Projecting the Roster: Bruins Forward Line Combos

The Bruins’ quest for their third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in five seasons begins this week, when the team will officially report for the beginning of training camp.

With some notable subtractions from the group that fell to the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year, there will be some young faces looking to make their mark with the Black and Gold.

Here’s a look at how the lineup could shake out before the B’s face the Flyers in the season opener on Oct. 8.

First Line: Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Loui Eriksson
The biggest subtraction from the Bruins roster was Jarome Iginla, who took the 30 goals he scored last season to Colorado as the Bruins were unable to re-sign the winger. The leading candidate to replace him on the top line centered by David Krejci is Loui Eriksson.
Eriksson began last season playing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, but multiple concussions – along with the emergence of Reilly Smith – bumped Eriksson to the third line, where he developed good chemistry with Carl Soderberg and Chris Kelly in the later part of the year.
Barring a healthy season, Eriksson will get a chance to prove he can play on the top line with the B’s and rediscover the scoring touch that saw him tally over 25 goals every season from 2008-2011. Krejci, with his new contract in hand, should rebound from a tough playoff stretch, and Lucic should continue to be the player that has made him so good over the past-half decade: a big, physical forward with excellent speed and puck handling and shooting skills as well.
Second Line: Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Reilly Smith
Once the Bruins and restricted free agent Smith get his contract figured out, the Bruins’ line that totaled 75 goals and 91 assists with a plus-minus of +102 last season will be back and ready to take its next step forward.
Bergeron was arguably the best player on the Bruins last year, while Smith had a tremendous first half, then cooled off. Marchand was never able to develop consistency, but he was his old, annoying, instigating self at times, reminding fans of why he became a star during the B’s Stanley Cup run of 2011.
If Marchand can get back to performing on a consistent basis and Smith can continue to improve from his breakout season, this line should be one of the best trios in the NHL.
Third Line: Chris Kelly-Carl Soderberg-David Pastrnak
The Bruins did something they rarely do this past summer: take a forward with their first-round draft pick, which they haven’t done since selecting Tyler Seguin at No. 2 overall in 2010. Now Pastrnak is no Seguin, but the Bruins clearly see something in the 18-year-old Czech that made them use the No. 25 overall pick on him.
Pastrnak is a talented, righthanded shooter who could flourish on the right side of Soderberg, who became an entirely different player once the B’s moved him to center last season and has a European background that could help ease Pastrnak’s transition to the NHL. Throw in Chris Kelly, who hopes to bounce back from another injury-plagued season, on the left side, and you’ve got a solid third line that could be the difference down the stretch for the Bruins.
Fourth Line: Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Matt Fraser
Along with Iginla, the other big loss for the Bruins in the offseason was Shawn Thornton, whose off-ice impact and leadership will be impossible to replicate. But in order to modernize the former “Merlot Line” that was unmatched around the NHL, the B’s could turn to the youngster Matt Fraser, who broke out during the playoffs last season, scoring the game-winning goal in Game 4 of the series against Montreal and adding an assist in Game 5.
Fraser also played 14 regular season games with the Bruins, scoring two goals. He came over to the B’s along with Eriksson and Smith in the trade that sent Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley to Dallas. Campbell, most important to the Bruins on the penalty kill, is also a strong center who the Bruins sometimes send out with Bergeron in important face off scenarios. This potential fourth line won’t be the “Merlot Line,” but maybe it can give the team more in the scoring department.