years ago. He was so good and played a much larger role back then. It would be huge for him to go back to that form.
Lastly, Ullmark. Losing Ullmark is unfortunate but seemed like it was inevitable. Now, the net belongs to Jeremy Swayman. It's the first year he's going to play without splitting time and I dont really have any reason to think he can't handle it. I'd be lying if I didn't think he gets off to a slow start. I think thats just the reality that usually comes with players in contract disputes. I'm not saying that he won't win games or that hes going to post a sub .900 Save Percentage, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him not as sharp, allowing goals we have been accustomed to not having. That won't last long though. Swayman is a solid goalie, just needs to knock some of the offseason rust off, since he missed training camp. The Bruins also aquired Joonas Korpisalo in the Ullmark trade. Korpisalo can help smooth that time period by stealing games and providing a solid backup goaltender. Korpisalo will be an interesting piece on the B's this year. He's shown two different forms in his career and if the Bruins get the good form, he could play a huge part in this teams success. It won't ever be like the last two years with an even split, but providing rest for Sway, especially in his first full-time season is crucial.
Predictions:
Record: 48-24-10 (96 Pts, 2nd in Atlantic)
NESN's 7th Player Award: Pavel Zacha
Point Leaders:
1. Pasta- 109 Pts
2. Lindholm- 72 Pts
3. Coyle- 68 Pts
Hockey is back and I couldn't be more excited. Here's to a fun year.
The Bruins start their season tonight at 7:00ET against the defending champions, The Florida Panthers. The Bruins will have a different look this year. They lost players at every single position. Even us fans lost long time play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards. The Bruins also made some big-ish additions as well.
Additions:
The Bruins signed Elias Lindholm this offseason and finally added a first line center. Lindholm will provide a great boost in faceoffs and will pair with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, who is going back to his original position of winger. Zacha's best moments so far in his short tenure as a Bruin have commed at winger. Pasta also gains a true center since his days playing with Krejci. I think this line can be phenominal for the Bruins this year. I don't see a reason why Pasta can't put up 105+ points like the last three years, lindholm having 70+ points, and Zacha having 55+ points. To me, that would be a successful season. That kind of production from them could make the Bruins a serious candidate for the Atlantic division winner, along with a high seed in the playoffs.
The Bruins also add Nikita Zadorov. Hes paired up with last year's trade deadline aquisition, Andrew Peeke. This pairing excites me. Peeke dealt with an injury in the playoffs, but before that he looked really good. He made questions of why the Bruins aquired him disappear. Peeke was great on the PK, too. Pair him with Zodorov and the Bruins will have a pretty solid third line pairing. Two guys that can be very physical, and dictate the game through that.
Subtractions:
The Bruins lost top 6 winger Jake Debrusk in free agency to the Vancouver Canucks after he signed a multi-year deal. I'll be honest, I am in the few and far between that actually thinks that Debrusk will be a hole to fill in the Bruins' lineup. Was Debrusk was an inconcistent at times? Yes, he definitely was. However, his speed will be missed, his presence on the forecheck will be missed, and his ability to create in what seemed to be the most crucial times will definitley be missed. Let's be honest, Debrusk was probably the second best player for the Bruins in the playoffs last year with Swayman. Now, Morgan Geekie slots into Debrusk's spot paired with Marchand and Coyle. Last year, Geekie had 39 points in 76 games. Geekie is a good player but theres definitely a question mark there. There's added pressure now being a top 6 forward. Lets hope for a great year from Geekie.
As mentioned above, they lost first line pairing Matt Grzeleyc. I dont really think this is a big loss for the Bruins. I liked Grzeleyc. I did, but maybe putting giving Haampus Lindholm on the top line and giving him a skilled linemate like McAvoy could return him to his production from two years ago. He was so good and played a much larger role back then. It would be huge for him to go back to that form.
Lastly, Ullmark. Losing Ullmark is unfortunate but seemed like it was inevitable. Now, the net belongs to Jeremy Swayman. It's the first year he's going to play without splitting time and I dont really have any reason to think he can't handle it. I'd be lying if I didn't think he gets off to a slow start. I think thats just the reality that usually comes with players in contract disputes. I'm not saying that he won't win games or that hes going to post a sub .900 Save Percentage, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him not as sharp, allowing goals we have been accustomed to not having. That won't last long though. Swayman is a solid goalie, just needs to knock some of the offseason rust off, since he missed training camp. The Bruins also aquired Joonas Korpisalo in the Ullmark trade. Korpisalo can help smooth that time period by stealing games and providing a solid backup goaltender. Korpisalo will be an interesting piece on the B's this year. He's shown two different forms in his career and if the Bruins get the good form, he could play a huge part in this teams success. It won't ever be like the last two years with an even split, but providing rest for Sway, especially in his first full-time season is crucial.
Predictions:
Record: 48-24-10 (96 Pts, 2nd in Atlantic)
NESN's 7th Player Award: Pavel Zacha
Point Leaders:
1. Pasta- 109 Pts
2. Lindholm- 72 Pts
3. Coyle- 68 Pts
Hockey is back and I couldn't be more excited. Here's to a fun year.