Charles McAvoy – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:34:11 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 24: Look on Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) during the Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 24, 2023, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Review: The Bruins had a season to remember, for better and worse. They finished with a 65-12-5 record, shattering the previous wins record of 62, held by Detroit (95-96) and Tampa Bay (18-19). The Bruins’ 135 points also broke the 1976-77 Canadiens’ record of 132. Boston’s historic season was thanks in no small part to David Pastrnak, who scored 61 goals and 113 points, but he had the backing of an amazing forward cast that included Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Zacha, David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk – each of which hit the 50-point milestone. Speaking of that mark, Boston had the luxury of icing two defensemen who recorded over 50 points in Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy. To ice the cake, Linus Ullmark put forth a Vezina Trophy-winning season. However, all those amazing accomplishments merely led to a first-round exit against Florida, despite the Bruins having taken a 3-1 series lead.

What’s Changed? Making that exit playoff worse is that it was the last hurrah for Bergeron and Krejci, who both retired over the summer. The Bruins also watched midseason acquisition Tyler Bertuzzi sign with the division rival Maple Leafs while Taylor Hall was dealt to Chicago. Up against the cap, Boston couldn’t make any major signings to fill those holes, though they did sign forwards James van Riemsdyk and Milan Lucic as well as defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to one-year, $1 million contracts in the hopes that they might be worthwhile depth pieces.

What would success look like? A lot of people will be quick to dismiss the Bruins after their difficult summer, but Boston still has an elite defense and an amazing goaltending tandem in Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. That alone could make them competitive, but when you combine that with one of the league’s top forwards in Pastrnak and complement him with the likes of Zacha, DeBrusk, Charlie Coyle and especially Marchand, this is a team that could still potentially win 50 games and maybe even turn some heads in the playoffs.

What could go wrong? Then again, Boston is looking awfully thin up the middle without Bergeron and Krejci while their bottom-six is arguably the worst it’s been in years. Marchand is tough, but he’s also 35 and has something of an injury history, which puts even more pressure on Pastrnak. Additionally, while Ullmark has been a great goaltender for years, his 2022-23 campaign was far and away the best we’ve ever seen him, so there’s some risk there of moderate regression, which combined with the anticipated decline in Boston’s offense, could be enough to push the Bruins into mediocrity.

Top Breakout Candidate: That’s part of the problem: Boston is short on promising young players to help fill the void. Jakub Lauko is at least worth keeping an eye on because he might get a chance to serve as one of Boston’s top-two centers, which would be a golden opportunity, but he might lack the offensive upside to get that role or take advantage of it if he’s put in that position. Fabian Lysell will have a comparatively harder time cracking the lineup, but his offensive potential is significantly higher.

Forwards

David Pastrnak- RW

When Auston Matthews scored his 60^th goal of the season in April of 2022, he was the first to join the 60-Goal Club since Steven Stamkos in 2012. Last season, we had two new members of the club, one being David Pastrnak. The Czech entered the 73^rd game of the season with 49 goals before going on a run of 12 goals in 10 games. Add 52 assists to his goal total and he sat third in the NHL in points last season. As with most great goal scorers, Pastrnak is particularly lethal on the powerplay. While earlier in his career he relied on his finishing to score powerplay goals, Pastrnak now has a quantity over quality approach to scoring. His 45.3 total shot attempts per 60 rate has a sizeable gap to the next most frequent powerplay shooter in Patrik Laine at 37.6. Pastrnak was also fed the benefit of playing with more passive players last season, giving him the space to possess and make plays. He resumed his chemistry with now retired David Krejci, and made new connections with Pavel Zacha and Tyler Bertuzzi. The Perfection Line is no longer, as David Pastrnak is carving out his new chapter of legacy in Boston.

Brad Marchand- LW

The 2022-23 season began with Brad Marchand out of the Bruins lineup with a hip injury. With an initial timeline of a late November return, Marchand was declared ready to play on November 1st when the Bruins took on the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Nova Scotian would finish the season without missing much extra time, playing 73 games for the black and gold. However, he wasn’t quite the Marchand we’ve become accustomed to. In a season when scoring was up, Marchand recorded less than a point per game for the first time since 2015-16. And his 21 goals were tied for the fewest he’s scored since becoming a regular NHL player. Now thirty-five years of age, this feels like a key moment in the last part of Marchand’s career. Was this last season an unlucky season, or has he declined to a lower level – perhaps explained by the hip injury. Despite having a down year, the Bruins coaching staff did not reduce his role. He still played a similar number of even strength, powerplay, and shorthanded minutes as the year before. Maybe that means the Bruins feel he was a bit unlucky. Plus, Marchand’s bad year was still very good. But given his age, any sign of regression should be a warning of what may be to come.

Pavel Zacha - LW

Last summer, the New Jersey Devils traded the rights to Pavel Zacha to Boston in exchange for Erik Haula. The two parties came to an agreement on a one-year contract extension. The 2015 sixth overall pick hadn’t found the success he wanted yet, with a career-high of 36 points and bouncing between center and wing. At 6’ 4”, Zacha has the size and strength to be a rugged center, but he’s in fact more of a gentle giant. With Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Charlie Coyle taking on the center duties in the top nine, Zacha was able to ease his way into his chapter in Boston. As the least known member of the Czech Mates, Zacha was able to play to the left of fellow countrymen David Krejci and David Pastrnak. While the Bruins wanted Zacha to shoot more often in a Bruins uniform, it didn’t work out as such. He ranked 321^st of 371 skaters who played 500 minutes or more at 5-on-5 last season. But a career-high shooting percentage, along with a high on-ice shooting percentage, led to career-highs in both goals and assists. A large portion of his even strength assists were secondary, something that carries significantly more variance year-to-year. The Bruins extended Zacha to a four-year contract in January in hopes that he can fill the role of Patrice Bergeron. While he’s not expected to come close to the Hall of Fame level of the Bruins legend, he is expected to be the top offensive center, playing the bumper on the powerplay and killing off penalties as well.

