By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The second defensive pairing for the Boston Bruins was one that stood out late in the season. It’s a beautiful thing when a team finds a smart, intuitive defender to pair with a physical, and at times chaotic, partner. It’s important that the Bruins maintain strong positioning while tapping further into their physicality.
That will be a key dynamic down the stretch for a team that struggled with loose structure in its own zone last season. A Nikita Zadorov–Henri Jokiharju second pairing could be on track to build on their initial success.
Zadorov played in 81 games last season for the Bruins and finished with a team-best plus-minus of +25, for whatever that’s worth. The dynamics of a stat like that feels like a contributing part of the picture, as Zadorov was often either clearing out opponents at the net-front or away from the play entirely.
Was that approach universally effective? That’s not so clear, which is why the plus-minus stat will continue to be debated. Either way, Zadorov brought the physicality the Bruins are always looking for more of, and he showed accountability to his teammates after the whistles.
The team-wide approach this season fits Zadorov and his progression, calling on him to lean into his physicality only after ensuring he’s in the right spots. He’s a defender who already embraces physicality in front of his own net, and that’s something he can instill in the other defensive pairings. This is a defender built for playoff brutality, which is valuable whether the team makes it that far this season or not.
Jokiharju, although a shorter defender at 6-foot, played surprisingly well with the Bruins after being dealt from the Buffalo Sabres. Again, his creativity and intelligence, which justify his size, provides a safe foundation for Zadorov to play his game.
Viewers quickly identified Jokiharju as the type of defender who isn’t always noticeable, but for all the right reasons. He’ll be a solid part of the defense-to-offense transition the team expects to execute with more pace and precision.
This should factor into the power play unit at some point as well, relying on his vision to execute break-ins more effectively than last season. Jokiharju has a lot on his plate this season considering all these different elements, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it. He definitely has a chance to be the next undervalued player the Bruins recognize and develop.
All in all, this second defensive pairing should give the Bruins more confidence heading into the season. Yes, there will be plenty of weaknesses to address after a brief system restart, but this defensive foundation should contribute to at least a few more wins than expected.
After all, the Bruins are prioritizing cleanup in their own zone as the first step in their improvements, and this defensive core could be what jump-starts things. Although the team as a whole may not stack up well against some of the league’s most talented rosters, these first two defensive pairings will.
Check out my other Bruins Defensive Pairing Breakdowns in this offseason series below as I continue to give my thoughts on the potential 2025-26 regular season lineup. Thanks in advance!
1. https://blackngoldhockey.com/2025/08/bruins-line-breakdown-first-defensive-pairing-analysis/
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