6 ways to fix the Bruins
COMMENTARY
The Bruins are in need of a fix, there’s no doubting that. After back-to-back late season collapses resulted with the team missing the playoffs, GM Don Sweeney and company are trying to figure things out and find the recipe for success that will ultimately get them back to the postseason. Let’s take a look at some of the ways they can do that.
Find a number one defenseman
In the hours leading up to last weekend’s NHL draft, it seemed as if the Bruins would be leaving Buffalo with their number one defenseman, as they were expected to land either Kevin Shattenkirk from the Blues or Cam Fowler from the Ducks. When the asking price became too high, Sweeney walked away without adding to the team’s defense. Now the Bruins have gone back to the drawing board in an attempt to find that number one defensemen they absolutely need. Signing Jets’ defenseman Jacob Trouba to an offer sheet has been the hot rumor over the last two days, but that’s a move that doesn’t make much sense for Sweeney and the Bruins. Signing Trouba to an offer sheet would cost the Bruins four first-round picks. Sweeney either needs to find a way to trade for Trouba or go and get himself a legitimate number one blue liner.
Solidify the rest of the defense
Bringing in a Trouba, Shattenkirk or Fowler will help the defense, sure, but it doesn’t fix it. The Bruins need more than one top defenseman. The Bruins need to add a veteran or two outside of that previously mentioned number one defenseman. Last season the Bruins were too young and too inexperienced and it really showed down the stretch when they couldn’t muster together a few wins to push themselves into the postseason. A guy like Jason Demers or Kris Russell could be exactly what the Bruins need to complement what they already have here under contract and the top pairing defenseman they’re trying to get.
Cut down Chara’s minutes
As it stands right now, Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara is the team’s top blue-liner. On the back nine of his career, Chara can no longer handle the workload that comes with being a team’s number one guy. Chara has averaged 23:21 and 24:06 of ice time per game in each of the last two seasons respectively. At his age and with the miles on his body, Chara needs to be around 18-20 minutes per game, something slotted for a third or fourth defenseman. Not only would acquiring a number one defenseman and another veteran piece help the defense as a unit, it will help keep an aging Chara fresh and ultimately cause the Bruins to receive more from their 6-foot-9 captain.
Find a right wing for Bergeron and Marchand
Over the course of the last two years, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron have been one of the league’s most productive duos. Unfortunately for them, a revolving door at right wing has prevented the two from being a part of one of the league’s most dangerous lines. That can change if the Bruins can go and get themselves a top right winger. Unrestricted free agent Kyle Okposo would be the perfect fit to play alongside Marchand and Bergeron. Sure, Marchand and Bergeron alone are enough of a threat to opposing teams, but a third dangerous forward can only help the two forwards and undoubtedly will help the Bruins as a whole offensively.
Let Pastrnak loose
It’s been a roller coaster of a ride of a ride for David Pastrnak since the Bruins drafted him with the 25th pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In his rookie campaign, Pastrnak struggled out of the gate as he got accustomed to hockey at the professional level. But once Pastrnak got comfortable, he started to show signs of life as he led the Bruins in second half scoring with 26 points. This past season Pastrnak struggled at times due to injuries and time missed for the World Junior Championships. Once Pastrnak returned and got himself settled, the 20-year-old showed those same signs he did in the second half of the 2014-15 season. Averaging almost 14 minutes per game in each of his first two seasons, it’s time for Claude Julien to let Pastrnak loose and allow him to play the type of minutes the team’s other top-six forwards are getting. Pastrnak finished third on the team last season in goals per 60 minutes, averaging 1.27 goals per 60 minutes played. Only Tyler Randell and Brad Marchand averaged more goals per 60 minutes played than Pastrnak.
Build out bottom-six forwards
Last season the Bruins’ depth was tested and ultimately failed. The B’s lacked any true consistency from their bottom six and it was a big part as to why they failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row and second time under Julien. The Bruins will look long and hard at improving their bottom-six and ultimately have to. Whether it’s internally or externally, the Bruins’ bottom two lines should look a bit different this season.
Photos to remind you just how tough the Big Bad Bruins were
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