Jake DeBrusk - RW

During the 2021-22 season, Jake DeBrusk requested a trade out of Boston. With the rights to the 2015 14^th overall pick controlled by the Bruins, the two parties made a deal to come to an agreement on a contract that would take him to unrestricted free agency in 2024. With the coaching change in the summer of 2022, DeBrusk rescinded that request and focused on the upcoming season. While spending time in his earlier career bouncing in between the left and right wings on the second and third lines, DeBrusk found a home to the right of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in the latter half of the 2021-22 season, and Jim Montgomery continued down this path. His success in the role can partially be attributed to the talent he was playing with, but also his ability to play faster and be the dominant player in transition. DeBrusk is great at recovering pucks on the boards and playing in tight places, which is why he handles net front duties on the powerplay, but he is exemplary off the rush. Being able to pressure opposing defensemen with the surety that he had that his teammates would cover for him was the blessing that took him from good to great. DeBrusk would’ve likely scored 30 goals last season if it wasn’t for an injury that he endured during the Winter Classic where he scored both Bruins goals in their 2-1 win. DeBrusk was someone who has shown considerably more success with Bergeron than without him, so one should be cautious of his upcoming season alongside Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, or another center.

Charlie Coyle- C

When he is not posting pictures of his golden retrievers online, Charlie Coyle can be found playing center for the Boston Bruins. Just like his dogs, he adds a nice bite to the middle of the Bruins lineup. At 6-foot-3, Coyle is hard to knock off the puck. When Jim Montgomery came in and installed some puck possession driven adjustments, Coyle was one to benefit from that. Spending much of his season alongside Trent Frederic, who had a breakout season in a new position, the pair would be a pain point for opposing defensemen, attacking off of turnovers created from textbook forechecking. And while he wasn’t one to create offense off the rush, Coyle used his skating abilities to be one of the better Bruins when it came to transitioning the puck. The Weymouth native is a dependable piece for Boston. He has played 82 games in each of the last two seasons, scoring 16 goals in each season as well. His one additional secondary assist in 2022-23 is what ruins the pattern. But beyond knowing what you are getting out of Coyle, the prospect of more being there is what excites the Bruins. With Bergeron and Krejci injured in their now infamous first round series against the Panthers, Coyle filled in as a dominant top-six center when it counted. With the role largely up for grabs this season, the Bruins are hoping that he takes it.

Trent Frederic- RW

When the Bruins opened up the 2022-23 season in Washington, Trent Frederic was a healthy scratch. The former first round pick had only accumulated 23 points in 119 career games. After the Bruins took a win in their opening game, Frederic made his way back into the lineup for the home opener against the Arizona Coyotes. After recording an assist and a fight, Frederic would stay in the lineup for the next game against Florida, where he would go on to score his first goal of the season. From then on, Frederic was a regular in the Bruins lineup, ending the year with 17 goals and 14 assists – the latter two of which surpassed his career total heading into the season. Drafted as a center out of the USNDTP and spending some time as a left wing in his professional career, the 24-year-old took on the last available forward position as a right wing. Spending 73% of his 5-on-5 time to the right of Charlie Coyle, Frederic found his groove, particularly with attacking off of the forecheck. The question is, will he be able to build off of last season, or revert back to his old ways. He had an uncharacteristically high individual and on-ice shooting percentage, a caution flag for those expecting him to repeat his performance. Furthermore, the Bruins may need more special teams time out of him this season with the departures of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Taylor Hall. He has not been a regular member of either the powerplay of penalty kill thus far in his career. Although excited, the Bruins will remain cautious of the 6’ 3” forward, and it will be up to him to prove to the world that he is the same player as last season.

Morgan Geekie- C

Just before the pandemic hit, Morgan Geekie made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes, recording three goals and an assist in a pair of games before the stoppage. He returned to the Hurricanes for the shortened 2021 season, playing a depth role for Carolina. However, Carolina would leave him unprotected in the expansion draft where Ron Francis, the general manager who drafted him in 2017, would snatch him up. Geekie would work his way through a pair of one-year contracts in Seattle, playing in a depth role. The Kraken had opted to operate a unique fourth line, substituting the stereotypical grit with lower-end speed and skill with the likes of Ryan Donato, Daniel Sprong, and Morgan Geekie. In the Kraken’s disastrous inaugural season, Morgan Geekie saw some time on the second powerplay unit, but with a stronger roster last season, he saw that time slip away. He managed to record nine goals and 19 assists in 69 games in his depth role, but the 25-year-old has headed to Boston for a bigger role. He will likely slot in on the third line, either at center or on the right wing, and look to work his way up from

James van Riemsdyk- LW

When the clock ticked down to zero on trade deadline day in March, the rebuilding Flyers were left with pending unrestricted free agent James van Riemsdyk on their roster. The 14-year veteran is at an all-time low in popularity – something Chuck Fletcher potentially underestimated. Outside of shortened seasons due to injuries or outside circumstances, his 12 goals and 17 assists were career-lows. At 34 years of age, The 6’ 3” forward is trying to milk the last bit of hockey out of himself. Unable to match the speed of much younger players, JvR utilizes both a skilled set of hands and a high level of intelligence to make an impact. He should be able to make himself useful on the powerplay, likely as the net front player on the second unit with a healthy roster. With proper deployment at even strength, perhaps he could have a small revival in his last stage of his career. The New Jersey native spent the majority of his even strength time next to Morgan Frost last season. While Frost showed some positive signs in the closing stages of the season, he has largely struggled over the course of his professional career thus far. With a boost in the quality of his linemates, and with a more offensively focused coaching staff, van Riemsdyk could have a bounce back year in Boston. However, it is unlikely he will return to the production pace he had earlier in his career.

there. He may also earn a spot on the second powerplay unit and see some penalty killing time as well. The Bruins are excited to see what Geekie can do in a bigger role. They saw the two-year contract that they handed out as a low-risk opportunity to be the ones who will possess his rights when the world finds out. Geekie’s skating abilities are the limiting factor, but the Bruin coaches will look to help him over that hump.

