Record - 51-26-5 (107 points), 4th in the Atlantic Division
Goals For: 255 (15th in the NHL), Goals Against: 220 (4th in the NHL)
Leading Goal Scorer - David Pastrnak (40)
Leading Point Scorer - Brad Marchand (80)
We shift back to the Atlantic Division to go through the first of nine 50 win teams from last year. The Boston Bruins were in good position to make the playoffs at the All-Star break, but didn't necessarily look like the B's team we're used to seeing under HC Bruce Cassidy. The break proved to be good for them as they went 25-12-2 to close out the year. However, it wasn't enough to secure a top three spot in the division and they drew a tough matchup in the opening round. With an familiar face back in the locker room after a year long hiatus in Europe and a new face behind the bench, the Bruins are looking to make one last push for Lord Stanley's Cup.
A run could have been had by the B's this past spring had they had home ice advantage against the Metro Division champs. This series that went the distance to seven games with the home team winning every single contest. Neither team could figure out how to beat their opponent away from their own barn. In the first six games, the winning team scored no less than 4 goals with the smallest separation being 2 goals. Just not close in any way, shape, or form. Game 7 in Raleigh was a bit of a different story. The Bruins finally figured out how to keep themselves in it in one of the rowdiest arenas in the NHL. In the end, though, they just couldn't figure out how to break down the Hurricanes' defense. They were down 2 goals for most of the second and third periods, but a late David Pastrnak goal gave them a touch of hope with just a few ticks left. The Canes were able to fend off the final push of desperation and sent the B's packing.
Normally when you come off of a 50 win season and five straight postseason appearances your job with the team remains secure. That unfortunately wasn't the case for Bruce Cassidy who was relieved of his duties shortly following the conclusion of the opening round loss to Carolna. The firing surprised Cassidy, as it did many others across the league. He had brought the team to within one win of a Stanley Cup championship in 2019, and helped get them to the playoffs in each of the other seasons he was head coach. But GM Don Sweeney felt like it was time for a change. He said that Cassidy's style had taken a toll on the players. While I can definitely see this being the case, his track record speaks for itself. Nevertheless, there's a new sheriff in town and he's looking to redeem himself.
It's been nearly three years since Jim Montgomery last coached in the NHL. In Montgomery's first of two seasons in Dallas, the Stars were one goal away from advancing to the Conference Finals when they lost to the St. Louis Blues in double OT of Game 7. The following winter was when things took a serious turn for the worse. After a more than solid 18-11-3 start, the Stars fired Montgomery for unprofessional conduct. Not too long after the news broke, Montgomery opened up about his battle with alcoholism and his road to recovery. In the months that followed, he began to go to intensive therapy in Dallas to get sobered up. By September of 2020 he landed another gig, this time an assistant coaching position with the team that eliminated him in playoffs just one calendar year before. Montgomery spent the past two seasons behind the Blues' bench under Craig Berube, and has earned himself another chance at being a head coach in the NHL with Boston.
The coaching change wasn't the only major offseason headline for the Bruins. Rumors regarding the future of Bruins' captain Patrice Bergeron were circulating and many were questioning whether the 37 year old would retire. This has been a topic of conversation well before the offseason began, but Bergeron said he wasn't going to make a decision until after the season was over. A few weeks passed and a deal still wasn't done. Tensions were rising for the fans and Boston media alike. The two sides eventually came to terms and Don Sweeney was able to keep the five-time Selke winner in Bean Town for one more run at it.
I have a feeling part of what convinced Bergeron to stay was the return of Bruins legend David Krejci. Though the deal with the 36 year old Finn wasn't finalized, I have little doubt Don Sweeney used it in his pitch to Bergy. Right after the B's locked in their captain, they reached an one-year agreement with Krejci who had played in the Czech league the season prior. Krejci was a beloved member of the organization for a decade and half before taking his one year off. To get him back in a B's uniform is a huge boost for the locker room.
The team will be spending much of training camp preparing for life without two of their top stars. Both Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand will be out until at least Thanksgiving. McAvoy, who is coming off of his best year as a pro, underwent a procedure on this left shoulder in June. The recovery time was estimated to be about six months. Marchand went under the knife a couple of weeks before McAvoy to get both of his hips repaired. This surgery also required a six-month recovery period, and given the significance both of these players have the organization will most definitely play things on the safe side.
How this team fares with the absence of McAvoy and Marchand from their lineup will play a major factor as to where they finish this year. Jim Montgomery will have the chance to the shuffle the lines a bit to see what combinations work for them in the interim. There's no doubt in my mind that if they're able to stay around .500 record wise while staying healthy, then they'll be one of the top teams in the conference. It is, however, easier said than done.
A winning culture has been instilled in the Bruins' organization since drafting Bergeron in the second round of the legendary 2003 draft, and I believe it will continue with and without Bergy being in the locker room. They have enough pieces up and down the lineup to remain a strong hockey club even after their captain hangs up the skates. Looking at the immediate future, we'll need to see what Jim Montgomery has up his sleeves and how this group of players responds to his style of coaching. They're as capable as anyone to make a deep run in playoffs once they get there. I think that the B's will rally around the idea of this possibly being Bergeron's last dance. That extra motivator could help carry them towards a Conference Finals appearance, and could even be enough to have another Stanley Cup shipped up to Boston. Let's see what the hockey gods have in store for them.
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