Bruins Season Preview: Need a quick start to recover from injuries

The 2022-23 NHL season begins on October 7th. With training camps opening soon, NHL.com takes a look at the three keys, insider roster details, and prospective line-ups for each of the 32 teams. Today the Boston Bruins.

Coaches: Jim Montgomery (first season)

Last season: 51-26-5, fourth place in the Atlantic Division; lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Eastern Conference

3 KEYS

1. Reaction to the new coach Montgomery

After six seasons with Bruce Cassidy, the Bruins decided to make a move behind their bench and welcomed Jim Montgomery to his second chance at an NHL coaching job. The former Dallas Stars coach promised to improve the team’s offense, in part by getting more out of its defense, in addition to improving communication with the players. But for the change to mean anything, the Bruins will need to respond to a new voice and approach while the roster remains largely the same.

2. Start strong

The Bruins will already start the season from behind, with injuries to three crucial players: forwards Brad Marchand (both hips) and defender Charlie McAvoy (left shoulder) and Matt Grzelcyk (right shoulder). Grzelcyk is due to return in November, with Marchand and McAvoy in December. The hope for the Bruins is that they remain competitive while also taking a look at the prospects before Grzelcyk, McAvoy and Marchand return.

3. Find impetus

The Bruins were offensively midfield last season (15th in the NHL, 3.09 goals per game) and without top scorer Marchand (80 points) will have to find goals elsewhere to start the season. Will Jake DeBrusk keeping up the pace he found last season when he got a chance to skate with Marchand and Patrice Bergeron and scored 25 goals? Will David Krejci return directly to the NHL, where he left after a year in his native Czech Republic? Will Paul Zacha find a home in Boston and improve on the numbers he put up with the New Jersey Devils? At least one of these options must be met in order for them to remain near the tip of the Atlantic.

Video: NHL Tonight on Bruins signings

roster overview

make the cut

With the most significant injuries at the start of the season, the Bruins have a few spots up for grabs. Instead of the usual Marchand-Bergeron pairing, Montgomery could choose to pair Bergeron with someone like a prospect Fabian Lysel to give them the best possible chance to impress from the start. They also need someone to take McAvoy’s place Hampus Lindholm (probably Brandon Carlo), an opportunity for Jakub Zboril. There’s no question that the Bruins’ lineup will be in flux as the season begins.

The most interesting addition

Zacha never quite used his draft slot after being picked #6 by the Devils in the 2015 NHL draft. A fresh start could do the striker good. Zacha, one of five Czech players with the Bruins, was acquired in a trade for Center Eric Hala on July 14 and signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract on August 8 as a restricted free agent. He’s off a career-high with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) and could get a chance to play at the top six with a highly skilled center, possibly as an audition to replace either Bergeron or Krejci down the line .

Biggest potential surprise

It would be asking a lot of Lysell to make the leap from the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants to the NHL at 19, but the Bruins have liked what they’ve seen of the forward in his short stint in North America. He has 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 games and has shown himself to be a dynamic attacking player that the Bruins could use. Could he make the leap like Pastrnak did in 2014-15 despite needing to build some strength and size? It’s on the table.

Ready to break through

This could be Zboril’s chance to prove the doubters wrong. Before tearing his ACL in December and ending his season, he had begun to show flashes of ability that led the Bruins to pick him 13th in the 2015 NHL draft. With McAvoy and Grzelcyk out there will be plenty of minutes for the defender early in the season and Zboril should be called on frequently.

fantasy sleeper

Lindholm, D (Fantasy Average Draft Position: 145.8) – He will likely make contact with Boston’s elite forwards, at least in the short term David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron on the first power play and should benefit from the eventual return of Charlie McAvoy (shoulder surgery) on top defense, making Lindholm a fantasy sleeper to continue his high-scoring NHL career to date (34 with Anaheim Ducks in 2014) could destroy -fifteen). – Pete Jensen

PLANNED PLACEMENT

Taylor Hall — David Krejci — David Pastrnak

Pavel Zacha Patrice Bergeron Jake DeBrusk

Trento Frederic — Charlie Coyle — CraigSmith

Nick Foligno — Thomas Nasek — Marc McLaughlin

Hampus Lindholm—Brandon Carlo

Mike Reilly – Jakub Zboril

Derek Forbort — Connor Clifton

Jeremy Swayman

Linus Ullmark

Hurt: Brad Marchand (Hip), Charlie McAvoy (Shoulder), Matt Grzelcyk (Shoulder)