(Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa - Getty Images)
Through 41 of their 82 game schedule, the Bruins are hanging on to wild card positioning (on point %) in the Eastern Conference. With a record of 20-17-4, and points percentage of .537 - they have been average at best.
In fact, one could easily argue that since the black and gold are ranked 24th in goal differential, 31st on the power play, and 25th on the penalty kill, that they're lucky to be where they are in the standings.
On the other hand, when looking at every team's "expected goal differential", Boston's ranked 11th in the league at +6.85 - in other words, maybe bounces just haven't gone their way so far, and better luck is awaiting them in the 2nd half.
We'll have to wait and find out.
In the meantime, it's time to hand out progress report grades for individual player performances from the first half of the season.
David Pastrnak - 15G, 25A, 40PTS, 41GP Grade: C
This is a tricky player to grade. On the surface he's the teams leading scorer by a rather wide margin, and that's great, right? Well yes, and no. The Bruins are offensively challenged, so as long as he's playing, Pastrnak should lead the team in scoring 100% of the time. The problem here is, is that Pastrnak is on pace for his lowest point total since 2017-2018. His projected 80PTS would be a whopping 33PT drop-off from his 113PTS in 2022-2023, and a 30PT drop-off from his 110PTS in 2023-2024. As Pastrnak goes, as goes the Boston Bruins. Unfair? Perhaps. But expectations are garnered from long sample sizes of work.
Brad Marchand - 15G, 16A, 31PTS, 41GP Grade: B
The Bruins captain is not the point per game, or above point per game player he was from 2016-2017, 2021-2022, but he hasn't been for a few seasons now. Marchand collected 67PTS both in 2022-2023, and 2023-2024. This season, at the age of 36, he's on pace for a respectable 62PTS, while actively tied for leading the team in goals scored. Of all players not pulling their weight, he's not really one of them.
Elias Lindholm - 7G, 13A, 20PTS, 41GP Grade: C+
Boston's main FA acquisition, Lindholm has never been able to revisit his scoring touch of 82PTS back in 2021-2022 with the the Calgary Flames. Since then he's tallied 64PTS in 2022-2023, and 44PTS in 2023-2024. This season his production is projected to drop again down to 40PTS. Boston signed him to be their immediate No. 1 Center, and while NO. 1 Center's don't have to be 80-100PT players, they do have to at least be 60-70PT producers. Lindholm won't be that this season, and his under contract until 2031. Ideally he's a bottom-six forward or his contract his moved by then.
Pavel Zacha - 9G, 11A, 20PTS, 41GP Grade: C+
Zacha has had quick glimpses of brilliance, stretches of production, but more than anything, too many quiet nights. He averaged 58PTS a season during his first two seasons in Boston, but is merely on pace for 40PTS this season. This is a level of production for Zacha that hasn't seen since his days with the New Jersey Devils.
Charlie McAvoy - 5G, 13A, 18PTS, 41GP Grade: C+
Heading into the season, it was no secret what the key was for McAvoy to take his next step offensively - power play production. Well, Boston's power play has been offensively anemic, and McAvoy, PP1 QB, along with it. The Bruins power play ranks 31st in the league converting at just 12.9%. Elsewhere, McAvoy has been good not great. He takes on every teams best players each night and that task shouldn't be overlooked, but so far, the Bruins No. 1 defenseman hasn't asserted himself as often as in seasons past.
Justin Brazeau - 9G, 8A, 17PTS, 39GP Grade: B+
The vast majority of Bruins fans were unaware of who Justin Brazeau was when he made his NHL debut in the 2nd half of last season. Therefore, there shouldn't be too much criticism at the moment when you consider he's their 6th leading scorer in his first full NHL season. He lacks speed, and has yet to carve out a consistent role on a given line, but his size, net front presence, quick hands, and scoring touch are all positives.
Morgan Geekie - 9G, 8A, 17PTS, 36GP Grade: B
It was a slow start for Geekie this season with just 5PTS in his first 20GP. He's since followed that up however with 12PTS in his last 17GP, and is now on pace for 36 PTS in 77GP this season - 3PTS shy of his career high 39PTS from 2023-2024. Although that can be seen as regression, its much better than how he was trending pre December.
Mason Lohrei - 1G, 15A, 16PTS, 36GP Grade: C+
In his first full NHL season, Lohrei leads all Bruins defensemen in assists, and is 3rd overall on the team with 15. Goals have been tough to come by despite his skill set, but he definitely helps generate offensive opportunities with his skating and puck handling skills. The knock on him so far is that he has been a major defensive liability. His willingness to take offensive chances gets him in trouble, and at times has a hard time handling forechecking pressure. He's also been on the ice for more even strength goals against than any other Boston skater. He needs to round out his defensive game, especially given his position.
