(Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
By: Lucas Pearson | Follow Me On Twitter @lucaspearson_
New Year, new me, right? It’s that time of year where we all get those year-long gym memberships and give up in February. I thought it would be a cool idea to take a look at what each player might be looking to improve in the New Year. If you want to read a great piece by BNG writer Evan Michael about the New Year’s resolutions for the Bruins as a whole, check that out here!
Patrice Bergeron– Health. We all know Bergeron is a warrior and will play through almost anything but man has his body taken a toll. Bergeron is a close to a perfect man as anyone in the world, all he can wish is to stay healthy.
( Photo Credit: NHL.com )
Colby Cave– A true Bruin moment. Cave has gotten his fair share of hate this season from the Bruins’ faithful, while some Bruins (Debrusk etc) have become fan favorites because of goals, blocked shots, fights and other moments. It would be great for Cave to have a big moment like that to cement himself a role with the team and the fans.
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson– A consistent top 9 spot. It’s been an up and down year for JFK, he was probably the front-runner to take the vacant third line center spot in pre-season but failed to take that spot. After starting the year in Providence, he was given a shot with the big club and was on and off. It seems Cassidy has liked what the young Swede has done recently as he’s giving him a shot on the 2nd line for the Winter Classic.
David Krejci– Be able to play with any winger. We know what Krejci can do with great wingers, he played incredible when filling in for Bergeron on the top line. Now it’s time for Krejci to show that he can play great with whatever winger he’s put on a line with.
( Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images )
Sean Kuraly– Another huge goal to showcase the Kura-leap. You just love to see it.
Noel Acciari– A consistent role on the 4th line. While he brings his physicality every game, the offense is rarely there. With a healthy team, I think he should always be the odd man out if he can get more ice time, that will be a successful 2019 for Acciari.
David Backes– A great performance in the playoffs. In his time with St. Louis, Backes excelled in the playoffs. He’s the hard-nosed player everybody wants to have on their team. A couple of big goals, big hits, and big fights in the playoffs would be great for Backes and the Bruins.
Jake DeBrusk– No more concussions. The last thing any young player wants is a history of head injuries. Here’s to hoping DeBrusk can dial in and stay healthy for the rest of the year (and his career.)
( Photo Credit: Boston Globe )
Ryan Donato– Find a way into the top 6, stay there, and score goals. We’ve all seen what Donato can do, he’s had a lot of moments where he looks like a bonafide 30 goal scorer, we’ve also seen moments where he seems lost and weak on the puck. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy doesn’t seem to have a ton of faith in the kid but if he gets a shot with 46 or 37, he needs to take it and run.
Danton Heinen– Same as Colby Cave, a true Bruin moment. He was a great surprise last season but the start of the 2018 has been a mess for Heinen. He’s been all over the lineup but has yet to have a big moment for the Bruins, look for that to happen in the new year.
Brad Marchand– No more suspensions. He can still be a goal scoring pest without dishing out any elbows or slew-foots. As long as he sticks to getting points and licking, he’ll be good to go.
Joakim Nordstrom– A little more luck. Nordstrom is one Bruin that always gives his all every single shift he’s out there. There’s not much to dislike with what he brings to the table, maybe a couple more bounces go his way and his great season will start showing up on the stat sheet.
David Pastrnak– There’s not much more a 22-year-old point per game player could wish for, maybe a Rocket Richard?
( Mandatory Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports )
Chris Wagner– For him and his line to become the new Merlot Line. That is a high task as the trio of Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton, and Daniel Paille will go down in Bruins history but I see a lot of that line in Wagner.
Brandon Carlo– Get a little bit tougher. Carlo has looked great this year, I see a lot more tenacity and toughness out of him than the past. He needs to keep using his 6’5 frame and continue to amp up the grit in his game.
Zdeno Chara– Another picture just like the one above. There’s not much more the man can do, going out on top would be an incredible way to end his career.
Matt Grzelcyk– To get consistent top 4 minutes like he deserves. He’s been the unsung hero for the Bruins this season. I don’t know how many times I’ve been “wowed” by how much ice time he can take and his vision on defense may be the best on the team, he deserves a lot more recognition than he gets and a spot in the top 4 would be well deserved.
Steven Kampfer– A game in the playoffs. He’s done above and beyond what most thought he would bring to the team. A cherry on the top would be to find his way into the lineup in the playoffs and play well.
Torey Krug– Health in the playoffs. The theme of health continues. Krug had a great first rookie playoff but has been banged up in the past two seasons. A healthy postseason would be huge for the offensive D-man.
( Photo Credit: ESPN.com )
Charlie McAvoy– HEALTH, he has been banged up all year. For the Bruins to succeed (and for McAvoy to get paid this summer) the young defenseman needs to stay healthy for the rest of the season. He’s an important member of the defensive core and these first few years of his career are huge in his development as an NHL player.
Kevan Miller– No more injuries. As the most physical guy on the Bruins, he’s taken a lot. He’s improved his puck skills a ton as well, everything you want in your number six defenseman he just needs to stay healthy.
John Moore– To stay in the lineup. I think Moore should be the odd man out when every Bruin is healthy but he has proven he can do a lot on the back-end. We’ve yet to see a fully healthy team so Moore should do a little more (haha) than he has been to keep a spot in the top six.
Jaroslav Halak– Start a playoff game. How great for Halak would it be to come into a backup role and play so well that he’s able to steal a start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs from a bonafide starter like Tuukka Rask
Tuukka Rask– Win a Stanley Cup, as the starter. There’s not much more Rask can do to shut up all of his haters, this would certainly do the trick.
( Photo Credit: NHL.com )
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