The Boston Bruins entered the 2024 NHL free company interval with a splash, signing each Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to important offers, in addition to Max Jones to a two-year deal. On the similar time, the crew additionally misplaced some key ahead contributors from its 2023-24 squad, together with Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen, each signing with the Vancouver Canucks early in free company. With the offseason shaping up because it has early, the Bruins’ largest want stays an extension for Jeremy Swayman, which can finally devour the vast majority of their remaining wage cap area for this season. This implies the Bruins might want to discover worth within the remaining pool of gamers whereas additionally contemplating inner promotions to fill a first-rate open place within the prime six. This might open the door for Fabian Lysell or Georgi Merkulov.
Assuming Lindholm instantly slots into the crew’s No. 1 heart spot, and it might be shocking if he didn’t, this is able to permit the Bruins to maneuver Pavel Zacha to the wing, with Charlie Coyle sustaining his spot at heart on the second line. The crew’s ahead group may look one thing like this, not accounting for different strikes:
Pavel Zacha – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – ?
Trent Frederic – Matt Poitras – Morgan Geekie
Justin Brazeau – John Beecher – Max Jones
The third line options three gamers all able to enjoying heart, so their positioning doesn’t essentially matter for the aim of this train. What this implies for the Bruins, is any funds free-agent signing the crew makes may compete for an necessary position on the crew. It’s additionally potential that the Bruins try to slot any of the third-line trio into the highest six. Another choice on the desk, nevertheless, is the potential of Lysell or Merkulov competing for that spot.
For a while, discussions have targeted on the Bruins needing so as to add one other scoring winger to their crew. This want was solely amplified by the departure of DeBrusk. What this doesn’t have in mind, nevertheless, is that the Bruins strengthened their heart place by including Lindholm (and hoping he bounces again to his former kind), and Zacha transferring to the wing is a greater pure match for the Bruins. Shoring up the middle place over the wing place was all the time going to be the precedence; it additionally provides the Bruins choices as Lysell and Merkulov each provide upside as top-six contributors.
Lysell and Merkulov Supply Excessive Potential on the Wing
Lysell, a 21-year-old first-round decide from 2021, scored 15 targets and 50 factors in 56 video games within the AHL final season. All through the 2023-24 season, there have been a number of call-ups from the Windfall Bruins, none of which noticed Lysell get an opportunity to play in his first NHL recreation. Whereas he has proven large talent, the crew has opted to take issues slowly with Lysell, who has already improved drastically within the AHL. With this top-six opening, nevertheless, the Bruins may lastly give him an opportunity to play with the NHL membership and carve out a task with the crew.
Merkulov, alternatively, did get a number of video games of NHL motion final season, going scoreless in 4 contests. The 23-year-old scored 30 targets and 65 factors in 67 video games with Windfall and has a reputable scoring contact that could possibly be very important for the Bruins. It’s price noting, nevertheless, that Merkulov is a left-shot participant whereas Lysell is a right-shot participant. On the similar time, the Bruins didn’t appear to have any difficulty operating DeBrusk on the suitable aspect regardless of being a left-shot participant, so this will not be an enormous think about a coaching camp competitors.
Associated: Attending to Know New Boston Bruin Joonas Korpisalo
Rolling the cube and trusting that Lindholm, Zadorov and a few anticipated depth signings enhance the roster whereas additionally holding room for Lysell and Merkulov to compete out of coaching camp isn’t the worst-case situation for the Bruins. If something, it might have turned out to be a reasonably good compromise for a crew that desperately wanted heart assist and defensive depth and needed to make an enormous dedication to get it. Nonetheless, there might be apparent concern from followers if the Bruins financial institution on two rookies to fill such massive minutes regardless of not having any tangible NHL expertise to their names.
As talked about, the Bruins may additionally shift gamers up the lineup if wanted, with Geekie, Poitras and Frederic all able to enjoying within the prime six in an expanded position. If so, Merkulov or Lysell may doubtlessly line up on the crew’s third line if they appear NHL-ready, however not prepared for such premium minutes, or Brazeau may slide up the lineup if neither Lysell nor Merkulov earn a roster spot out of camp.
It’s necessary to keep in mind that the opening night time roster on all 32 NHL groups will all the time look totally different than the roster that the crew finally ends up with by the tip of the season and into the playoffs. The Bruins have to maintain some wage cap flexibility heading into the 2024-25 season. With restricted property to work with when it comes to draft capital, the Bruins additionally want their present investments to start out paying dividends. This is a chance for the crew to take action, whereas additionally having room to doubtlessly make an in-season commerce to shore up the wing place if all else fails. Including a scoring winger would even be a better want to handle than looking for a top-six heart come the Commerce Deadline.
With restricted cap area after the crew’s two massive splashes and a probable giant pay elevate for Swayman, the Bruins’ choices for straight changing DeBrusk in free company weren’t going to be plentiful anyway. Nonetheless, it’s too early to find out if that is the ultimate product that the Bruins will run with. Free company has solely simply begun, and the Bruins may have extra strikes in retailer.