Defense

Charlie McAvoy - D

The 16^th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft entered the 2022-23 season on long-term injured reserve. Come November 10^th, McAvoy was back in the Bruins lineup, scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames. He would go on to score six more goals and 45 assists, four points shy of his career-high in 11 fewer games. The departure of Torey Krug in 2020 and addition of Hampus Lindholm in the spring of 2022 had led to a change in allocation of Charlie McAvoy’s minutes. Last season, McAvoy played 2.3 fewer 5-on-5 minutes per game than in 2019-20 but played 1.3 more powerplay minutes per game. He recorded 20 more points last season than in 2019-20, 17 of that 20-point difference coming from the powerplay. With another number one defenseman playing on another pair, and a new coach that preaches puck possession and active defensemen, we are seeing Charlie McAvoy’s offense blossom in front of our eyes. He was 12^th among defensemen with at least 500 minutes in points per 60 last season, and there’s no reason to believe we shouldn’t expect more of the same this season.

Hampus Lindholm - D

The Swedish defenseman lost market value in Anaheim after injuries and a few underwhelming seasons left some uncertainty over which Hampus Lindholm one should expect to see. The Bruins had no doubt in their mind, signing him to a long-term extension immediately after acquiring him at the 2022 deadline. When the 2022-23 season opened up, Lindholm got his chance to be the star on the back end with McAvoy sitting in the press box. He shined in that first month and beyond, racking up Norris Trophy votes by the end of the season. With defensive-defenseman Brandon Carlo as his anchor, and a new system that encourages defensemen to join the rush, Lindholm excelled beyond even the Bruins expectations. He has the size and skating of a top pairing defenseman, but the comfort in close spaces and offensive vision of a centerman. That combination not only helped Lindholm notch 53 points last season, but log 179 minutes on the penalty kill as well. With the Bruins playing very little from behind last season, we didn’t get to see how much the Bruins may utilize Lindholm and McAvoy playing together. But with the Bruins being worse this season, the two could find a way to juice their box score stats when playing from behind even more.

Kevin Shattenkirk - D

After winning a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020, Kevin Shattenkirk signed with the Anaheim Ducks. Over the course of his three seasons there, he only missed eight of 220 games despite his age. Now thirty-four, Shattenkirk is returning to the city where he played his college hockey on a one-year deal. When playing on such a poor hockey team, it can be tough to grasp how much of his poor performance is due to external factors and how much may be an aging player. Shattenkirk’s 27 points in 75 games strikes the disappointment of his last season prior to being bought out by the New York Rangers where he had 28 points in 73 games. Last season he spent 40% of his 5-on-5 time with Simon Benoit, an undrafted 24-year-old defenseman who has had unremarkable results to start his professional career. In Boston, Shattenkirk will have far less responsibility, and will have a reliable pro as a partner in Derek Forbort. With a healthy lineup, he’ll be expected to fill a small role on the third pair, waiting for a spot to open up in front of him.

Matt Grzelcyk - D

The undersized defenseman from Charlestown finished his sixth full season with the Boston Bruins with a career-high in points at 26. Grzelcyk has been part of a small group of defensemen creating their own mold in the NHL. Perhaps best described as a transition defenseman, Grzelcyk is strong at breaking out the puck, keeping the puck alive in the offensive zone, and defending zone entries. This style helps tilt the ice in his team’s favor. However, he doesn’t have the individual offensive skills like his partner Charlie McAvoy to find himself on the score sheet more often. When Torey Krug left, Matt Grzelcyk was the man who got the call for the first powerplay unit. But after a failed experiment in 2021 and 2022, Grzlecyk saw his special teams time disappear last season. Following the acquisition of Dmitry Orlov at the trade deadline, Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton were the rotating healthy scratches in the playoffs. The risk of Grzelcyk getting his time cut towards the end of the season is likely very low this year as the Bruins don’t expect to be as strong again.

Brandon Carlo - D

The 6’ 6” defenseman was one of the few Bruins that didn’t have a breakout offensive season in their record-breaking President’s Trophy campaign. He stuck to the dependable defensive style that brought him into his second pairing role years ago. While his three goals and 13 assists didn’t light up the score sheet to say the least, the Bruins did get a bit more activation out of Carlo off the rush and in the offensive zone. He fit into the system enough to keep plays alive and in the offensive zone, helping to boost his defensive performance more than anything. As has been the case, he was a staple on the Bruins penalty kill, logging more than 200 shorthanded minutes for the fifth time in his career. He also started 14% of his shifts in the defensive zone at 5-on-5, more than any other Bruin defenseman. However, for a defenseman who takes on the hardest minutes, he blocks strikingly few shots, ranking just 85^th in defensemen with 500 minutes in blocked shots per 60 last season. With limited options on the right side, and his steady defensive play, you can count on Carlo to log minutes for the Bruins next season. Just don’t expect him to record more than 25 points.

Goaltending

Jeremy Swayman - G

It’s probable there are few goaltenders heading into the 2023-24 season with bigger chips on their shoulders than Jeremy Swayman. After one of the league’s most impressive breakout seasons, Swayman was one-half of the most formidable goaltending tandem in the entire NHL during his 2022-23 campaign. Then, in the first round of the postseason, he had to sit on the sidelines and watch as the team doggedly left Vezina winner Linus Ullmark out to dry against a Florida Panthers roster that used a goaltending switch to revive their play and commit the upset of the playoffs. Swayman then entered an off-season that saw Boston take his contract negotiations all the way to arbitration; he’ll start this year on a one-year deal instead of with a contract that would lock him in as a part of the team for the foreseeable future.

