Speculation: Where do the Bruins Finish 2023-24?

[goldnblack]

I think this team will do poor in the first half and Don Sweeney will try to correct it at the trade deadline only for the team to miss out in 10th place. Unless they make another big move that results in more futures getting shipped out the door, the Bruins aren't gonna make it to the playoffs this year. And honestly? I'm okay with that.

10th overall or in the east? I'll take overall

 

[Dr Quincy]

The poll is flawed in my opinion, as they're not gonna remain as presently constituted.

Disagree. I don't see any major changes at this point. There are no free agents who will make a difference, and trading for Lindholm or Scheifele is going to take future assets that would be reckless to use for a bandaid.

 

[BruinDust]

Disagree. I don't see any major changes at this point. There are no free agents who will make a difference, and trading for Lindholm or Scheifele is going to take future assets that would be reckless to use for a bandaid.

2018 to 2025 drafts already have TEN Top 60 picks gone down the tubes in rentals, bad contracts, and players now plying their trade elsewhere.

What's left to trade? Lysell? Lohrei? The one remaining 1st in 2025? I'd sure love to have a 1st and 2nd in 2026. Imagine, picking twice in the first 60 picks.

It's like Debrusk, no way can they let him walk for free as UFA. They have to get something back.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Who knows, but we will be a playoff contender

 

[JOKER 192]

I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'm genuinely curious to why you feel like they'll go further this year than last year?

1st of all they certainly won't be able to go in overconfident like they probably did last season. I gotta imagine when you have the season they had overconfidence is inevitable even if you remind yourself not to be.

2nd , I really don't think they will be much worse than last season. What we have seen in the last few seasons is that when the PO's roll around much of the core is to nicked up to be effective. It happens season after season. Both Bergy and Krejci are great players but they can't get through a season in one piece and arguably are a liability when they are playing injured.

We added new players
I think Shattenkirk is an upgrade over Clifton.
I think JVR is going to surprise and put up numbers similar to Hall.
The team has gotten bigger and meaner which should help in the PO's.
I think Geekie is an upgrade over Fliggy.
I just don't see all the gloom and doom many here see. It's not all negative.

 

[EvilDead]

10th overall or in the east? I'll take overall

That's me being optimistic. Realistically? I think they finish 12th or 13th.

 

[mjd1001]

Tampa, Toronto, Buffalo, Carolina, Devils, Rangers are all slam dunk better, no contest. That's 6.

So we're gonna slug it out with the Pens, Sens, Panthers and probably a surprise team, give or take? I voted for us just outside there, but sure I could see WC2. At least they'd have no pressure there.

Buffalo isn't a given to me.

Sure, they have the young talent where they can shoot up over 100 points and be a top 5 team in the conference.

On the other hand, Quinn (one of those young up-and-comers) had a serious injury and is out for a good portion of the coming year likely, they have Zero certainties in goal (Anderson was their best goalie last year by far and he is gone) and they look to be relying on Clifton to solidify their top 4 on D.

Again, they could be very good, but they also could be struggling to stay in the wild card race.

 

[BB88]

Tampa Bay, Toronto, Florida, New Jersey, Rangers, and Carolina are better.

They’re in the tier with Pittsburgh, Islanders, Buffalo, and Ottawa fighting for the last 2 spots.

My gut right now is close miss. With the forward group this season, I think they’re relying on another historic season from their goalies. That’s a lot to ask for and I don’t expect it back to back years.

The only question is how much are the injuries going to slow down the Panthers.

Their defense even as healthy is suspect at best and they’ll be missing some key players and brought in 3rd pair Dmen to help

So they have a chance at 3 spot but that’s it, not build for any kind of run currently

 

[DiggityDog]

I think Atlantic is pretty wide open now. The Bruins have a good enough foundation to compete for a wild card with potential to be top 3 in the division.

This is of course all moot because the roster isn’t finalized.

 

[DKH]

WC start on road vs Leafs

 

[NeelyDan]

Disagree. I don't see any major changes at this point. There are no free agents who will make a difference, and trading for Lindholm or Scheifele is going to take future assets that would be reckless to use for a bandaid.

That may be possible, but that would be Sweeney and co punting after plugging holes in an effort to squeeze out a final competitive season - seems a bit conflicted.

