This season, the Boston Bruins will look to enhance on their 2023-24 marketing campaign, which noticed them return to the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, however for the primary time since 2021, they made it to the second spherical. Sadly, they had been bounced within the second spherical by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
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As a substitute of speaking about what wants to be achieved within the 2024-25 season, right here’s a take a look at what most probably will probably be achieved within the common season and a few milestones to look out for. This checklist is predicated on the contingency that the gamers are wholesome and won’t be beginning the season on injured reserve.
#4 – Nikita Zadorov Hits the 700-Recreation Mark, 100 Profession Assists
Whereas the Bruins will depend on a season from Nikita Zadorov just like his final three, Zadorov is near reaching some necessary milestones. He’s 38 video games away from enjoying in his 700th NHL recreation and is one help away from 100 in his profession. Checking off the help field might simply be finished on opening night time. The video games performed will rely upon well being greater than something.
Previously two seasons, Zadorov has averaged 77 video games with a career-high of 82 set within the 2022-23 season. If that continues this season, he’s projected to hit the video games performed milestone with ease. If he doesn’t sit for a recreation for any purpose, he’s projected to hit the mark on Jan. 28, 2025, at house in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
#3 – Hampus Lindholm Passes Mike Milbury for seventeenth Place on All-Time Video games Performed Listing
This season, Boston will probably be in search of a wholesome marketing campaign from Hampus Lindholm – not that he was injury-prone in 2023-24. Granted, Lindholm solely missed 9 video games when he was week-to-week final season, however they had been essential video games down the stretch.
He sits at 745 video games performed in his profession and is seeking to cross Mike Milbury for sole possession of seventeenth on the Bruins’ video games performed checklist. Milbury performed 754 in his profession, so Lindholm solely wants 10 video games to succeed in that mark.
If all goes to plan, Lindholm ought to be capable of cross Milbury by the top of the primary month of the season, particularly by Oct. 29, 2024, when Boston takes on the Philadelphia Flyers at house.
#2 – Pavel Zacha Reaches the 600-Recreation Mark, 300 Profession Factors
When the Bruins first acquired Pavel Zacha, followers had been uncertain what to make of him. Since then, he has put collectively two consecutive seasons of 21 targets and two seasons with greater than 55 factors. Going into the 2024-25 season, Zacha is 34 video games in need of enjoying in his 600th NHL recreation and 5 in need of his three hundredth profession level.
The factors are attainable, and Zacha ought to be capable of attain this milestone within the first month, not to mention the primary week of the season. Video games performed, alternatively, aren’t essentially an not possible achievement however will rely upon well being. Zacha has not had any well being points since coming to Boston, and if all goes to plan, he’s projected to hit that mark on Dec. 19, 2024, on the street when the Bruins go to the Edmonton Oilers.
#1 – Charlie McAvoy Hits the 500-Recreation Mark, 300 Profession Factors
Going into the season, Charlie McAvoy has performed 454 NHL video games and sits simply 46 video games away from reaching the 500-game mark. As one of many extra offensive-minded defensemen within the recreation, McAvoy can be closing in on 300 NHL factors and at the moment sits at 277 coming into the season. He’s poised to hit them each sooner or later this season.
Barring any accidents or setbacks, he’s projected to hit the mark on Jan. 14, 2025, when Boston takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning at house. He might hit each milestones at or across the similar time, however presumably, if he’s wholesome, the Bruins will possible select to have McAvoy hit the video games milestone at house.
Honorable Mentions: Morgan Geekie & Trent Frederic
Morgan Geekie and Trent Frederic are additionally poised to hit the 300-game mark and the 50-goal mark within the 2024-25 season. For Frederic, each milestones might come a bit earlier within the season, as he’s simply 20 video games away from the 300-game mark and three targets from the 50-goal mark.
Geekie, nonetheless, has a little bit bit additional to go to hit these numbers, however after enjoying a career-high 76 video games within the 2023-24 season, he ought to be capable of pull it off. Geekie is 44 video games away from 300 video games and 11 targets from 50. Each look attainable, contemplating the career-high 17 targets and 22 assists he put up a season in the past.
Solely the Starting of Bruins’ Milestones to Watch
Whereas these are some milestones to observe this season, they don’t signify all of the storylines. That is just the start of a season filled with information that might be matched and even surpassed by some gamers.
