By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
We’re closing in on the halfway point of the preseason, and the opening night roster for the 2024-25 iteration of the Boston Bruins is starting to take shape. The defensive pairs seem squared away; the first line is obvious, but one area that hasn’t been determined yet: the bottom six.
General Manager Don Sweeney made it clear at the start of training camp that he wants this year’s Bruins to be more aggressive, physically imposing, and play with more possessions. “I believe that we can forecheck a little bit better,” said Sweeney, adding that he wants to see his squad “forecheck further up the ice and check away from our net.”
The easiest way to establish a better forecheck is to employ certain types of players. These include skaters with larger frames, good speed, and the ability to hold onto pucks and maintain possession. Boston now has a litany of guys that fit that profile, and they’re all battling for spots on the third and fourth lines.
We won’t know the exact makeup of the second line until later in camp, but it’s safe to assume Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie will take up two spots on line three. Depending on where Matt Poitras and Fabian Lysell end up, there can be a MAX of only four spots available in the bottom six. Here are the players that I believe are battling to earn those spots:
Mark Kastelic
Age: 25
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 226lbs
Stats: 5-5-10 in 63 games
The least flashy part of Linus Ullmark’s return is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Boston for his heavy forechecking and rugged play. The big-bodied Kastelic has put on a puck possession clinic thus far throughout training camp, using his size and strength to ward off defenders and keep plays alive low in the offensive zone. He’s strong in the faceoff dot (career 56.3 percent), has soft hands that allow him to finish around the net (see the clip below), and has shown tangible chemistry with sophomore center Johnny Beecher (also on this list).
When you look at Katselic’s advanced stats from last year, they highlight why Don Sweeney made him a priority in the Ullmark trade. The former Senator spent most of his season skating in a bottom-six role alongside Boris Katchouk and Parker Kelly. Among all Ottawa Senators lines that skated together for 105.5 minutes, Kastelic’s trio ranked first in expected goals percentage and expected goals against on the team. They ranked second in shot attempt differential and shots on goal per 60.
For all of you who hate stats, it means when Kastelic is on the ice, the puck spends most of its time down the other end of the ice. He added a goal in last night’s loss to the Rangers, and it looks like he’s won a spot on the fourth line.
Johnny Beecher
Age: 23
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 216lbs
Stats: 7-3-10 in 52 games
Beecher burst onto the scene last season, earning a spot with the Bruins after fighting off several more established for a place on the fourth line. His rookie year wasn’t without flaws, as he was sent down for an extended stretch during the middle of the season before returning late in the year and earning a spot on the playoff roster. Beecher is a year older and seems poised to cement himself in the bottom six.
Beecher is one of, if not THE fastest skater on the Bruins. According to NHLEdge, the Elmira, NY native ranks in the 97th percentile of all NHL skaters with a top speed of 23.64 mph. He was also one of the better defensive forwards on the Bruins last season, finishing first in shot blocks per 60 and shot attempts against and third in expected goals against. Combine that speed and defensive prowess with his build and tenacity, and you will have a recipe for an ideal bottom-six forward.
Beecher has shown excellent chemistry with Kastelic, and both fans and the team are excited to see what he can do in his second NHL season.
Max Jones
Age: 26
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 216lbs
Stats: 5-10-15 in 52 games
There’s a lot to like about Max Jones, which is why Don Sweeney prioritized him on Day One of free agency following Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. The former first-round pick looks the part, standing at an imposing 6’3″, but his speed raises eyebrows. Jones ranks in the 84th percentile of all NHL skaters, with a top speed of 22.96 mph. When it comes to speed bursts over 20 mph, he finished in the 81st percentile.
Jones described his game as ‘hair on fire’ during the first day of free agency, and there’s no reason to think he can’t bring that kind of energy to Boston. In addition to his raw tools, he’s also one of the NHL’s better forecheckers. During 2023-24, Jones finished with 7.62 forecheck pressures per 60 and 4.57 recovered dump-ins per 60. Simply put, Jones pins his ears back, hunts opposing defensemen below their goal line, and finds a way to cause chaos.
