Speculation: Season Predictions

[BMC]

Third and wild card.

#1 goaltender missed ALL of training camp and will need time to get acclimated. How much time? IDK. In the meantime Korpisalo is the guy. If the Bruins can stay around .500 until Sway finishes counting his money I'll be happy.

Offense is a huge question mark- after Pasta there is a HUGE drop off. IMO we'll need a bunch of guys scoring 15-20 goals each and that is unlikely- you know there will be injuries & some guys just won't have a good year.

I do look forward to them being Big & Bad again though.

 

[BruinsJoe]

Lack of offensive big time, will need a better PP and a lot more shot on net and drive the net, should be good for the playoffs hope a RW goal scorer at TDL

 

[24 others]

I will be the pessimist here. The offense stands and falls with one guy, and if the opposing teams focus on him (as they did in the playoffs), it's not going to work. On the Leafs, if you throw everything at Matthews, Nylander or Marner will step up. On the Bolts, if you throw everything at Kuch, Point or others will step up. Who will step up on the Bruins? I would love to see Lindholm become a star for Boston, but I would rather be a pessimist - rather than be too optimistic and end up disappointed.

 

[DKH]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5823407/2024/10/08/nhl-defense-rankings-2024/?source=user_shared_article

Bruins to this impartial observer should be 1

But few worries, with Swaychise & Korpi they are #1 on that 100 foot defensive side of ice

Offense should be good - Poitras & Lysell specifically need to be contributing at NHL level at some point

Been seeing as low as 91 points projected - bunch of 94’s and a 97

I’ll go 100 points if I was setting the line

Been low on HF last 5 years probably again ~ 114 points and first overall

 

[NDiesel]

Id bet 101 points, firmly in 2nd or 3rd in the div, and surprise surprise we play Toronto again

 

[LouJersey]

I think they win the division. Florida has had two long runs can't see them having a lot left for another division win although they will meet round 2, lock.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5823407/2024/10/08/nhl-defense-rankings-2024/?source=user_shared_article

Bruins to this impartial observer should be 1

But few worries, with Swaychise & Korpi they are #1 on that 100 foot defensive side of ice

Offense should be good - Poitras & Lysell specifically need to be contributing at NHL level at some point

Been seeing as low as 91 points projected - bunch of 94’s and a 97

I’ll go 100 points if I was setting the line

Been low on HF last 5 years probably again ~ 114 points and first overall

110 for me,. division title.

 

[GordonHowe]

Our 10 bold predictions for the 2024-25 Bruins

With a new season of hockey finally here, here's a look at 10 bold predictions for the Bruins 2024-25 season.

www.boston.com

How will the Bruins fare? Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Ahead of the NHL season, our hockey writers weigh in.

The Bruins will open their season Tuesday night in familiar but unhappy hunting grounds, facing the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.

www.boston.com

 

[PlayMakers]

Our 10 bold predictions for the 2024-25 Bruins

With a new season of hockey finally here, here's a look at 10 bold predictions for the Bruins 2024-25 season.

www.boston.com

How will the Bruins fare? Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Ahead of the NHL season, our hockey writers weigh in.

The Bruins will open their season Tuesday night in familiar but unhappy hunting grounds, facing the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.

www.boston.com

Those are some exciting predictions. I wonder where he's coming up with $3m for 3 years for Marchand. That would be a very Captainly thing to do.

Jim Montgomery extension... Monty seems like a great person and a good coach, someone I'm happy to root for... but I don't think he's the innovator that Cassidy or Julien are/were. I'm not sure I love the idea of that extension, especially if it comes before any real playoff success.

 

[mjd1001]

Boston, Toronto, Florida, Tampa...throw them in a hat and shake them up, pick them out....no order would surprise me.

With Boston, the baseline level of talent here, hard work, very good goaltending, consistency...should be enough to make sure they are at least contending for the division for the season. Without any major injuries, 100 point season should be the standard. Even with an injury or two they should be there.

Ottawa, Detroit, or Buffalo. One of them has to take a step forward eventually, this year? Right? RIGHT? it has to happen eventually, too many high draft picks there.

New Jersey could be the new beast-of-the-east. As long as they don't get decimated by key injuries like they did last year, they are presidents-trophy worthy.

 

[PlayMakers]

I actually was going to post this yesterday but I didn't want to be a downer...

Things that could derail this team...

1) Lack of urgency. They played pre-season like it didn't matter (it doesn't, except to serve as a way for you to get ready for the real games). But last year, they lost two iconic centers, everyone was ready to pick up the slack and they came out of the gate with their ears pinned back. Now they added guys and a 'we're better on paper' attitude could lead to a lack of desperation/urgency.

2) Penalties. The team is big, and big guys tend to come up short on calls. They fall less, they accidentally elbow more. They're easy to pick out of a scrum...

3) Chemistry. The Bruins have always been more than the sum of their parts and a lot of that is the great chemistry they have on their lines and D-pairs. Lindholm missed much of pre-season so we don't really know if that top line is going to gel. Marchand and Coyle were good together last year, but who's the RW? What's the right fit chemistry-wise? Nothing is really settled as we haven't seen Max Jones a ton, we haven't seen a complete 3rd line, Zadorov has been pulled off the top pair, so the 2nd and 3rd pairs are works in progress...

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I actually was going to post this yesterday but I didn't want to be a downer...

Things that could derail this team...

1) Lack of urgency. They played pre-season like it didn't matter (it doesn't, except to serve as a way for you to get ready for the real games). But last year, they lost two iconic centers, everyone was ready to pick up the slack and they came out of the gate with their ears pinned back. Now they added guys and a 'we're better on paper' attitude could lead to a lack of desperation/urgency.

2) Penalties. The team is big, and big guys tend to come up short on calls. They fall less, they accidentally elbow more. They're easy to pick out of a scrum...

3) Chemistry. The Bruins have always been more than the sum of their parts and a lot of that is the great chemistry they have on their lines and D-pairs. Lindholm missed much of pre-season so we don't really know if that top line is going to gel. Marchand and Coyle were good together last year, but who's the RW? What's the right fit chemistry-wise? Nothing is really settled as we haven't seen Max Jones a ton, we haven't seen a complete 3rd line, Zadorov has been pulled off the top pair, so the 2nd and 3rd pairs are works in progress...

Over the past 2 years they have had a tremendous amount if skill, grit, speed and leadership depart.

Bergeron
Krejci
Hall
DeBrusk
Heinen
Foligno

Add an out of conditioned Marchand with just Lindholm and Zacha added as quality NHL players and the situation is there to really struggle scoring goals.