Bruins: A Bold Look into the 2024-25 NHL Season
Bruins Opening Night Preview
BOSTON -- The new Bruins season gets underway Tuesday night against a familiar foe, as Boston will take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. It was the Panthers who sent the Bruins packing in the second round of the playoffs last season -- after eliminating them in the first round two years ago -- so the Bruins will look to spoil their banner night by handing Florida an L when the puck drops on the 2024-25 season.
The Bruins had a pretty eventful offseason after losing Game 6 to the Panthers on TD Garden ice back on May 17. They signed a top-line center in Elias Lindholm -- bringing him aboard with a seven-year contract worth $7.75 million annually -- and added some more bulk to their D corps in signing the 6-foot-6 Nikita Zadorov. Meanwhile, Jake DeBrusk departed for Vancouver, which will leave a void on Boston's second line.
Expected Bruins Lines for Opening Night
- Pavel Zacha - Elias Lindholm - David Pastrnak
- Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - Morgan Geekie
- Max Jones - Trent Frederic - Justin Brazeau
- Johnny Beecher - Mark Kastelic - Cole Koepke
Defensively, the group includes:
- Hampus Lindholm - Charlie McAvoy
- Mason Lohrei - Brandon Carlo
- Nikita Zadorov - Andrew Peeke
With Swayman or Korpisalo likely in net, the Bruins are ready to embark on this season filled with promise and competitive challenges.
Key Bruins Storylines to Watch
- Inevitably, Lindholm's performance alongside Pastrnak will be crucial, as Pastrnak enjoyed a remarkable season previously despite roster shifts.
- Swayman must rise to expectations as the newly minted No. 1 goalie following Ullmark’s exit, contributing to the team's aspirations.
- Addressing past scoring struggles, secondary scoring remains a pivotal concern for the Bruins this season.
- Power-play performance needs improvement following last year's playoffs woes, with Lindholm's addition aiming to remedy that.
- Can the Bruins finally break their second-round barrier and make a deeper playoff run?
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.