Boston Bruins 24-25 Season Preview

Boston Bruins
Atlantic Division

2023-24 Recap
Record (W-L-OTL): 47-20-15
Over/Under: 38-42-2
Home Favorite: 23-16
Home Dog: 0-1
Road Favorite: 15-13
Road Dog: 4-5
Win Score 4 or more: 30 of 47
Lose Give Up 4 or more: 19 of 35
Puck Line Wins: 30 of 47
Puck Line Losses: 15 of 35
Front End Back-to-Back:
Back End Back-to-Back:
Goals Scored Per Game: 3.21 (13th)
Goals Against Per Game: 2.70 (5th)

Additions: Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, Tyler Johnson (PTO)
Subtractions: Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Matt Grzelcyk, James van Riemsdyk, Pat Maroon, Linus Ullmark, Derek Forbort, Kevin Shattenkirk

The Boston Bruins 244 combined regular season point total over the past two seasons is 42 more than their Atlantic Division rival, Florida Panthers who had the second most points in the same time span. Yet it’s been the Panthers that have eliminated the Bruins in the playoffs each of the last two post seasons.

The B’s won all 4 regular season meetings versus the Panthers in 2023-24 but the playoffs were a different story losing their second round series in six games. It’s been five years since the Bruins last reached the Eastern Conference Final and 13 years since they won the Stanley Cup. GM, Don Sweeney, went shopping this summer spending a franchise-record $92 million in free agency, highlighted by the signings of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.

Offense
The Bruins finished 13th overall in scoring but still there are causes for concern. 26 of the Bruins 82 games (31%) went to Overtime. That was tied with the Islanders for the most games to go past 60 minutes. Second cause for concern was the 43-point gap between team scoring leader, David Pastrnak (110 points) and Brad Marchand (67 points) who finished second on the B’s in points and 64 th overall in the NHL. While Tampa was the only team who had a larger point gap between their top two scorers, Brayden Point who finished second behind Nikita Kucherov was 16 th in league scoring.

Free agent addition Elias Lindholm slots in as the B’s number one center. Yes, Lindholm is coming off a disappointing season, split between Calgary and Vancouver scoring just 15 goals, but he is only two seasons removed from scoring 22 and three seasons from his 42 goals and 82 points he had with Calgary. He is expected to play alongside David Pastrnak both at even strength and on the power play which should help to increase his production.

Most NHL players at 36 would be at the end of their career but Brad Marchand is not like most. His 29 goals and 67 points was second on the team and considering how he was playing through multiple injuries there is no reason why he can’t build on those numbers in the upcoming season. Marchand recently shared with the media that he had three surgeries this offseason to repair a torn tendon in his elbow, a groin injury, and an abdominal injury. While the Lindholm signing drew most of the headlines, adding to the bottom six was also a priority for GM, Don Sweeney. Veteran Tyler Johnson comes in on a PTO, after scoring 17 goals last season for the Blackhawks. Mark Kastelic acquired in the Linus Ullmark trade from Ottawa and Max Jones who played last season in Anaheim give the Bruins added size and speed.

Defense
You can make the case that the Bruins overpaid for Nikita Zadorov (4 years/20 million) but he fills the role of a left shot defenseman with a mean streak that the Bruins haven’t had since the retirement of Zdeno Chara. With Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm and Mason Lohrei on the left side and Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Andrew Peeke on the right side, Boston once again has a top six that should make life tough for the opposition.

The emergence of Lohrei and the acquisition of Peeke at last season’s trade deadline allowed Boston to move on from three veterans on the backend in Derek Forbort, Kevin Shattenkirk and Matt Grzelyck. The Bruins are one of two teams (along with Carolina) to have finished in the top 5 of fewest goals allowed each of the past two seasons.

Goaltending – will be updated when Swayman signs

Outlook
While I believe the Bruins are a better team than they were a year ago, I look at them as a team that is built for the regular season and not the playoffs. The Bruins are strong at center, but not elite. They have good defenseman but not a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman. The only box they check is goalie with Jeremy Swayman (as long as he signs a contract). There are two future tickets that intrigue me with Boston (odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook) – Division winner +500 and David Pastrnak to lead the league in goals +500 (Rocket Richard Trophy)

Regular Season Point Total: 99.5 (Over -120/Under -110)
To Make the Playoffs: -240
To Miss the Playoffs: +195
To Win the Atlantic Division: +500
To Win the Eastern Conference: +900
To Win the Stanley Cup: +1800