Charlie Coyle - 10G, 4A, 14PTS, 41GP Grade: D+
Coyle's career year of 25G, 35A, 60PTS in 2023-2024 may have been an anomaly, but his current scoring pace of 28PTS would be the worst full season output of his 13-year NHL career. Even if you want to exclude his 60PTS (which he did in fact score) in 2023-2024, he scored 44PTS in 2021-2022, and 45PTS in 2022-2023. The problem isn't that he isn't meeting his career high numbers, it's that he isn't even close to his normal career production.
Trent Frederic - 6G, 6A, 12PTS, 41GP Grade: D
After recording just 12G, 11A, 23PTS in his first 119GP from 2018-2019, 2021-2022, the light bulb seemed to go on for Frederic over the last two full seasons where he recored 35G, 36A, 71PTS, in 161GP from 2022-2023, 2023-2024. Expectations were that Frederic would meet or exceed the recent standard he set for himself, as a pending UFA no less. He has been arguably the most disappointing Bruin so far this season failing to make much of any impact on or off the score sheet. For a player capable of scoring, fighting, and defending, it's been a rather surprising regression.
Cole Koepke - 6G, 5A, 11PTS, 39GP Grade: A-
Heading into this season, Koepke had 3PTS in 26GP over his brief NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Safe to say expectations were rather non-existent. With that in mind he's been a pleasant and welcomed addition to Boston's 4th line. He plays with pace, and has shown a knack for finishing.
Mark Kastelic - 4G, 7A, 11PTS, 40GP Grade: A
Kastelic has instantly embraced being a Bruin, and in return both the fans, and the organization have embraced him. The Bruins signed Kastelic to a 3-year $1.5M contract extension on January 3rd. He hits, he fights, he chips in offensively, and more importantly he never takes a shift off. He has to be the mid-season favorite for NESN's 7th player award.
Nikita Zadorov - 2G, 7A, 9PTS, 41GP Grade: C+
The second of two key offseason acquisitions, Zadorov got off to an uninspiring start in Boston. Constantly in the penalty box, and trouble grasping system play hindered Zadorov's effectiveness. However, since about mid-late November he's been relatively solid for the Bruins while trying to limit his turnovers, of which there are still more than he and the team would like.
John Beecher - 2G, 6A, 8PTS, 39GP Grade: B-
Beecher is on pace for 16PTS this season which would be more than acceptable for a 4th liner in their first full NHL season. Like many on this team, he struggles to make a consistent impact and doesn't appear to have a ton of ceiling beyond his current role - but usually confidence and consistency is found in years two, three, and beyond.
Andrew Peeke - 0G, 6A, 6PTS, 35GP Grade: B
Peeke is a steady, reliable 3rd pair defensemen. He doesn't go above and beyond expectations, but doesn't fail to meet them either.
Brandon Carlo - 1G, 4A, 5PTS, 41GP Grade: D
Carlo has been a mainstay in Boston's top-four defense rotation for almost a decade. And while offense and transition has never been his game, his defense has taken a major stride back. Far too easy to play against on most nights, and relies heavily on his reach. The league gets younger, and faster each season, and that could be making it difficult for the 9-year veteran, stay-at-home defender.
Hampus Lindholm - 3G, 4A, 7PTS, 17GP Grade: A-
Lindholm was on pace for 14G, 19A, 34PTS in 82GP before suffering a knee fracture in St. Louis back on November 12th that has kept him sidelined ever since. An unfortunate development for both player and team as he had been Boston's best, and most consistent defensemen through that moment of the season.
Jeremy Swayman - 13W, 13L, 3OTL, 2.91 GAA, .891 SV% Grade: D-
After a drama-filled offseason, it hasn't been a strong season for the Bruins $66M netminder. With Linus Ullmark traded to the Ottawa Senators, the net solely belongs to Swayman. Unfortunately, his numbers are among the worst in the league for goaltenders. Swayman ranks 75th out of 89 goalies this year in goals saved above expected, 46th in GAA, and 53rd in SV%. He's now paid as one of the top goalies in the league, he needs to start playing like one.
Joonas Korpisalo - 7W, 4L, 1OTL, 2.71GAA, .895 SV% Grade: C+
Despite having only slightly better numbers than Swayman, Korpisalo has had significant less ice time, making it hard to find a consistent stride. Still, after being one of the worst statistical goaltenders in 2023-2024, he has done his job keeping Boston in the games he starts. Not many soft goals come to mind. If Swayman constinues to struggle in the 2nd half, Korpisalo should absolutely get more of the workload than he's gotten through Boston's first 41 games.
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