The Bruins will struggle to be seen as a powerhouse this year with the departure of both captain Patrice Bergeron and second-line center David Krejci over the summer, so it will be even more crucial that the team get picture-perfect goaltending performances from both Ullmark and Swayman. In theory, that’s easy to feel confident in. Swayman in particular is still young, put up repeatedly good performances over both of his full NHL campaigns to date, and plays a game that demands shooters bring the game in close and show their hands before he comes to life. But he struggled to come back to form after an injury at the start of the season, which ultimately cost him the ability to put up a true tandem season with Ullmark; he’ll need to be even better this year if he wants to remain a member of the black and gold moving forward. It remains in Boston’s best interest to keep their elite tandem for as long as they can, but cap constraints could find them forced to sell one of their two talented netminders at the end of the year. After their first year working together, it was hard to imagine Boston choosing Swayman as the odd man out – but if both goaltenders put up the same numbers this year that they did in 2023, Ullmark seems like the more logical option to keep on hand. Swayman still needs to prove that he can dazzle when forced to pull out his most creative saves to prove that he’s got franchise cornerstone-level staying power.

Projected starts: 40-45

Linus Ullmark - G

Last season was a bittersweet performance for Linus Ullmark in Boston. During the regular season, he was a part of the best tandem in the NHL – and he was the better half of that tandem, earning him a Vezina trophy and the team’s full confidence during the postseason. But then the postseason hit, and Ullmark went from hot to cold seemingly every other night against the Florida Panthers. It may have been nerves, it could have been the fault of a nagging injury that was ultimately revealed following the team’s elimination in the first round – but whatever the reason, Ullmark looked skittish and a little slow on the recovery after first stops through the six-game series.

The real question for Ullmark this year likely won’t be whether or not he’s capable of repeating his stellar performance from the two years prior. Although he needed a quick learning curve following his departure from the Buffalo Sabres, the Swedish-born netminder has proven over his tenure in Boston that he’s a powerful skater who reads his opponents well and has stellar rebound control that can keep the puck in action and turn the play back up the ice. It’s impossible to debate, no matter how to try to spin it, that he’s a valuable asset for Boston to have on the ice. The question for Ullmark, rather, is going to be how he’ll be utilized during the year. There’s a non-zero chance that the Bruins will move Swayman out in hopes of recouping value after struggling to come to an agreement on his contract this summer, and it’s unlikely that anyone in the Bruins system currently would be able to tandem as seamlessly with Ullmark as Swayman has been able to. That would leave Ullmark playing a heavier workload if the team does try to change things up with their lineup – and while his technique is consistent and hard to rattle him out of, Ullmark’s style of play lends itself to fatigue more than Swayman’s. Boston’s current lineup doesn’t look as lethal as the one they set league records with last year, but the postseason could become an achilles heel for Ullmark if he enters it overworked.

Projected starts: 40-45

NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: BOSTON BRUINS VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS – Late surging Panthers make interesting underdog despite gap in standings

Scott Cullen — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 16:48:55 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 28: Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) faces off with Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) during the game between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)

The Boston Bruins accrued 135 points, the most ever in a National Hockey League season, and they are the Stanley Cup favorites heading into the postseason. The Florida Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, but it was a much more difficult path to reach the playoffs this year.

Naturally, the Bruins are expected to win their first round series against the Panthers, but it could be closer than the standings might suggest.

Forwards

The Bruins’ attack is paced by right winger David Pastrnak, who led the team with 61 goals and 113 points, but he has a strong supporting cast. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand may be getting older, but they are still dominant two-way players. Bergeron is 37 years old, and the Bruins controlled 63.2% of expected goals and 71.3% of goals during five-on-five play when he was on the ice. It’s preposterous.

Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha, and David Krejci all had at least 50 points. Charlie Coyle, Taylor Hall, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Trent Frederic all provide additional scoring depth. This is one of Boston’s big advantages – scoring threats throughout the lineup.

Florida is more top heavy, with Matthew Tkachuk both the scoring and spiritual leader of the group, putting up 40 goals and 109 points with 123 penalty minutes. If the Panthers are going to pull off the upset, they will need Tkachuk to continue his outstanding play. After the trade deadline, he produced 12 goals and 30 points with 85 shots on goal in 19 games. Carter Verhaeghe, with a career-high 42 goals, and Aleksander Barkov, who topped 75 points for the fourth time in his career, are the other top scoring threats for the Panthers.

Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett are quality secondary scoring options and Bennett does have a knack for rising to the occasion in the postseason, putting up 21 points in 30 games over his past four playoff appearances. Bennett has also been out since March 20 with a lower-body injury, leaving his status questionable for the start of the playoffs. A supporting cast that includes Anthony Duclair, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen has some potential but, overall, the Bruins have a deeper forward group.

Defense

Boston brings one of the best bluelines in the league to this series. Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy are both legitimate No. 1 defensemen worthy of Norris Trophy votes and having two players of that calibre is a luxury available to precious few teams. Adding Dmitry Orlov at the trade deadline only made the group stronger as it gives the Bruins another well-rounded blueliner who can move the puck but handle defensive responsibility, too. Matt Grzelcyk adds mobility while Brandon Carlo, Connor Clifton, and Derek Forbort bring more of a physical presence to the game. While the Bruins defense is strong, the defensive results since the trade deadline are relatively mediocre, with Boston ranking 14^th in all-situations shots against and expected goals against per 60 minutes. It’s not egregiously terrible, but it is not as dominant as the Bruins were earlier in the season.

