(Photo Credit: James Guillory/Imagn Images)

By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones

The Boston Bruins struggled last season primarily due to the team’s inability to generate looks consistently, dictate the pace of play in the opponent’s zone, and finish chances. David Pastrnak factored in on nearly half of Boston’s total goals. The winger put up 106 points, and the Bruins as a team mustered 222 goals last year.

Boston cannot afford to have Pastrnak drive that much of their offensive output. It is too easy for opponents to key in on one player and focus on stymying the line he is on.

If the Bruins want a bounce-back campaign, they must elicit consistent offensive production from other players. Here are a few skaters who must be a focal part of Boston’s attack in 2025-2026.

Following Up a Career Year

Morgan Geekie was the only other Bruins player to exceed 50 points, posting career highs with 33 goals and 24 assists. While he might not hit those numbers again, his mentality must not waver as he rides the waves of an NHL season.

He was one of the few Boston players last year who was not shy about shooting from any and all angles. Especially playing with Pastrnak, who routinely draws opponents’ attention, Geekie took advantage of the open ice often left vacant.

It is fair to believe his shooting percentage may dip below the 20s, as his career average is hovering around 14 and a half. But even if his counting stats regress slightly, his shot-first mindset must not waver. Especially if Geekie is consistently on Pastrnak’s line again this season, his rocket of a one-timer cannot be holstered for too long.

Activating the D-Men

Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm’s absence for a good chunk of the year mightily shook up the Bruins’ defensive unit. If those two can return to their former selves, Boston will have a more stable and productive back end.

While both have had problems handling the puck in their own end in recent years, McAvoy and Lindholm have proven skillful in the offensive zone. If both defensemen trust their instincts, can skate the puck end to end, and execute seam passes, the Bruins’ offense will receive a key kick-start.

Bounce-Back Candidates

Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha will both need to be bigger focal points of Boston’s offense this season. Both ended with 47 points. It was Zacha’s first year in Boston without putting up at least 57. And Lindholm did not find his scoring touch until the end of the season.

Either the Bruins’ top line will be shuffling throughout the year with these two, or one of them will consistently not be playing with Pastrnak. A second line could be Zacha skating with Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson. If so, Zacha’s offensive mind and play-making ability must elevate to help generate looks and scores. And Mittelstadt and Arvidson must work to find chemistry and take some of the scoring load off Pastrnak’s shoulders.

For the Bruins’ offense to be better this season, it will not just come from one player having an increase in total points from the season before. With the opponents every night looking to key in on Pastrnak, that will lead to more open space when he is out there and not going up against the other team’s best shutdown forwards and defensemen when he rests on the bench. Boston’s other skaters will have to find a way to build chemistry and bury their chances at a higher rate, or they will run into the same issues as last year.