Fansided

NHL Season Preview 2016-17: Boston Bruins

By Dave Stevenson

Mandatory Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit

Following two straight losing seasons, how will the Boston Bruins fare in 2016-17?

In Boston, success often feels like a given for the city’s sports teams. Fans have come to expect championship-caliber play from their teams, and the teams themselves have learned to deal with those expectations. After missing the playoffs during the 2014-15 season, the Boston Bruins underwent some significant front-office changes.

Which is why it’s surprising the Bruins’ changes were so minimal after failing to make the playoffs once again in 2016. Head coach Claude Julien is still around, as is general manager Don Sweeney. Can they save their jobs this season? Because another April spent sitting on the couch watching the playoffs will not be tolerated.

Offseason Review

Here’s what the Bruins did this offseason.

Additions: C David Backes (Blues), G Anton Khudobin (Ducks), C/F Riley Nash (Hurricanes)

Losses: F Brett Connolly (Capitals), F Loui Eriksson (Canucks), F Lee Stempniak (Hurricanes), C Chris Kelly (Senators), G Jonas Gustavsson (Oilers), C/F Landon Ferraro (Blues), D Zach Trotman (Kings), D Matt Irwin (Predators), D Dennis Seidenberg

Retained: D Torey Krug, D Colin Miller, D John-Michael Liles

The Bruins needed to replace Loui Eriksson’s production. David Backes was signed for just that reason. It’s a bit interesting the Bruins would sign an aging forward to replace an aging forward, but Backes’ style of play fits with what the Bruins like to do. Going after someone like Kyle Okposo or Mikkel Boedker would have been a wiser decision, but Backes will be fine for at least the first two seasons of his deal.

Related Story: Each NHL Team's Biggest What If Moment

Boston will be bringing back mostly the same defense that cost them a playoff birth. They have a bit of cap space, however, so they can do something in September when teams tend to drop their asking price for players. Still, it’s a bit concerning the defense hasn’t changed. Getting Torey Krug locked up long-term was an excellent move by the Bruins.

Colin Miller was re-signed at a relatively cheap price. Meanwhile, Miller should be getting more playing time this season. Riley Nash is an under-the-radar signing that could pay off for the Bruins. He’s a very solid third or fourth line guy who can bring some offense to the table. Overall, the Bruins forwards should be fun to watch this season.

Player Spotlight: Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron

Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Find a star and there’s usually another one not too far behind. These aforementioned duos are well known in their respective sports. The NHL’s dynamic duo? That would be Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins.

Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Marchand has played 4,844 minutes at even strength. 3,956 of those minutes have been spent with Bergeron. The two are practically inseparable. They are perfect for each other because they complete one another on the ice. Without the other, they’re two, great individual players. When they’re together, they’re flat-out elite. Even Marchand admits he can feel lost without Bergeron.

Marchand and Bergeron are asked to shut down their opponent’s best players and still produce at a high level. That’s precisely what they do. Bergeron has won three Selke Trophies as the league’s best defensive forward and arguably should have won a fourth last season. Marchand gets very little Selke love, but that’s more due to the bias against his position than his abilities.

Check out these other NHL posts from FanSided:

Each NHL team’s biggest what-if moment
NHL Rumors: 5 teams that should trade for Jacob Trouba

Last season, Marchand and Bergeron took their game to the next level, with each of them scoring at least 30 goals. Marchand set career highs in goals (37) and points (61) while handling more defensive responsibilities than in the past. Bergeron set a career high in goals with 32 while amassing 68 points, his highest total since the 2006-07 season. He finished second in the Selke Trophy voting to Anze Kopitar.

The Boston Bruins might have question marks elsewhere on their roster. But two guys who they know they won’t have to worry about are Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. As long as they have each other, they’ll continue to flourish.

2016-17 Outlook

The Bruins are mostly the same from last season, if you replace Loui Eriksson with David Backes. They are still a very good team with a huge, gaping flaw. Boston shouldn’t have any trouble scoring goals. The issue will be preventing them.

This is an extremely important season for the Bruins. If they fail, expect huge changes. But unless the Bruins can get a significant blue line upgrade, the ending to this season could resemble how last season ended for them.

In a weak Atlantic Division, the Bruins will contend for a playoff spot. They could finish in the top three or they could also go down in flames. Such is life for a bubble team. It’s hard to see the Bruins as anything more than a seventh or eighth seed, but if they can fix their blue line somehow, that makes them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.