Brandon Montour emerged as a premier offensive defenseman this season, finishing in a tie for fifth among blueliners with 73 points while playing a career-high 24:08 per game. Montour averaged more than three shots on goal per game, a big jump from his previous high of 2.21 shots per game, set in 2018-2019. Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad both logged more than 23 minutes per game, and they form a solid nucleus on the blueline. It’s beyond those three where the questions start to hit. Marc Staal, Radko Gudas, and Josh Mahura round out the top six and that looks like a defense that will eventually get exposed against Boston’s forwards. The Panthers ranked 22^nd in all-situations shots against and 23^rd in expected goals against per 60 minutes, so there is a defensive vulnerability that lingers over this Panthers team.

Goaltending

Maybe the biggest edge that the Bruins hold in this series is the potential goaltending advantage offered by Linus Ullmark, who is favored to win the Vezina Trophy after leading the league in wins (40), goals against average (1.89), and save percentage (.938). Jeremy Swayman gives the Bruins an excellent secondary option in goal, delivering a .920 save percentage for the season, but a .932 mark in 23 games after the calendar flipped to 2023.

While Boston has two strong options between the pipes, the Panthers have more question marks. AHL call-up Alex Lyon played big role in Florida’s late season push to the playoffs. He is a 30-year-old journeyman who had a .912 save percentage in a career-high 15 games but had a .943 save percentage in his last eight starts. Goaltending is unpredictable at the best of times, but just about anything can happen in small samples, and that could include Lyon making a name for himself by stonewalling the top team in the league. If Lyon turns into a kitty cat, a now-healthy Sergei Bobrovsky would be available for the Panthers. The 34-year-old was mediocre during the regular season and has a spotty playoff track record, but it would come as no surprise if Florida’s $10 million goaltender appeared in this series.

Special Teams

Both the Bruins and Panthers are above average with the man advantage. Boston scored 8.21 goals per 60 minutes during five-on-four play, which ranked eighth. Pastrnak led the Bruins with 18 power play goals, followed by Bergeron and Marchand, both with nine. Florida scored 7.92 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play, ranking 10^th. Reinhart tallied 16 power play goals and Tkachuk added 14, while Barkov and Ekblad both contributed eight. The Panthers spent 5:26 per game at five-on-four, tops among all playoff teams.

Penalty killing is a significant advantage for the Bruins, as Boston ranked first in expected goals against and actual goals against per 60 minutes during four-on-five play. Their goaltending has been great, but Boston has allowed the lowest rate of shots against per 60 in those situations, too. Florida had slightly better than average penalty killing results, but that is still operating at a deficit against Boston.

Conclusion

As great as the regular season was for the Bruins, their possession numbers do not quite match their historically dominant place in the standings, so they are probably not as good as 135 points would suggest. At the same time, the Panthers had better possession numbers than their 92-point season would indicate and might be better than their point total. With Tkachuk leading the way, the Panthers could be a lively underdog if they can get quality goaltending. That ‘if’ is a big factor, though, so Boston is still the pick to advance. Bruins in 6.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – NHL Player Profiles

Shawn Ferris - Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 21:19:09 +0000

FORWARDS

Patrice Bergeron

Now thirty-seven years of age, the long-time Bruin won a record fifth Selke last season. Having yet to lose much pep in his step, he’ll be returning to Boston on a one-year deal. Bergeron netted 25 goals last season despite having his lowest individual shooting percentage since the 2016-17 season. On top of that, he assisted on 40 of his teammate’s goals. Not only can you depend on Bergeron’s production, but his commitment to and abilities on the defensive side of the game are a rare gem. Under Bruce Cassidy, Bergeron’s received more focus than previously under Claude Julien. This is reflected in his offensive and defensive zone starts which are almost perfectly inverse. How Jim Montgomery chooses to use Bergeron this coming season will be worth watching for.

David Pastrnak

While he was already a star, David Pastrnak took another leap forward last season. The Bruins opted to break up the “perfection line” by sending Pastrnak to play with Erik Haula and Taylor Hall for the latter part of the season. Thanks in large part to Pastrnak, the line saw success, outscoring their opponents 27-12. Pastrnak was able to muster his second 40-goal season and added 37 assists in 72 games. As he has most of his career, the former first round pick sees a hefty amount of powerplay time where he plays the flank on his off wing. His one-timer is as dangerous as anyone’s, and he can help get the puck in the zone with control too. Away from Bergeron, Pastrnak was forced to take on more defensive responsibilities, however, with the return of his fellow countryman David Krejci, we could see more offense unleashed from Pastrnak this year.

Brad Marchand

Known by some as the little ball of hate, Brad Marchand adds a gritty, pesty element to the Bruins top six. Standing at only 5-foot-9, the Canadian uses his skating abilities, hockey IQ, and clever trash talking abilities to disrupt his opponents. Of course, he can take it too far at times. He was suspended six games last season for punching and high-sticking Penguins goaltender Tristian Jarry late in a game in February. That helped limit him to 70 games where he notched 32 goals and 48 assists. Alongside Bergeron, Marchand’s defensive game is well-rounded. Whether it comes to forechecking, puck management, or defensive zone positioning, Marchand has all of the tools to limit his opponent’s chances. He’s even been trusted to take on a significant amount of penalty killing time throughout most of his career. Underwent successful hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips in May with a six-month recovery timeline, so a late November return is likely. Allow some time to return to form and suspension is always a risk for further time lost.

Taylor Hall

It doesn’t feel like we haven’t quite returned to the Taylor Hall of old, but the former first overall pick had a bounce back season. Following the 2017-18 season where he won the Hart Trophy, Hall only played 33 games in 2018-19 due to injury. Bouncing around in Arizona and Buffalo, Hall found his home in Boston. With David Pastrnak coming down to play with him, Hall’s offense sparked. He managed his first 20-goal season since that Hart Trophy year and added 41 assists to go along with it. Hall has been the fifth man on a loaded first powerplay unit where he plays the net front role. Perhaps it was sheer bad luck, but the Bruins only found themselves middle of the pack in powerplay efficiency last season. With David Krejci replacing Erik Haula, all signs of even strength production point up for Hall this season, however, we’ll have to see how the Bruins manage their powerplay units this season.

