Grading the Bruins at the Quarter mark of the season
As we sit here today at the quarter mark of the Boston Bruins abbreviated regular season, the Bruins sit atop the newly formed Eastern Division with 22 points through 14 games. Why don’t we take a moment to grade the current roster so far this season.
Forwards
Patrice Bergeron: A. The Bruins newly minted captain is tied for the team lead in points with 18 and doesn’t look like he’s close to slowing down at age 35.
Brad Marchand: A. Fully healthy entering the season Marchand has 9 goals (leads the team) and 9 helpers on the season. Tied with Bergeron for team lead in points with 18
Charlie Coyle: F. 2 goals 2 assists and a -3 on the season. A team desperate for secondary scoring you expect more production out of what should be your number 2 center. Not to mention his 6 million cap hit.
Anders Bjork: C+ Bjork has played up and down the Bruins lineup all season long having played all 14 games. Has found a nice home on the third line. I would like to see more consistent play.
Chris Wagner: C. Solid fourth line center/winger. Brings energy and toughness to this lineup. Would be nice for him to chip in a few more goals here and there, only 2 on the season.
David Krejci: B- Krejci has played well with 10 points in 14 games. Downside is he has zero goals on the season. Need to see some pucks in the net for a team not great at 5on5 goal scoring.
Nick Ritchie: B+ To start the season Bruce Cassidy inserted Ritchie on the number one power play unit. He’s answered with 4 PP goals. 5 total goals on the season. Coming from someone I thought would never produce anything this season, it’s a welcome site.
David Pastrnak: B. Pasta missed the first 7 games on the season due to offseason hip surgery. He has produced 5 goals in the 7 games he’s played. But 5 came over a two game period. Needs to pick up the scoring especially 5on5.
Craig Smith: D. The big free agent signing this offseason has been a disappointment so far. Five points through 13 games. I cannot stress this enough! For a team desperate for secondary scoring Smith desperately needs to pick his game up.
Sean Kuraly: C+ Solid fourth line center/wing. Great on the PK. Chipped in 2 goals on the season. C+ as a guy, A for his role.
Onderj Kase: F Kase has lived up to the hype. Came over injured, came late to the bubble for
Covid protocol, hasn’t scored one goal since he’s joined the team, and once again is injured with a concussion. He is Not guaranteed a spot in the lineup once healthy.
Trent Frederic: C Coming into the season Frederic was on the outside looking in for a starting spot in the lineup. Thrown into the lineup game one after a Craig Smith late scratch. He’s played in every game this season. He’s Brought toughness out of the forward spot this team hasn’t seen honestly since Lucic, Thorton, Nathan Horton. He’s held his own in his fights against the hands down toughest guy in the league in Washington’s Tom Wilson.
Jake Debrusk: D- I had high expectations for Debrusk entering the season. He has since let me down. Nine games played - 2 goals. As he’s making his way back from injury we need to see the pucks hit the net. The same consistency issues that have plagued him in his career are back again this season. WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!!
INC- Jack Studnicka, par Lindholm, Karson Kuhlman, Anton Blidh
Defense
Charlie McAvoy: A- McAvoy has lived up to the billing as the Bruins new #1 defensemen. He leads the team in ice time and is 3rd on the team in points with 11. He’s developing into the superstar the Bruins need him to be, but still needs to cut down on stupid penalties.
Brandon Carlo: B Carlo has been nothing but solid for this team so far while playing all 14 games. Not known for his scoring output, he’s put in 2 goals. Solid 2nd line defensemen for this team.
Connor Clifton: C Clifton has played 7 games. He’s been solid when put in the lineup. Has been playing mostly on his offside. Seems more to be the Bruins 7th D man.
Matt Grzelcky: C Moved up to the second pairing with Brandon Carlo and thrust on the number one PP unit, Grzelcky has been solid when he’s been in the lineup. Health has been an issue so far this season only playing 6 games.
Jeremy Lauzon: C+ Playing on the first defensive pair with Charlie McAvoy, Lauzon has looked solid at times. You’re seeing why the Bruins let Chara walk in the offseason. It was time to get the rookies on the left side some meaningful playing time.
Jacob Zboril: C Another rookie thrust into the lineup with the departure of Krug and Chara. He’s found a nice home on the third line pairing with Kevan Miller.
Kevan Miller: B Playing on the third pair with Zboril, Miller doesn’t look like a guy that hasn’t played a game in 2 years. He’s brought solid defense and toughness. Leader on the defense.
INC John Moore- Played one game. He’s fucking trash. Enough said
Goalies
Tuukka Rask: B+ I had a lot of questions about Rask’s mental state entering the season. He’s seemed to answer those questions for me so far going 6-2-1 2.51 GAA on the season. Has looked like the #1 goalie the Bruins need him to be at times. Would like to see the GAA go down a little more.
Jaroslav Halak: A Halak isn’t your average number 2 goalie in the NHL. Rask has proven he cannot handle a full workload. Halak should be expected to play about have the games this season. He has been solid all season going 4-0-1 with a 1.38GAA. Solid not spectacular
Coaching
Bruce Cassidy: B We are finally starting to see Bruce start to shake things up a bit moving Pasta down to the second line to hopefully get more balanced scoring out of the top two lines. 3-12 on the PP since they’ve made the switch to the 5 forward power play unit also giving up only shorthanded goal on the season.
My expectations on the season hasn’t changed. This team should make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unless this team adds at the deadline they don’t have enough talent to make it back to the Stanley cup finals.