Fans haven’t seen much of him due to an injury early in camp, but as the preseason rolls on, they’ll quickly become fans of Jones’ game.
Justin Brazeau
Age: 25
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 220lbs
Stats: 5-2-7 in 19 games
Brazeau is an interesting candidate for bottom-six forward because his game doesn’t translate to that kind of role. He has the size and build to fit the bill, but his offensive game is more refined, and his finish around the net leads some to believe he can be more. Brazeau doesn’t play the punishing physical game or rugged style that fans have come to expect out of the bottom of their team’s roster.
Brazeau is a much more gifted scorer than some of the other players mentioned on this list. He scored an impressive goal in last year’s game-one win against the Florida Panthers and assisted on Hampus Lindholm’s game-tying goal in Boston’s game-seven victory against Toronto. I would argue that Brazeau is more suited for a top-nine role than one on the fourth line, but that doesn’t mean he can’t earn a roster spot.
If the hulking forward can win more board battles and play a more assertive physical game, he’ll inject himself directly into the heart of this bottom-six battle.
Trevor Kuntar
Age: 23
Height: 6′
Weight: 205lbs
Stats: 10-10-20 in 70 games (AHL)
Kuntar is one of my favorite Bruins to watch simply because of how he plays the game. Every time he’s on the ice, there seems to be some kind of mischief taking place, whether that be a net-front scrum, behind-the-play tussle, or just a straight-up fight. His size, build, and play style are reminiscent of a young Brad Marchand; he may be undersized, but he has the heart of a lion.
At just 23 years old, the Bruins may see Kuntar as more of a long-term solution for the position. He played his first pro season with Providence last year, and the organization may feel like he would benefit from more time refining the details of his game before giving him a full-time role with the bug club.
Either way, Kuntar is someone to watch this preseason and the kind of guy that will be a fan favorite sooner rather than later.
Riley Duran
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 174lbs
Stats: 2-2-4 in 11 games (AHL)
Riley Duran has spent the majority of training camp skating alongside Mark Kastelic and Johnny Beecher, and he’s risen to the occasion thus far. The Woburn, MA native plays a simple, straightforward game that has translated well to the pro level. He may be slightly undersized, but when you look at the play style of most successful fourth-line forwards in this league, Duran’s game has all the hallmarks that allow him to fit the bill.
Duran is even younger than Kuntar and still hasn’t played an entire AHL season. He’s closer than most talent evaluators predicted at this point in his young career. Still, I strongly believe he would benefit from increased ice time and extra minutes in the minors before making his debut in Boston. He may not have a ton of flash to his game, but there are still some areas he can refine to make him an even better pro when, not if, he arrives.
Look for Duran to stick throughout most of training camp and be one of the team’s call-ups if injuries become an issue in Boston.
Riley Tufte
Age: 26
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 230lbs
Stats: 23-22-45 in 67 games
Riley Tufte is absolutely massive. 6’6″, 230lbs doesn’t leave much to the imagination, but until you see him in person, you don’t appreciate how big he truly is. Tufte was taken several picks after Max Jones in the first round of the 2016 draft, and although he hasn’t reached the lofty aspirations his draft team expected of him, he has gotten better every year he’s been a pro.
Tufte’s best season came last year for the Colorado Eagles, where he scored 23 goals and 45 in 67 games in the AHL. He also earned a short stint with the Avalanche before last season ended, proving he can play in the NHL. Tufte is more of a Brazeau than a Jones, with a nice scoring touch and noticeable finesse without the grit and sandpaper.
Tufte’s been noticeable in camp and scored goals in both the intrasquad scrimmage and the team’s second preseason game. I feel like he’s on the outside looking in, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make a last-ditch effort to make the roster.
Honorable Mentions:
Cole Koepke and Vinni Lettieri have had solid camps, and both have played up in the lineup at various points throughout the past several weeks. I feel like they’re both Providence players to start the season, but that doesn’t mean they won’t fight until the end to try and earn a spot with Boston.
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