Charlie Coyle

When Coyle signed his extension with the Bruins in the fall of 2019, the intention was that he’d be the successor to David Krejci. But with Krejci playing in Czechia, Coyle wasn’t able to fill the role quite like the Bruins hoped. He found a groove later in the season where he played on a grind line with Craig Smith and Trent Frederic. He’s never produced at a top-six level in his career, but he’s a dependable player. He saw action in all 82 games last season where he played on the Bruins second powerplay unit and recorded over 100 shorthanded minutes to add onto it. Assuming that he sits back in his more comfortable role for the entirety of the season, Coyle should be able to add a lot of value for the Bruins this season.

Jake Debrusk

Jake DeBrusk had a roller coaster of a 2021-22 season. After a disappointing season in 2021 where he only scored five goals and added nine assists in 41 games, DeBrusk’s 2021-22 season did not start off so hot either. Wanting a change of scenery, it was leaked that the Edmonton native wanted to play elsewhere. With a solid attitude, DeBrusk stuck it out and found himself alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron in the latter parts of the season. Rejuvenated alongside elite talent, DeBrusk was able to net 25 goals with the Bruins. After signing an extension, DeBrusk decided to rescind his trade request this summer and plans to play out his new contract on Boston. DeBrusk will likely see powerplay time in a net front role, but don’t expect him to see much time shorthanded.

Craig Smith

After a productive first season in Boston where he scored 0.59 points-per-game, Smith’s production fell down slightly, recording only four more points in 20 more games. He bounced around the lineup, playing on all three lines, before finding his home on the third line. Smith is responsible in all three zones, which has earned him the respect and trust of his coaches to move him up and down the lineup. Smith has the ability to help create shots at a high rate but has never had the finishing ability of a top-six scorer. Stuck on the second powerplay unit, his value may not show up in the box score. However, there is the looming possibility that he sees time with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand this season. Or perhaps the concession of David Krejci and Taylor Hall, a line combination that saw success after Taylor Hall was traded to the Bruins at the 2021 trade deadline. When everyone is healthy, DeBrusk may supplant him in the top six, but will see his share of time with the key scorers.

Pavel Zacha

As a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, the New Jersey Devils decided to send Pavel Zacha to Boston where he signed a one-year extension with the club. Although the former sixth overall pick is listed as both a center and a winger, expect him to play the wing given the Bruins center depth. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing over 200 pounds, Zacha has the size and stature of a power forward who can be dangerous on the rush and on the forecheck. Assuming he ends up playing with Charlie Coyle, he will be an upgrade to the Bruins grind line that saw success in the closing months of the 2022 season. However, the hope still lingers for him to get a shot with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Zacha should see a reduction in powerplay time from seasons past but may pick back up the shorthanded time he had seen earlier in his career.

David Krejci

After spending the 2021-22 season playing in his home country of Czechia, David Krejci has decided to return to Boston for another season. Krejci is a true distributor. He loves to be a supporting piece in the middle of the ice and sets up his teammates for breakouts and shot attempts. His pass-first style has led him to three 50+ assist seasons in his career, his last one being the 2018-19 season. He is expected to play with fellow countryman David Pastrnak, a player most known for being a goal scorer, and Taylor Hall. Although he is returning to the NHL at 36, between such talent, one can expect a productive year from him.

DEFENSE

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 02: Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins, held on December 2, 2021, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

Charlie McAvoy

Coming off of another spectacular season, Charlie McAvoy will be entering his sixth NHL season. As one of the top defensive defensemen in the league, thanks to mentorship from Zdeno Chara, McAvoy had been trusted in every situation heading into last season already. However, for the start of McAvoy’s career, Torey Krug had managed the Bruins top powerplay unit. After his departure in the fall of 2020, the top spot was left in limbo in the short 2021 season. Last season, the Bruins decided to commit to McAvoy in the top spot, helping to boost his production to a career-high 10 goals and 46 assists. If there is one thing you can count on, it’s another excellent season at both ends of the rink from McAvoy.

Hampus Lindholm

Given the direction of the team, the Anaheim Ducks decided to trade away Lindholm at the deadline in 2022. Despite injuries shortening his previous two seasons, the Bruins stepped up to the plate, sending assets to the Ducks and signing Lindholm to a long-term contract extension. With McAvoy heading the defensive core, and the likes of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak up front, Lindholm can fall into a lesser role in Boston. He was able to play a more simple, dependable game in Boston where he gelled with the team instantly. He spent most of his time alongside Charlie McAvoy but had spent time with Brandon Carlo as well. Lindholm is looking to return to his glory days as one of the better defensive defensemen in the league and looks poised to do that in this new environment.

Brandon Carlo

At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Brandon Carlo can be quite the intimidating presence. Good luck keeping a cycle alive against him. He’s a puck defensive defenseman. He lacks most offensive skills, notably his shooting abilities. However, he plays within his bounds. He’s efficient at keeping the puck in at the offensive blue line or forcing errors at his own blue line. He’s well-positioned in the defensive zone and prevents rebounds in front of his own net. He’s a dependable piece on the Bruins penalty killing unit where he gets into shooting lanes and helps to clear pucks. He may need a more offensive partner to stay glued with his forwards and get the play to move back up ice, but he will rarely make a major defensive error.

