How Morgan Geekie Went from Depth Piece to Bruins Star - and Why It’s No Fluke
A year and a half ago, Morgan Geekie was the kind of player coaches liked but didn’t lean on. A versatile, low-cost option who could plug into the bottom six, win some faceoffs, and chip in the occasional goal.
Fast forward to now, and he’s not just contributing - he’s leading. Geekie is tied for the league lead in goals, anchoring Boston’s offense, and playing his way into legitimate Rocket Richard talk.
So how did a third-line tweener become one of the NHL’s most productive scorers?
Let’s break it down.
From Expansion Draft Footnote to TD Garden Fixture
Geekie’s early career didn’t exactly scream “future star.” Drafted in the third round by the Hurricanes in 2017, he spent his early years bouncing between the NHL and AHL, logging limited minutes and often finding himself a healthy scratch. When Seattle picked him up in the expansion draft, he looked like a classic “nice depth guy” - the kind of player you’re happy to have on your roster, but not someone you build around.
Then came Boston. The Bruins signed Geekie in 2023 on a low-risk deal, hoping to get some secondary scoring and lineup flexibility.
What they got instead was a breakout. In the 2024-25 season, Geekie exploded for 33 goals and 57 points over 77 games, leading the team in goals and finishing second in overall scoring.
That performance earned him the NESN 7th Player Award - and a six-year, $33 million contract extension.
This season, he’s taken it even further. With 20 goals and 26 points already on the board early in 2025-26, he’s not riding a hot streak - he’s setting the pace.
And the numbers aren’t lying. This is elite-level production, and it’s coming from a player who, until recently, was buried in the lineup.
Right Role, Right Time
So what changed? The short answer: Boston gave Geekie the role he needed to show what he’s really capable of.
In Carolina and Seattle, Geekie was often stuck in limited roles - fourth-line shifts, defensive zone starts, and little-to-no power play time. Those kinds of situations don’t exactly set a player up for a breakout. And while scouts always noted his offensive instincts, most pegged him as a depth scorer with limited upside.
Boston flipped that script. They moved him into the top six, gave him consistent linemates, and let him grow into a real offensive role.
He’s getting meaningful power play minutes now, not just filling in when someone’s injured. And he’s playing with skill, not grinders - which has unlocked the offensive tools that were always there.
Geekie deserves credit, too. His game has matured across the board.
He’s stronger on the puck, more engaged defensively, and better at using his 6-foot-3 frame to create space and win battles. He’s not just floating around the perimeter anymore - he’s getting to the middle of the ice, where goals are scored.
And he’s doing it every night.
The Subtle Details of a Star
What separates a good scorer from a true top-line presence? It’s not just the stat sheet - it’s the way a player controls the game. And Geekie is starting to check those boxes, too.
He’s become a dependable option in the faceoff circle, hovering in the mid-40s to 50 percent range - solid enough to take draws in all three zones. That gives the Bruins coaching staff flexibility and trust. He’s not just an offensive specialist anymore; he’s a guy who can be on the ice in any situation.
His positional versatility also adds value. Geekie can line up at center or wing, which gives Boston options when injuries hit or lines need a shake-up. That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s NHL, especially when you're trying to roll four effective lines.
Defensively, he’s earned the trust that wasn’t there earlier in his career. He’s getting late-game minutes when the Bruins are trying to lock down leads, not just when they’re chasing goals. That’s a sign of how far his two-way game has come.
And then there’s the hockey IQ. Geekie’s scoring isn’t just about having a good shot - though he’s got that, too.
It’s about timing. He knows when to slip into soft areas of the ice, how to read defenders, and where the puck is going to be before it gets there.
That’s the kind of anticipation you see from top-six mainstays, not guys fighting for a roster spot.
Sure, playing alongside David Pastrnak doesn’t hurt. But Geekie’s recent performances show that he’s not just riding shotgun - he’s driving the play in his own right.
Is Geekie Really a Superstar?
Right now, the production says yes. He followed up a 30+ goal breakout with another season where he’s pacing the league in scoring. He’s not just a complementary piece - he’s central to what Boston does offensively.
The big question is sustainability. Maybe his shooting percentage cools off and he settles into that 30-goal, 60-point range - which is still a top-tier second-line forward in today’s NHL. Or maybe this is who he is now: a 35-40 goal scorer with a complete game and the ability to carry a line.
Either way, Boston’s bet looks like a smart one. They gave Geekie a real opportunity, and he’s responded by becoming a player you can build around. He’s durable, he’s dependable, and he’s producing at a level that few saw coming.
The rest of the league might still be scratching their heads, wondering how a former expansion draft afterthought turned into one of the NHL’s hottest scorers. But in Boston, the answer is pretty clear: they gave him the runway, and Geekie took off.
And right now, there’s no sign of him coming back down.