(Photo Credit: Rich Gagnon - Getty Images)
In 2022-2023, the Boston Bruins made NHL history by setting the single-season record for wins (65), and points (135). With all of the talent in the world, expectations were sky-high. BUT, we all know what happened next - they lost in the 1st-round of the playoffs - eliminated in Game 7, by the Florida Panthers.
That ensuing offseason - Patrice Bergeron (retirement), David Krejci (retirement), Taylor Hall (trade), Nick Foligno (trade), Tyler Bertuzzi (free-agency), Dmitry Orlov (free-agency), Garnet Hathaway (free-agency), Connor Clifton (free-agency), Tomas Nosek (free-agency), A.J. Greer (free-agency) - all departed from the roster.
Now of course, not all losses are created equal.
The impending on-ice absence's of Bergeron, Krejci, Hall, Bertuzzi, and Orlov were left Boston with a massive talent deficiency - and for multiple reasons, the Bruins didn't have the cap space to adequately replace the skill they were losing.
SO, in an effort to remain competitive, and to support the returning core -
GM, Don Sweeney, used the minimal cap dollars remaining, and spent it in free-agency on cheap, veteran talent - Milan Lucic, Kevin Shattenkirk, James van Riemsdyk, and a younger, unproven, Morgan Geekie. Additionally, Danton Heinen, in his second tour with Boston, signed a one-year deal following a professional try-out.
The "Money Ball" Bruins.
Then, returning forwards, Charlie Coyle, and Pavel Zacha were asked to play elevated roles, and try to PARTIALLY replace the voids left from Bergeron and Krejci.
Now, ultimately, most of these players performed well - in fact, nearly all exceeded expectations. The team finished 7th overall in the NHL, and 4th in the Eastern Conference, and 2nd in the Atlantic Division.
Still, though, a roster requires a certain level of talent to be considered a contender, and as admirable as the Bruins played - they lacked that talent, and everyone knew it. They lacked it in the offseason, they lacked it in the regular season, and they lacked it in the postseason. David Pastrnak even admitted so, in Elliotte Friedman's
"32 Thoughts" series, mentioning how Boston exceeded expectations by defeating Toronto - a better team on paper - in the playoffs, and how he was disappointed that the Bruins didn't force a Game 7 against the Panthers - but that Florida was just a better team.
The 2023-2024 Bruins had a ceiling, and by advancing to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final against the eventual champions - they reached it.
In fact - they even went a round further than the 2022-2023 Bruins - who were in rare
"Cup or Bust" territory.
But with every ceiling, comes a floor:
2022-2023 floor should have been AT LEAST reaching the Stanley Cup Final. They infamously missed hitting that floor, let alone reach their ceiling.
2023-2024 floor was missing the playoffs. Instead, they made the playoffs, and advanced to the 2nd-round. They not only eclipsed their floor - but even reached their ceiling.
NOW
As it pertains to the 2024-2025 Bruins, what their floor should be?
Well, let's start with their ceiling.
After adding Elias Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov via free-agency - Boston has SIGNIFICANTLY improved their talent level, and impact-player meter.
Boston also signed big, hard-nosed forwards Max Jones, and Mark Kastelic - who, in addition to Zadorov, will help change the on-ice attitude, and toughness for Boston.
Now, the Bruins did lose Jake Debrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, Derek Forbort, and Danton Heinen to FA, but the only higher-end loss was Debrusk.
SO - Boston will start the year with a healthy, internal competition, for the recently vacated position of 2nd-line right wing.
Fabian Lysell, Trent Frederic, Morgan Geekie, Georgii Merkulov, Matt Poitras, Max Jones, and Justin Brazeau - are all players who could see time, for one reason or another, at this position.
Now if it turns out that none of the aforementioned players can prooduce at a top-6 forward level, then the Bruins could always address that need at, or before the trade deadline. As it stands right now, this is Boston's only glaring need - but every team has at least one need entering the regular season.
In addition to 2nd line RW, the other main question many have regarding Boston -
is whether or not Lindholm is a TRUE No. 1 center on a Stanley Cup caliber team, or is he a No. 2 center on a championship-level club?
Well, that answer isn't so black, and white - in fact, it's gray.
Are there more talented No. 1 center's in the NHL than Lindholm? Yes.
Lindholm, on his own, is likely a mid-tier No. 1 center based on pure offensive talent.
But here's the catch - he's going to be playing alongside Pastrnak, who is one of the ELITE goal scorers, and playmakers in the WORLD. Additionally, Lindholm is an EXCELLENT defensive player, and plays with edge.
SO - with all of this in mind, where does Boston stack up against the rest of the league? What's Boston's ceiling?
In *our opinion, they are EASILY a top-10 team in the league - and it could be argued they are top-5 - But realistically, 5-10 seems fair.
For a team of Boston's level - their ceiling should be determined by how well set-up, and built they are for post-season success.
For example, the 2024-2025 Bruins may not finish as high in the regular-season standings as the 2023-2024 Bruins, but as long as they make the playoffs - which they will - they ABSOLUTELY have more PLAYOFF POTENTIAL than 2023-2024's roster.
It's a long winded way of saying - regular season success, or lack thereof - as long as playoffs are qualified for - does not equal playoff potential.
For the 2024-2025 Bruins - their ceiling is winning the Stanley Cup.
Will, or should they be favorites? No.
But could they conceivably - based on their roster - win the Stanley Cup?
Yes, their roster has the *potential to do so.
Did the roster have the potential to do so in 2023-2024?
No, sadly, it did not - despite their true best efforts.
So, IF the 2024-2025 Bruins' ceiling is winning the Stanley Cup - what's their floor? What's the bare minimum they should accomplish, to consider it a successful season?
Here's what you, the fans, had to say.
"Does Boston have to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for next season to be considered a success?" - 67.5% of voters said YES - and we agree.
Last year, the Bruins - with an underwhelming roster, that had GLARING holes - advanced to the 2nd-round of the playoffs.
This offseason, the roster was DRAMATICALLY improved - talent wise, and roster-construction wise, conducive for playoff hockey.
The Bruins' goal - with a better roster - should be, to go further than they did last year.
That means the FLOOR for the 2024-2025 Bruins - should be advancing to the
Eastern Conference Final.
Does that mean this floor will be met? Absolutely not.
The 2022-2023 Bruins had a floor of making it to the Stanley Cup Final, and lost in the 1st-round.
The 2023-2024 Bruins had a floor of missing the playoffs, and advanced to the 2nd-round.
Floors are usually never met - but rather are used as a measuring stick to gauge low-end POTENTIAL.
It remains to be seen if the 2024-2025 Bruins will fall short, meet, or exceed expectations. But one thing's for sure - their expectations are set high, and higher than most.
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