Bruins roster review: Sizing up an underperforming roster after 4 Nations

The Bruins resume regular season play one point out of a wild-card spot.

Joe Sacco's Bruins are a point out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 25 games remaining. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

By Conor Ryan

February 21, 2025

6 minutes to read

With the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament wrapping up Thursday night, the Bruins are set to resume play on Saturday against the Ducks at TD Garden. That bout against Anaheim will kick off a frantic final 25 games for the Bruins, who currently sit a point out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Here’s a look at the state of Boston’s roster ahead of the final eight weeks of the regular season.

Forwards

David Pastrnak: The Bruins are hoping a two-week break hasn’t cooled Pastrnak, who has scored 15 goals and posted 31 points over his last 18 games. Since Dec. 14, the Bruins have outscored opponents, 45-26, over Pastrnak’s 526 minutes of 5-on-5 reps. Without him on the ice over that same stretch, opponents have outscored Boston, 55-35.

Brad Marchand: He may not be a top-5 winger these days, but the 36-year-old Bruins captain is still on pace for 29 goals while holding court as one of the better two-way wings and on-ice spark plugs in the game. That profile — coupled with his Stanley Cup pedigree — would make him a coveted asset for contenders at the trade deadline.

Elias Lindholm: The Bruins handed Lindholm a seven-year, $54.25 million contract in July to slot in as the team’s top-line pivot. But to this point, he looks more like a defensive-minded 3C. The initial hope that he’d become a 60-point player while stapled next to Pastrnak fizzled out quickly, with the 30-year-old on pace for 14 goals and 42 points this year.

Morgan Geekie: After tallying one goal over his first 15 games, Geekie has found new life on a line next to Pastrnak — lighting the lamp 16 times over his last 34 games. Geekie’s age (26), versatility, and contract status as a pending restricted free agent would make him an appealing player to keep around moving forward. But his trade value might also be at its peak.

Pavel Zacha: Zacha seems to be at his best when slotting in at center next to Pastrnak. He’s flirting with a third-straight season with 50+ points, although the offensive ceiling of a top line centered by Zacha might be limited — as evidenced during last year’s playoff series against Florida (one goal in 25 playoff games).

Matt Poitras: An extended stint down in Providence seems to have done Poitras some good, as the 20-year-old skater recorded seven assists over 12 games since returning to the NHL ranks. He still needs to pack on some muscle if he wants to develop into a legitimate top-six pivot at this level, but the poise with the puck is hard to ignore.

Trent Frederic: When he’s on his game, Frederic thrives as a steady middle-six scorer who is more than happy with doling out some punishment after the whistle. Unfortunately, those performances have been few and far between for the pending free agent in 2024-25 — with Frederic on pace for just 22 points this year. He might be the most likely trade candidate on Boston’s roster.

Charlie Coyle: A year removed from scoring a career-best 25 goals and 60 points for Boston, the Weymouth native is currently on pace for just 19 tallies and 29 total points in 2024-25. The 32-year-old forward’s standing as a puck-possession pivot with a versatile skill set could make him an intriguing trade chip for teams looking to add a stout 3C for the postseason.

Mark Kastelic: One of the few lineup regulars who has exceeded expectations this winter, Kastelic has been an on-ice shot of epinephrine whenever he hops over the boards. The Bruins were wise to sign him to a three-year extension in January, with the 25-year-old ranking 10th in the NHL in hits (184) while winning 56.3 percent of his faceoffs.

Justin Brazeau: After a hot start, Brazeau has cooled off significantly with just one goal and three points in his last 16 games. His size (6-foot-6) and touch around the netfront could make the pending UFA a trade target for a team looking for more scoring punch in Grade-A ice.

Cole Koepke: Koepke looked like he wrapped up the 7th Player Award in October after scoring three goals and seven points over his first nine games. Since then, he has five points in his last 40 games. Still holds value as a fleet-footed, straight-line skater on a checking unit.

Johnny Beecher: There’s no knocking Beecher’s skating ability or faceoff skills (55 percent). But the 23-year-old forward still has work to do when it comes to unearthing more offense (three goals in 55 games) out of his game.

Oliver Wahlstrom: Boston’s hopes of Wahlstrom finding his offensive footing hasn’t exactly panned out, with the waiver-wire pickup limited to one goal and one assist over 15 games.

Defense

Charlie McAvoy: As evidenced by his punishing performance against Canada on Saturday, few blueliners in the NHL can mimic McAvoy’s game as a puck-moving presence who can shift momentum by way of a bone-crunching check. But with McAvoy’s recovery timeline after 4 Nations still murky, it marks a devastating blow for an already desperate Bruins squad.

Mason Lohrei: Amid the expected growing pains in the D-zone, Lohrei has had solid stretches as a promising playmaker in his first full NHL season — leading Boston’s blueliners in assists (20). He could use more reps on the power play, as he ranks first on the team with a 7.97 goals scored per 60 minutes rate on the man advantage.

Hampus Lindholm: Lindholm was arguably Boston’s most impactful skater when he was felled by a puck that struck him off the knee on Nov. 12. The 31-year-old veteran’s return would provide a lift to a beleaguered blue line and a listless power play — although he has yet to receive the green light from Boston’s medical team.

Brandon Carlo: It hasn’t been the strongest season for the respected veteran, who is often handed the unenviable task of snuffing out scoring chances during taxing D-zone shifts and shorthanded sequences. Lindholm’s return should help steady Carlo, although the 28-year-old D could also be regarded as a top trade chip as a right-shot, second-pairing regular signed for another two seasons.

Nikita Zadorov: The good? Zadorov is a punishing presence who is more than happy to agitate and antagonize opponents. The bad? Those antics have put him in the sin bin far too often (a league-high 117 penalty minutes), while he’s prone to a few critical D-zone miscues that often end with pucks sailing past Swayman and Korpisalo.

Parker Wotherspoon: Wotherspoon has developed into a useful asset for Boston as a steady, depth defenseman who can slot into the third pair when needed. Plays a lot larger than what his 6-foot-1, 192-pound frame might signal.

Andrew Peeke: Peeke has been as advertised as a solid, third-pairing D who can land a few hits and eliminate scoring chances around the crease. His value tends to wane if handed heavier minutes, but Peeke fits the mold of what teams are looking for further down the depth chart.

Jordan Oesterle: Pressed into service following several injuries to key cogs on D, the 32-year-old Oesterle isn’t flashy, but moves his feet and doesn’t put himself in bad spots with the puck. Could be in line for more reps, given McAvoy’s uncertain status.

Goalies

Jeremy Swayman: An offseason rife with drama seemed to throw Swayman off his game early on. On Dec. 20, Swayman was last in the NHL among qualified goalies with a -11.5 goals saved above expected rate (per MoneyPuck). Swayman has steadied his game since then (.913 save percentage over 16 games), but is it too little, too late?

Joonas Korpisalo: Despite his seemingly pedestrian stat line (.892 save percentage), Korpisalo has been a solid backup as the last line on a shaky defense — recording three shutouts in his 19 starts. With the NHL’s salary cap set to spike in the next few years, could a team looking for more stability in net like Columbus have any interest in a reunion with the 30-year-old veteran?

Conor Ryan

Sports Writer

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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Bruins roster review: Sizing up an underperforming roster after 4 Nations