Toronto Maple Leafs: Atlantic Division Preview and Predictions
By Mike Jack
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins usually seem like a playoff lock. They’ve only missed the playoffs twice since 2007-08 and have played in every post-season for the last five years.
With major offseason changes, an aging core and the potential loss of their star goaltender, is their post-season streak in jeopardy?
Key Offseason Acquisitions:
Tomas Nosek C (Signed from Vegas)
Erik Haula C (Signed from Nashville)
Nick Foligno LW (Signed from Toronto Maple Leafs)
Derek Forbort D (Signed from Winnipeg)
Linus Ullmark G (Signed from Buffalo)
Biggest Offseason Losses:
David Krejci C (Signed in Czech Republic)
Nick Ritchie LW (Signed with Toronto Maple Leafs)
Kevan Miller D (Retired)
Jeremy Lauzon D (Seattle Expansion Draft)
Tuukka Rask G (UFA)
Jaroslav Halak G (Signed with Vancouver)
Roster Breakdown:
The major changes for the Boston Bruins started at last season’s trade deadline. When they were able to acquire Taylor Hall, Curtis Lazar and Mike Reilly in a couple great trades with Buffalo and Ottawa. Hall and Reilly may have been considered rental players, but Boston was able to re-sign them both.
Losing David Krejci is a huge loss, but signing Taylor Hall softens the blow quite a bit. It was great seeing both players playing together, but the salary cap would’ve made it difficult to keep both. Krejci would still be a great player on any NHL team next season, but he decided to play in front of his family in the Czech Republic this season.
I was very surprised that Boston didn’t tender Nick Ritchie a qualifying offer. He seems like the type of gritty player the Bruins love. It’s interesting that Ritchie signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs and it seems like his replacement may be former Toronto Maple Leafs, Nick Foligno.
Nick Ritchie and Nick Foligno are similar players, but I’d rather have Ritchie right now. Foligno is getting older and has been suffering some injuries while Ritchie should be just entering his prime.
Tomas Nosek and Eric Haula are two great two-way centre signings for Boston on cheap deals.
The biggest question mark for the Boston Bruins right now is in goal. Tuukka Rask won’t be able to play for a while after having hip surgery and is actually a UFA right now. He says he only wants to play for Boston, and it seems like Boston is going to hold off on signing him until he’s ready to go. It’s a smart move to save some cap space.
Long time backup goalie, Jaroslav Halak has also left the Bruins. Halak had an okay season last year and though he’s 36 years old, he seems to have more to give. Rookie, Jeremy Swayman had an excellent season last year though and he may be the Bruins goalie of the future. I think the decision to let Halak go was to make room for Swayman.
For now, the Bruins will most likely go with newly signed Linus Ullmark in net. If Ullmark can put up a .917 SV% with the lowly Buffalo Sabres, imagine what he could do on a great defensive team like the Boston Bruins. There is a chance Swayman could battle Ullmark for the starting job though and then who knows what will happen when Rask is ready.
Patrice Bergeron is 36, Tuukka Rask is 34 and Brad Marchand is 33, so some of the Bruins core may start aging out soon. The departures of Krejci, Halak and Millar makes them a bit younger, but they did add 33 year-old Nick Foligno.
Are the Bruins better? It’s tough to say. I’m going to say they look slightly worse, but GM Don Sweeney has a habit of adding great players at the trade deadline, and this team in built for playoff hockey.