By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
When the Boston Bruins finalize a roster for opening night on October 8th, General Manager Don Sweeney and new Head Coach Marco Sturm will have their fair share of options for the bottom six. From a youth-infused, speed-focused group to a veteran-heavy unit, there are endless options to round out the Bruins’ forward group. Today, I predict what the third and fourth lines will look like for the season opener in Washington.
With nearly 15 possible players to fill six lineup spots and one or two extra forward roles, the combination of forwards is likely to change almost weekly based on performance. Ahead of the free agency period opening on July 1st, the bottom six would have looked significantly different. But with the external additions, the focus has shifted to a veteran-led group.
I want to preface these predictions by saying the top six is a combination of David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt, and Viktor Arvidsson. There is the possibility that Sturm views Arvidsson as a third-line scorer, but with the current state of the roster, the 32-year-old likely finds himself in the top six.
Third Line: Tanner Jeannot – Fraser Minten – Matej Blumel
My prediction for the opening night third line is built on strength, forechecking, and youth. Jeannot, who was signed to a five-year contract to open free agency, is a 6’2”, 220-pound winger who is tough to play against. He has been among the league leaders in hits for the last four seasons, including finishing second in his rookie campaign in 2021-22. The signing may be criticized for the lack of point totals throughout his career (93 points in 294 games), but the intangibles of physicality and tenacity are welcomed. While a fourth-line role is likely better suited for him, he may be asked to play third-line minutes.
Minten appears to be ahead of Matt Poitras on the depth chart coming into this season. The Bruins acquired the 21-year-old centerman at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto. Minten appeared in six games down the stretch for the Bruins, notching a goal. His ability to play a strong two-way style earns him a look at the third-line center spot, but with his versatility, there may be a time when he shifts to the wing. For Minten, who has appeared in 25 career games, playing center is beneficial for his development.
The third-line right wing spot is certainly up for contest. I chose Blumel, who was signed to a one-year deal on July 1st and tore up the AHL last season. In 67 games with the Texas Stars, the 25-year-old had 39-33-72 and finished second in the league in scoring. The Czech forward has appeared in only 13 NHL games, all with the Dallas Stars, and has scored two goals. But his physical style and ability to score should play at the NHL level, and with him talking to Pastrnak before he signed in Boston, a chance to establish himself as an NHL player is in the cards.
Fourth Line: John Beecher – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic
My projected fourth line is somewhat similar to the one the Bruins used last season. Beecher, who was re-signed by the team to a one-year deal in June, has the qualities that Sweeney likes in a bottom-six forward. The playmaking last season at times for Beecher was tough, as he had 3-8-11 in 78 games. But in his rookie season in 2023-24, the 24-year-old had seven goals and the opening goal of the 2024 playoffs for Boston. Beecher’s ability to play wing and center makes him valuable, and his speed benefits this line.
Kuraly slides into my fourth line center slot in his return to Boston. The 32-year-old re-signed in Boston this offseason after four seasons in Columbus, where he anchored the team’s bottom-six. Kuraly’s speed, physicality, and flair for the dramatic made him a fan favorite in the first five years of his career with the Bruins. Kuraly won 54.3% of his face-offs last season, upping his career average to 50.4%. The presence of Kuraly in the bottom six makes his return to Boston anticipated, and whether he’s at center, as I project him to be, or on the wing, he will play a strong defensive game and score big goals.
Kastelic shifts to the wing in my projected lineup after playing fourth-line center last year for the Bruins. The 26-year-old set career highs in assists and points last season and recorded 106 penalty minutes. Kastelic’s physical style of play harkens back to the Bruins of old, and alongside Beecher and former Bruin Cole Koepke, he had a breakout season in his first in Boston. Kastelic was rewarded with a three-year contract extension signed in January and looks to be a staple in the bottom-six for the next few seasons.
With those six slating into my projected bottom-six for opening night, Marat Khusnutdinov and Michael Eyssimont are the extra forwards rotating into those spots. Khusnutdinov, who was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline, had five points in 18 games after the deal. As one of the fastest players on the Bruins roster, his ability to put pressure on defenders with quickness and agility stands out.
Eyssimont was another free agent addition, spending last season in Tampa Bay and Seattle. The 28-year-old had 9-7-16 in 77 games last season, and is notoriously a difficult player to play against due to his physicality on the forecheck. Eyssimont fits the bottom-six mold well in Boston, and it shouldn’t be long until he becomes a fan favorite in the black and gold.
For the likes of youngsters Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and Georgii Merkulov, many will question the direction of three of the Bruins’ top prospects ahead of years three, four, and five in the organization, respectively. But with the additions in free agency, it’s tough to see those players making the opening night roster, especially in a bottom-six role. The trio all have the upside of middle-six forwards, and deploying them in roles they are not used to is not beneficial for development. That does not mean that Poitras, Lysell, or Merkulov will find themselves on the Bruins roster at some point during the first stretch of play.
With other names like Alex Steeves, Jeffrey Viel, Patrick Brown, John Farinacci, Riley Duran, and Riley Tufte all vying for a roster spot out of training camp, I think having a plethora of options will benefit the team. While the younger players may fall behind the veterans, at least to start the season, those players still can make their case for these spots. But for opening night, this is how I see the bottom-six looking for the Bruins.
No Poitras, No Lysell, No Merkulov? Madness!