By: Theo Lander | Follow me on Twitter @lander_theo
With the litany of roster changes the Bruins have endured over this off-season, there has been an abundance of question marks surrounding how the lines should be organized. The return of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci has given the Bruins some stability down the middle, but the players on the wing and the blue line could be synergized any which way.
While some fans seemingly wanted to get the duck boats ready at Bergeron and Krejci’s return, the celebrations may be premature. The first few months look troublesome for this Bruins team, with Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelyck missing time to recover from surgeries. That leaves the team in a tough spot, as the lineup was thin as it was before those subtractions. In light of this development, fans wonder how head coach Jim Montgomery will jumble the lines to create the most cohesive unit possible.
Thankfully for Jim, I have stepped in to make the tough choices for him so he can go sightseeing to get more familiar with Beantown in the meantime. Here’s how I would set the lines to start the year while this team gets its health in order.
Offense
First Line
Our top line will feature Patrice Bergeron down the middle. This is a no-brainer, as he is fresh off of what some are calling one of the best defensive seasons for a forward in NHL history. Don’t let his age scare you; the reigning Selke winner still has a lot left in the tank; he’ll command this top line handily. His offensive production has not waned since earning the “C,” and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
To replace Brad Marchand, we have Taylor Hall sliding in on the left wing. Hall has performed decently since coming to Boston, and one would have to imagine that top-line minutes will only help his production. Perhaps playing alongside Bergeron to begin the year will give him a jump start akin to his previous MVP campaign.
Jake DeBrusk may come as a surprise to some in this spot. DeBrusk has played at his best when paired with Patrice, in complete contrast to his underwhelming play when given second or third-line minutes. He’s the type of player who needs to be given top-line responsibility in order to flourish. If he isn’t given that opportunity, you risk having him resort to his streaky tendencies. As far as cheap top-six forwards go, he has a lot of upside in this role and should be taken seriously.
Second Line
Team Czech will be the preferred second line to start the year. David Krejci returning after his year-long hiatus may come out slow out the gate. What better way to aid him in this process than pair him up with Boston’s most dynamic player in David Pastrnak? The pair have loved playing together in the past, and the numbers certainly reflect that. Having Pastrnak on the second line also allows the Bruins to spread their talent out among the four forward lines. This is crucial, as depth is an issue across the board for this team.
Pavel Zacha will get the privilege of punching above his own weight due to the Marchand injury, with Hall moving up to the top line. While Zacha is a historically streaky scorer, he’ll be put in an ideal scenario alongside his countrymen, who are likely to put up a plethora of points. With depth and injuries at the forefront of the Bruin’s issues, sometimes these tough decisions must be made. Note that Craig Smith would fit in this spot over Zacha, but I am anticipating that he will be dealt before the season begins to relieve the team of cap issues.
Third Line
Former South Shore Kings teammates will reunite on the third line in Charlie Coyle and Chris Wagner. Coyle’s physical presence is much needed for this somewhat undersized Bruins forward group. Wagner is a constant threat to force turnovers on the forecheck, and Coyle is sublime when it comes to maintaining possession for extended periods of time in the offensive zone. That’s a deadly combination that would cause fits for any bottom-six group in the league. They’ve played together in the past for Boston and found success, and they’ll need to replicate that early in the season so this team can keep its head above water.
While many won’t be thrilled to see Foligno in this spot, it will be difficult to move him due to his contract, so Boston may just be stuck with him. If that’s the case, I’d prefer him to have third-line minutes over some of the less experienced candidates featured on the fourth line. Who knows, his pairing with Coyle and Wagner could reignite that former playstyle that had Bruins fans excited to have him in the first place.
Fourth Line
The fourth line has a little bit of everything. Youthful energy, physicality, and decent scoring ability for a bottom line. Studnicka has impressed much of the fanbase thus far, and I feel like this 23-year-old is ready to make the jump to the NHL full-time.
Frederic has been somewhat frustrating, given his draft position relative to his actual NHL production. Nevertheless, he’s a significant presence that this Bruins team needs and still has the potential to evolve into a full-time NHL talent. For that reason, I like the idea of giving him a trial run on the fourth line to start the year.
Nosek will provide some much-needed veteran leadership for this line. His production numbers are slightly lower than Foligno’s, which explains why he’s in this spot, but that also leaves open the possibility of those two switching around if adjustments must be made. This line is versatile, with the ability to play the game in many ways. It’s precisely what you’re looking for in a fourth line.
Defense
Top-Pairing
The defense is where this injured squad gets even dicier. Lindholm can command the top pairing, although he’s much better when he has a sidekick that can play above his level (enter Charlie McAvoy).
As far as replacements go, Brandon Carlo is a solid choice. He’s an established top-four defenseman whose game has developed well over recent years. I am concerned about Carlo’s ability to remain healthy, however. If he goes down, the Bruin’s blueline becomes deadly thin.
Second-Pairing
Connor Clifton is not ready for top four minutes, but he’ll have to do for this first part of the season. He fits well as a third-pairing defenseman, so this team better pray that’ll translate well into this more established role.
Perhaps his partner Derek Forbort can provide some veteran leadership in this scenario. They have experience playing together, so I think it’s best to stick with that already established chemistry in this scenario. Regardless, this second pairing is a blackeye on this team and something to keep an eye on as this season progresses.
Third-Pairing
Mike Reilly has some offensive upside as a bottom-pairing defenseman and should do fine in this role. If not for his durability issues, perhaps he would be slotted in the second pairing. However, with the defensive unit being thin as it is, the Bruins can’t afford to lose yet another body early on this year. For that reason, Reilly should have bottom pairing minutes to prevent him from being overworked.
Jakub Zboril is a product of the fabled 2015 draft class, and yes, it is hard to type that sentence with my eyes rolled all the into the back of my head. However, it would be this season if there were ever a time for him to shine and realize his potential. The Bruins desperately need him to perform up to expectations, and they are banking on him to do so. I think he matches up well with Reilly, and I like the idea of both of them in the bottom pairing together. With no other clear frontrunners for his spot on this roster, the Bruins may as well put their eggs in this basket and hope for the best. Hang on for dear life, folks.
Goaltenders
Like I wrote last week, I see the Bruins splitting the 82-game schedule evenly between Swayman and Ullmark. Neither of them has been able to pull away from the other in terms of playing ability, as their numbers are near identical. Many fans are clamoring for Swayman to earn starting minutes since he is the younger of the pair, and that experience would theoretically bode well for him.
However, I believe giving him a lower workload would benefit his health and his long-term development. Especially if we’re conceding that the first few months of the season will be full of adversity, do we really want Swayman left out to dry with this shallow roster in front of him? To be honest with you, I don’t see the positive in that. Let’s take it slow with these two, and if they make the playoffs (huge if there), then the team can make the call on who played better in the regular season. Whoever that is can be your starting goalie in the postseason. There’s no reason to make this any more complicated.
The Bruins roster has some bright points but overall is woefully incomplete. Compared to more finished products in the Atlantic division, the first few months of this season will be an uphill battle. The Bruins lack depth, size, and experience, especially on defense. Their goaltending won’t hold them back, but the team can’t rely on them to completely bail them out as they have in years past (Hey Tuukka, it’s not too late, by the way).
All in all, lower your expectations for this team. I will change my stance if they can survive this initial stretch enough to be in decent standing when Marchand and company return. If that doesn’t come to fruition, brace yourselves for a crash landing.
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