The Bruins have every reason to feel good about where they stand, even if three of their most established forwards are still searching for their best form.
Boston sits first in the Atlantic Division at 9-3-1, and that record has come with plenty of help from the club’s youth movement. The younger players have offered a clear look at what the future could look like in Boston, and they’ve done enough this season to overshadow some uneven play from the veterans.
David Pastrnak remains near the top of the league scoring race, sitting just outside the top 10, so it’s not as if he has disappeared entirely. But the rough nights have mattered.
Too often, his game has drifted into stretches where he isn’t producing and is instead costing Boston with turnovers and shaky defensive work. A couple of big scoring outings don’t erase the quieter games.
Pavel Zacha has also been unable to settle in, with injuries complicating his start. He nearly dodged another problem Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, and while some around him have pointed to the pressure of a potential trade market, the bottom line is the same: he needs to be better. The attention on his flubbed one-timer Tuesday is only part of the story, because his struggles have gone well beyond one play.
Morgan Geekie is in a similar spot. After back-to-back 30-goal seasons, his opening month has fallen short, and he has only one goal through the first 13 games.
He went through a long cold spell last season, too, but this early stretch has still left the Bruins wanting more. Too many chances are dying on his stick.
And yet, that’s exactly why Boston’s position is so encouraging. If Pastrnak heats up, if Geekie finds one of those scoring bursts, and if Zacha works his way out of this funk, the Bruins can become even more dangerous than they already are. Suddenly, the team would have four capable lines, a defense group that has helped steady the ship, and Jeremy Swayman playing at a Vezina Trophy level.
That’s the real story here: the sky isn’t falling. A bad loss to Carolina doesn’t change the bigger picture. The Bruins have room to get better, and that should be a pretty comfortable thought for their fans.
In Other News...
Bruins Face A Tough Call On A Veteran Forward Drawing Buzz
The early chatter around the Senators search for forward help has put a few familiar names into circulation, and one of them is drawing attention inside the Bruins orbit. League talk has centered on a small pool of possible trade candidates, with Teuvo Tervinen, Michael Rasmussen and Andrew Copp among the players mentioned as options as clubs try to sort through a thin market.
For Boston, the interesting part is Mikey Eyssimonts place in the mix. He is in the final year of his contract and has been thriving with Providence, which makes him a useful depth option if the Bruins need help because of injuries and a player whose status can change quickly if the trade market keeps tightening. If the Senators or another team eventually come calling for forward pieces, Boston may have to weigh whether to keep a veteran who is playing well in the AHL or turn him into part of a larger roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Send Young Defenseman A Clear Message After Rough Night
Marco Sturms decision to scratch Frederic Brunet for the game against the St. Louis Blues was a clear reminder that roster spots have to be earned every night, especially for a young defenseman still trying to settle in. Brunet had done enough in training camp to make the team and saw regular ice during Charlie McAvoys suspension, so his place in the picture has not disappeared. But after a difficult outing against the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston chose to give him a reset rather than let the struggles carry over.
For a Bruins blue line that has already leaned on several moving parts early in the season, the move fits the practical side of coaching as much as the developmental side. Sturm has shown he is willing to reward performance and pull back when needed, and Brunets situation is the latest example of that approach. The expectation is that he will get another chance soon, with Chicago next on the schedule, but for now the message from the bench is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Forward Suddenly Enters A Rival's Search For Scoring Help
Ottawa is already working the phones for scoring help, and a Bruins fan watching the Atlantic may want to keep an eye on a familiar name. Senators general manager Steve Staios is exploring trade options for a winger after injuries thinned out his forward group, with Warren Foegele hurt and William Eklund sidelined following ankle surgery. The list of possible targets has a few different shapes to it, from established skill to more versatile depth, which suggests Ottawa is casting a fairly wide net as it tries to stay afloat offensively.
For Boston, the intrigue is less about the Senators immediate needs than the timing of any move. Staios would rather hold off on a major acquisition until the trade deadline gets closer, and that leaves this search in an early, fluid stage for now. Still, when a division rival starts looking for help on the wing, the market can shift quickly, and a Bruins-connected name could wind up in the middle of it before long. [Read more 🡒]