 

[crimsonace]

They'll be a bubble playoff team. They still have elite goaltending and one of the best D corps in hockey, but they're *really* thin up front, especially down the middle. Coyle, Zacha & Geekie are likely your 1-3C and the bottom six is not as strong. The Bruins' strength for years has been their depth, and that will be tested this year.

This team feels a lot like 1994 or 1995 - they have some pieces from the last core, but not a lot coming up to create the next core, so they're filling in with some older depth players. We knew this year was probably going to be a bridge year and next year, they'll be able to reset with a lot of cap space and a core of Pasta, Marchy, Coyle, Zacha, McAvoy, Lindholm and Carlo to build around. However, almost the entire team save those guys (as well as Geekie, Ullmark, Brown and likely Frederic & Swayman) will be UFAs, so they'll *need* to have some of the prospects be ready and fill in. 2024-25 will probably be time for Beecher, Lysell, Harrison, Lohrei & Merkulov to be NHL-ready.

 

[McGarnagle]

Stacked D core*, two elite wingers (one at his absolute peak), decent depth, two beast goaltenders*, and a coach who can get his players to run through walls for him*. That's enough to get to the playoffs.

*Offer only valid from October through March

 

[NDiesel]

Wildcard. Be hard to miss with their goalie tandem and D corps from last year in tact.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Buffalo isn't a given to me.

Sure, they have the young talent where they can shoot up over 100 points and be a top 5 team in the conference.

On the other hand, Quinn (one of those young up-and-comers) had a serious injury and is out for a good portion of the coming year likely, they have Zero certainties in goal (Anderson was their best goalie last year by far and he is gone) and they look to be relying on Clifton to solidify their top 4 on D.

Again, they could be very good, but they also could be struggling to stay in the wild card race.

They added Erik Johnson at RD also. I doubt Clifton sees more TOI than Johnson when all is said and done.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Stacked D core*, two elite wingers (one at his absolute peak), decent depth, two beast goaltenders*, and a coach who can get his players to run through walls for him*. That's enough to get to the playoffs.

*Offer only valid from October through March

Outside of Goaltending what decent depth are you looking at?

Center Corp as of now isn't PO caliber. With 37\46 they were bounced in R1.

They lost Hall, Bertuzzi and Foligno and added JVR and Lucic, that's a significant downgrade on wing.

Coach hasn't shown any ability on getting guys to run thru walls.

You do a mean whistling past the graveyard.

 

[roflstomper]

Ullmark/Swayman need to have good years again and McAvoy/Pastrnak need to play 76 games each to have us in the wildcard. Anything else and we miss. I see this team having some trouble scoring goals.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Ullmark/Swayman need to have good years again and McAvoy/Pastrnak need to play 76 games each to have us in the wildcard. Anything else and we miss. I see this team having some trouble scoring goals.

McAvoy has managed that once in his career.

 

[crimsonace]

Outside of Goaltending what decent depth are you looking at?

Center Corp as of now isn't PO caliber. With 37\46 they were bounced in R1.

They lost Hall, Bertuzzi and Foligno and added JVR and Lucic, that's a significant downgrade on wing.

Coach hasn't shown any ability on getting guys to run thru walls.

You do a mean whistling past the graveyard.

37/46 were nowhere close to 100% in the playoffs. Center is an issue. If Zacha can be a good 1C with Pasta and Coyle’s possession game meshes with JDB (and either 63 or JVR), they’ll be fine.

The bottom 6 has to produce. Freddy-Geekie-Lauko/Brown/??? will be the key to this team’s success.

The back end - D and G - are elite and that’s typically good enough to get them into the playoffs. Lindholm & McAvoy are among the upper echelon of the NHL, Gryz is a solid puck-mover and Carlo a good stay-at-home 2RD.

 

[DaStinger]

Wildcard. Top notch goaltending, really good D. Will struggle for offense I fear.

 

[Dicky113]

Serious question. When was the last time a team made the playoffs without a 1st or 2nd line center?

 

[Blowfish]

I will vote when the season starts.

 

[PatriceBergeron]

Serious question. When was the last time a team made the playoffs without a 1st or 2nd line center?

Maybe Minnesota this year would be our best comparison

 

[JOKER 192]

How many here were saying the same shit last year? You call me out if I'm wrong but the Bruins WILL NOT be a wild card team, nor will they miss the PO'S. At the moment there are more than 80% who think I'm wrong. We'll check in again then.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

The goaltending and D corps is far to good.

 

[ranold26]

We make the dance.