Matt Grzelcyk

Describing Matt Grzelcyk’s game can be quite the puzzle. When watching him play for the first time, his skating abilities might remind you of his former teammate Torey Krug. But he’s not exactly and offensive defenseman like Krug. Then, you notice he’s limiting shots against, but he’s only 5-foot-9. Grzelcyk is best described as a transitional defenseman. He’s like a one-man breakout, escaping tight jams and looking off forecheckers. He also uses his skating abilities to keep the puck in the offensive zone or create good gaps when defending entries. Nothing he does looks spectacular from a distance, but the details in his game are superb.

Derek Forbort

Derek Forbort quickly became a favourite in the Bruins locker room after signing in Boston during free agency last summer. Off the ice, he’s quite simple. He just wants to go on walks with his dogs. On the ice, it’s much of the same. He stays within his bounds as a reliable defensive defenseman. He’s reliable at his own blue line and in his own end. At times when he feels comfortable, he’ll show a flash of skills in the offensive zone, but quickly returns to the game he knows best. He saw well over 200 minutes on the penalty kill last season where he wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line. On a deep depth chart, Forbort knows that utility could be the difference between him being in the lineup or not.

GOALTENDING by Catherine Silverman

Jeremy Swayman

Jeremy Swayman couldn’t have asked for a better coming-out party than his 2021-22 season. He very nearly earned himself a Calder Finalist nomination, finishing fourth in voting during his first full season at the NHL level – and he established himself as one half of the league’s most endearing tandem, playing one of the league’s few true workload splits while doling out signature post-game hugs with his tandem partner Linus Ullmark and smiling for all the world to see. Now, his biggest challenge will simply be replicating his success next year; it might seem like a tall order, but he’ll do so with a determined offensive roster including the recently-returned David Krejci fresh off of his one-year stint back home in the Czech Republic. The addition of Krejci’s impressive defensive specialty to Boston’s center depth provides a one-two punch of reliability with Patrice Bergeron that eases the responsibility for Swayman heading into his sophomore campaign.

There’s not much about Swayman’s game that stands out in a negative way. Neither he nor Ullmark are particularly prolific puck-handlers, but they don’t necessarily need to be – and Swayman boasts a controlled game that relies on sitting back and allowing shooters to show their hands before he springs into action. He doesn’t always read the plays he faces perfectly and he lacks a little bit of that elite-tier gear when it comes to his ability to churn out creative saves, which is an area of his game that he’ll hopefully be able to round out as he becomes more comfortable evaluating the game at the NHL level. But even if he never quite dazzles like a Marc-Andre Fleury – and even if he never quite displays the intense temperament that Tuukka Rask did before him – he should be just fine.

Projected starts: 40-45

Linus Ullmark

The second half of Boston’s overly-likable tandem, Swedish netminder Linus Ullmark, proved that Buffalo lost something good when he ditched the Atlantic Division team that drafted him to sign with the Bruins last summer. Boston’s gamble on a longer-term deal for Ullmark paid off, too – while Ullmark’s overall game consistency was a bit less reliable than Swayman’s, he still managed to maintain some of the league’s better numbers over his 41-game regular season campaign.

If Swayman’s game relies on firm edges and patience, Ullmark’s relies on fluid movements and a comfortable rhythm. Like many Swedish-developed goaltenders, he does well when given a defense to backstop that allows him to push pucks back out into play. Some fans expressed concerns that Ullmark struggled with rebound control, but his tracking consistency when following pucks back out into the defensive zone suggest he prefers the puck to stay in action over stoppages that put faceoffs on his end. That makes sense, too, given how well he skates and how much he thrives when given the chance to establish a flow in the blue paint. His injury struggles from years past can’t be fully erased after a single season, of course, but it’s much easier to feel confident in his performance capabilities when he’s given a bit more structure up front and has a reliable tandem partner to work with. The one-two punch of Swayman and Ullmark seemed to help both goaltenders truly maximize their potential; there’s very little reason to look at what Ullmark did last year and approach this year with caution.

Projected starts: 40-45

EASTERN DIVISION PLAYOFF REVIEW :Washington vs. Boston – Bergeron meets Ovie Again – Two Big Deadline Acquistions

Corey Sznajder — Fri, 14 May 2021 15:15:11 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 05: Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) flips a backhander on net defended by Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on March 5, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Eastern Conference Preview

In what was easily the strangest NHL season in recent memory, the newly formed East division didn’t bring many surprises. All four teams have been mainstays in the playoff picture for the past few years and are led by their usual veterans. Sidney Crosby is in the Hart discussion again, Alexander Ovechkin scored at a 40+ goal pace, the Patrice Bergeron line carried Boston and Mat Barzal had another outstanding season for the Islanders. It’s also the division that has the smallest gap between first and fourth place, with only six points separating the Penguins and the Islanders.

With all four teams firmly in the “win now” part of their Cup windows, handicapping the first round will be tough. Things like matchups and playing styles are going to be more of a factor than usual and we will break those down below.

Washington vs. Boston

The Caps and Bruins have been two of the most consistent teams in the league the past decade, at least during the regular season. Even with their core getting deep into their 30’s, Washington coasted their way to a seventh straight playoff appearance. That path for Boston, however, wasn’t as smooth. Offense from anyone not on their top line was hard to come by and they had a tough time adjusting to life without Zdeno Chara on their blue line. Then the trade deadline happened and suddenly they have a former MVP in Taylor Hall on their second line.

Bruins Offensive Turnaround at Deadline

At the time of the trade, Boston was the second worst team in the league in five-on-five Expected Goals For and barely scoring two goals per game. They have gone from that to ranking seventh in the league in Expected Goals over their last 25 games and sixth in Actual Goals, scoring just under three per game during five-on-five play. Boston has always been a team that lives and dies by what the Bergeron line does, but they’ve always had good support with David Krejci anchoring that second line. You might have to go all the way back to when Nathan Horton was on the team to find the last time he had a winger as good as Hall. This, along with players like Craig Smith scoring closer to their career averages, makes Boston a very tough draw in the first round?

