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Thirty-two video games into the 2023-24 season, the Boston Bruins are sitting on prime of the Atlantic Division standings, 4 factors forward of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. After an offseason of turnover with the roster and the retirements of centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, it’s shocking the place they’re in the standings.
There have been some surprises with the manufacturing and total play of some gamers, primarily the brand new ones added final summer time and naturally, Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have been excellent between the pipes. Despite sitting at 19-7-6, there have been some Bruins who’ve been disenchanted this season and if they’ll have success heading into the New Year, they’ll want these gamers to step up.
Hampus Lindholm
Last season when the Bruins started the season minus Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm took over because the Black and Gold’s prime defenseman. He excelled in all conditions, he completed with 10 objectives and a career-high 43 assists in 80 video games. He additionally completed with an astonishing plus/minus of plus-49. He was an underrated participant outdoors of Boston.
This season has not been, properly, good for the previous Anaheim Ducks blue liner. Stats-wise, he has only one purpose and 6 assists taking part in in all 32 video games. The concern has been his total play in all three zones, a few of his decision-making, and puck administration. He’s not alone in that, however Boston wants extra from him.
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He is on tempo for a career-high in penalty minutes, however the Black and Gold want extra from him, particularly offensively. He confirmed final season that he can produce and the Bruins want that following the three-day Holiday break.
Matt Grzelcyk
Like McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk missed the start of the 2022-23 season recovering from an off-season surgery and the harm bug has obtained to him once more this season. He has missed 12 video games, together with the final two towards the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild on the highway. When he has been in the lineup, he has struggled like Lindholm.
He has one purpose offensively and he has by no means been considered an enormous offensive man, however the 5-foot-10, 185-pound left-shot has struggled with what has been a power of his all through his profession after taking part in at Boston University, it’s being puck-moving defenseman. If there was a difficulty that Boston’s protection has had this season, it’s been getting the puck out of the defensive finish and their breakouts. It’s all not Grzelcyk’s fault, however when he has been in the lineup, he has struggled. He is in a contract season and what his future holds in his hometown metropolis stays to be seen, however by means of 20 video games this season, this has been some of the disappointing begins to a season he has had.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Signed to a one-year, $1 million cut price free agent contract, Kevin Shattenkirk was introduced in as a substitute for Connor Clifton, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres. In the final three seasons, he was with the Ducks, however regardless of being on a workforce in a rebuild, he had three good seasons in Anaheim. This season, he’s struggled in Boston on the underside pairing.
In 26 video games he had two objectives and eight factors with a minus-3. Combined the final two seasons with the Ducks, he had 12 objectives and 50 assists, together with 23 final season. He has been inconsistent at instances and with the Bruins forwards struggling, second-year head coach Jim Montgomery wants extra from him as a veteran. His play in the defensive finish has been shaky at instances this season and he has discovered himself as a scratch on some nights. He did play properly on the primary energy play unit in McAvoy’s absence recently, however he must be higher in all three zones.
Honorable Mentions
Jake DeBrusk is one other candidate who may have very simply made this checklist, nonetheless, my colleague Brendan Share-Cohen not too long ago touched on his struggles in a contract season. Recently Charlie Coyle has struggled producing and on the face-off dot at instances, whereas extra might be gotten from Brad Marchand. I’m not suggesting that they’ve underperformed this season, however not too long ago through the Bruins struggles, Boston and Montgomery may use extra from them.
Despite their December struggles, Boston is ready up for one more postseason berth this season because the league creeps towards the midway factors in a few weeks, however there are actually some members of the Black and Gold who’re underperforming and want to show issues round.
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