By: Matthew Lemear | Follow Me on X @Mlemear331
One thing that Boston Bruins fans look forward to every season is the fan voting for the annual 7th-Player Award. This award is presented each season to the player who most exceeds fan expectations. Additionally, one fan who participates in the voting and casts their vote for the winner is randomly selected to receive a prize. Last year’s winner was forward Trent Frederic.
The 7th-Player Award is presented in a ceremony before one of the final home games of the season and is a celebration beloved by fans, as the decision on the winner is entirely theirs. This award is unique because it can be given to anyone; superstars and team role players have received the honor in past seasons. With 25 games remaining in the regular season, fan voting time is quickly approaching; who will you choose?
Many of the 7th-Player Award’s previous winners are players whose style of play resonated with the fanbase and are credited with helping create and foster what it means to be a Boston Bruin. There is an exclusive club of only six players who have won the award more than once, and even more exclusively, only two players have won the award in back-to-back seasons.
Notable previous winners:
- Ray Bourque (1979/1980)
- Randy Burridge x 2 (1985/1986, 1988/1989)
- Cam Neely x 2 (1986/1987, 1993/1994)
- Don Sweeney (1992/1993)
- Joe Thornton (1999/2000)
- Bill Guerin x 2 (2000/2001, 2001/2002)
- Andrew Raycroft (2003/2004)
- Tim Thomas x2 (2005/2006, 2006/2007)
- Milan Lucic (2007/2008)
- Brad Marchand x 2 (2010/2011, 2015/2016)
- David Pastrnak x 2 (2014/2015, 2016/2017
- Trent Frederic (2023/2024)
National Hockey League players often face intense criticism from their fans. Although fans can sometimes be a source of frustration and may serve as harsh critics, players genuinely appreciate winning the 7th-Player Award. This award signifies that fans recognize and value the players’ above-and-beyond efforts. Last year, Trent Frederic emphasized the significance of winning this award and expressed his gratitude for the recognition.
After reviewing the award’s history, let’s discuss some early favorites for this season. Although unmet expectations and frustrations have largely characterized the Bruins’ season, several players have played well enough to deserve this award. Who will be the next name to join the prestigious list?
Morgan Geekie has emerged as a standout player for the Bruins this season. Like much of the team, he had a slow start, but over the past month or two, Geekie has really found his stride while playing alongside David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. As the post-4 Nations portion of the season begins on Saturday, Geekie has tallied 17 goals and 12 assists, totaling 29 points. Notably, he has stepped up at a time when Bruins fans were beginning to lose hope for the season.
At blackandgoldhockey.com, we’ve frequently highlighted Joonas Korpisalo as a player who has exceeded expectations. Korpisalo has proven to be a reliable backup goaltender for the Bruins this season, in which expectations of the goaltender were low. In 19 games played, Korpisalo has achieved a record of nine wins, six losses, and two overtime or shootout losses. His save percentage stands at .892, and he has a goals-against average of 2.86. Korpisalo has also delivered some clutch performances, particularly following the Bruins’ losses.
A potential dark horse candidate for the 7th-Player Award is young defenseman Mason Lohrei. While Lohrei has faced some growing pains as a full-time player in the NHL, he has also demonstrated notable improvements in his decision-making, particularly when it comes to jumping up into the offensive play. So far this season, Lohrei has recorded three goals and 20 assists, totaling 23 points in 52 games. Lohrei also has 32 hits and 63 blocked shots. Even Charlie McAvoy knows that Lohrei is a stud who will be great at the NHL level.
One player who has quietly had a decent season is forward Justin Brazeau. After his strong performance at the end of last season and in the playoffs, fans unfairly expected more from the second-year player and became frustrated with his slow start. However, Brazeau has recorded ten goals and ten assists, totaling 20 points for the season. While yes, he spent a significant amount of time playing alongside Lindholm and Marchand and could be sporting better numbers, those players have not performed up to expectations this season; if they had, Brazeau would likely be a shoo-in for the award. Also, it’s important to remember that Brazeau is still in only his second year at the NHL level and has proven to be a reliable player for the Bruins.
The early favorite to win this season’s 7th-Player Award is Mark Kastelic. Kastelic joined the Boston Bruins from Ottawa as part of the Linus Ullmark trade this past offseason. Initially, fans were unsure what to expect from this relatively unknown player. However, he made an immediate impact, helping to make the Bruins’ fourth line the team’s best at the start of the season. Currently, Kastelic has scored four goals and provided nine assists, totaling 13 points. Additionally, and possibly more importantly, he has accumulated 86 penalty minutes, consistently standing up for his teammates by challenging tough opponents to fisticuffs. Kastelic has quickly become a fan favorite in Boston.
Fans, do you agree with these candidates for the 7th-Player Award? Is there someone you believe is more deserving? At this point in the season, I don’t see any candidates who stand out more than those listed. However, it’s important to note that someone could emerge after the break and go on an impressive streak, inserting themselves into consideration for the award. In fact, that would be a welcome development for the team and fans alike.
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