The Boston Bruins have been eliminated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Anyone who knows me knows how much I was looking forward to adding this team to my elimination evals. The Bruins were able to get past the Washington Capitals in what was expected to be a more intense first round series. The series didn't play out that way as Boston quickly took control and that double overtime win in game three more or less solidified the fact that they were going to take the series. They did however get that expected intensity in the second round against the New York Islanders. For the most part, I’ll give credit where it’s due. The Bruins played hard but at the end of the day, the Islanders are just the better all around team, they run deeper and have four lines with strong chemistry that couldn't be matched, even by the “perfection” line.
I’ll start there, David Pastrnak, one of that lines members as well as Charlie McAvoy are without a doubt star players and are no question the guys Boston should look to build their future around. Mike Reilly stepped up big time in being traded to Boston. A University of Minnesota alum, Reilly struggled to really get going in the NHL, bouncing around the league as a number seven type defenseman. It seems that he’s found his footing in Boston and it will be interesting to see if they look to bring him back or if he finds a new home elsewhere. Reilly wasn’t the only trade deadline acquisition that found his game in Boston. Curtis Lazar, who has done nothing but struggle since being drafted in the first round by Ottawa in 2013, seemed to have found his role as a fourth liner in Boston.
We’re just beginning to scratch the surface as there are a LOT of interesting things to consider for the Bruins going forward as well as some tough decisions that will have to be made. For starters, it’s time for the organization to reevaluate their “core”. The days of Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci, Rask, that remaining identity from the teams cup run from over a decade ago is no longer the core Don Sweeney and the rest of management should be fixated on. Part of that has to do with David Krejci and Tuukka Rask becoming UFA’s this summer. With that in mind, was game 6 at the Coliseum both of their last games in a B’s sweater?
For Tuukka, I would say it was and that’s not because he hasn’t been good for Boston. Bruins fans have a ridiculous tendency to blame Tuukka when things go wrong, not to mention were harassing him for leaving the team in playoffs last year to tend to a family matter. That on top of how everything else has played out, I think he’s going to hit free agency and take a nice payday somewhere else, potentially with the team that drafted him in Toronto. David Krejci is the tougher decision because the Bruins don’t really have any other options in the system for a number two center. Not to mention the Bruins don’t have the success they’ve had over the years without him. You can talk about that top line and other big name guys all you want but Krejci was the secret weapon there. If I’m Boston, I’m not comfortable with it but they have committed to Charlie Coyle long term, wouldn’t be surprised if they look to move him to that second line center spot and Krejci finds a new home with a large paycheck as well.
Next up on the upcoming UFA list for Boston is Taylor Hall. Hall was one of the most praised and talked about trade deadline pickups. Hall has basically spent the last couple seasons on one year deals for big money with not so great teams and has finally landed somewhere he likes. With said big money from previous teams in his pocket, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a discount to stay with Boston. He’s already mentioned that he’s happy playing for this team and if Boston moves on from Krejci, Rask and their other UFA’s, they should have plenty of cap space to keep Taylor Hall in town.
As for the rest of the UFA’s, the Bruins are at risk of losing Jaro Halak, Kevan Miller, Mike Reilly, Jarred Tinordi, Sean Kuraly, Gregg Mckegg and a few others. I don’t really see Don Sweeney doing much to try to keep any of them except for maybe Mike Reilly. Trent Federic, Ondrej Kase, Karson Kuhlman, Jack Studnicka, Jakob Zboril and Urho Vaakainanen are all younger guys who could be ready for more consistent roles. One of the biggest questions and concerns for Boston is if they move on from Rask and Halak, will they look to bring in another goalie or are they ready to trust Jeremy Swayman who looked solid in his outings in his first season with the team.
Overall, Boston isn’t going to go full rebuild and clean house but I do think this is the season they begin to shift their direction. They’re going to hold on to Bergeron and Marchand forever but expect it to become more of Pastrnak and McAvoy’s team as they look to build the next phase of their team while still trying to compete. It’ll be interesting to see how they fill in the blanks for next season, whether or not they keep certain guys and if I’m right in assuming Tuukka’s time in Beantown is done. This team will look different come next season, it’s just a matter of how different.
Chris Feldman
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