Is it fair to just write off the Caps like this, though? After all, they’ve been the more consistent team this year and have been historically tough to predict because they always find a way to outscore their problems. A team that is on the positive side of the ledger in most stats and has elite shooting/playmaking talent to back it up should be getting more respect than they have, no? Yes, but the issue for Washington comes down to the matchup and how they survive their shifts against Boston’s top players.

With every team in the division being so close, it’s going to take small advantages & matchups that put one team over another. That x-factor is usually special teams or goaltending and while Washington can score their share of power play goals, Boston has a lot of things going for them at even strength and what could be a boost for them is how they create passing plays that are tough to defend.

Small Advantages and Matchups could Throw a Wrench

Even with their struggles, Boston has been one of the better teams in the league at generating both cross-slot passes and passing plays from behind the net, both of which lead to higher danger scoring chances. The problem for most of the year was that it was only Bergeron’s line creating these looks, making them a one-trick pony. With Hall in the fold now, they’ve added some help to their second line and now that Smith is starting to finish his chances, you have two very dangerous lines. Then you factor in the fourth man element that Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk and Mike Reilly add to their blue line & Washington’s defenders will have their hands full.

The solution for the Caps is probably going to come down to how well they can defend their blue line and how much damage they take from Bergeron regardless of who they match against them. Washington plays an aggressive style at their blue line and while it has worked for them this year, as one of the best teams in the league at preventing controlled entries and breaking up plays at their own blue line and could throw a wrench into how Boston wants to play, especially from Hall’s line.

Washington is in very good company when it comes to how to defend their blue line. They don’t give up many chances and it’s very hard to carry the puck in against them. If you’ve watched any of their games, you might notice how their two defensemen tend to converge on side of the rink to force dump-ins or kill plays at the line. It’s an aggressive way to defend & it requires a lot of attention to detail from the forwards, especially on the weak side because there has to support in case the defenseman gets beaten. Their blue line has enough sizable, fundamentally sound players that it’s usually not an issue, but Boston’s top-six has made worse players look silly in their heyday. It also poses a matchup question for the Caps, as they’ll need to make sure their wingers don’t fall asleep when Boston has the puck, because that’s usually the first domino to fall in an aggressive defending system like this.

The reality of this situation is that Bergeron’s line is likely going to win their matchup and while Washington has been good at preventing chances off the rush, their goal-scoring is what got them here. Boston has made a habit out of frustrating their opponent’s offense in the playoffs and while a main reason for that now plays for Washington, Boston’s defense hasn’t seen much of a dropoff in terms of preventing chances. Where is the Caps offense going to come from? The good news for the Caps is that they haven’t had to wait their turn for rush opportunities to create offense. The bad news for them is neither has Boston & they’ve been better recently compared to the rest of the season.

Two Similar Teams, Two Big Trade Dealine Acquisition, Ovechkin and his battles against Bergeron

Basically, you have two teams who are pretty similar in how they play, but Boston is just better, and their top players are more versatile in how they create offense. The one advantage might come down to matchups and who the Nicklas Backstrom/Anthony Mantha line gets deployed against. Laviolette isn’t a coach to get sucked into the hard matchup game, but with Ovechkin’s well-documented struggles against Bergeron, they’re going to have to find a way to survive those minutes and maybe look to take advantage of Coyle’s line, who has had a tough year regardless of who the wingers are.

With Hall doing so well in Boston, it’s easy to forget that Washington swapped Jakub Vrana for Anthony Mantha at the deadline and while Mantha hasn’t produced many points, he is someone who can work on Backstrom’s line as a guy who can produce off the forecheck & the rush. The trade-off for Washington is that he might be able to give you more a tight series like this where rush opportunities are limited & creating more dangerous chances off sustained possession is how Mantha can give Washington an advantage, especially if they draw tough matchups.

While they can strike off the rush, Washington is a team that prefers to keep the puck low and breakdown coverage by moving the puck from low to high and sneaking someone to the front of the net on rebounds. It’s not the most efficient way to go about things most times, but it does work for draining the clock & wasting shifts from the other team’s top line. One of their better players at doing this is third line center Lars Eller, who might end up drawing the Bergeron/Krejci matchup for this reason. It’s a tough draw for the Caps, but they are going to need to think a little outside the box to win this series rather than try to beat Boston at their own game.

The execution was off here, but you get an idea of what they’re trying to do. There’s a lot of meticulous, slow puck moving with the Caps & their cycles and while it’s deliberate, they do a pretty good job of getting someone open on the far side for a decent look. Boston’s had good success in the playoffs against teams like Carolina who do this often but struggled against shiftier teams like Tampa Bay. Washington’s game is more similar to Carolina, so generating those same looks against a more disciplined defensive team like Boston will be tough.

PREDICTIONS

Boston-Washington

Boston in 6

Fantasy hunches:

Pastrnak

Mantha

Hall

Home Brewin’ – Boston Bruins 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:33:11 +0000

Review/State of Play - In their first full season under coach Bruce Cassidy they improved by 17 points over 2016-17 finishing fourth in the NHL and second in their division. It was their 10^th 50^-winseason in their history, the most by any NHL team. Bowed out of the playoffs in the second round losing to Tampa Bay 4 – 1 after defeating Toronto in seven games in the first round.

The Bruins have remained a competitive team while adding a remarkable group of rookies in a textbook example of rebuilding on the fly. With its core in place and still functioning at an elite level they added a significant amount of youth in key roles throughout the line-up. Third year in his reshaping of the team Bruce Cassidy filled in around the edges with an eye to further development from within.

Brad Marchand

Dominating trio - Bruins were only one of two teams (Toronto) to feature three 30 goal scorers in Brad Marchand (34),David Pastrnak (35) and Patrice Bergeron (30). Marchand and Bergeron have been the leagues best shut down pair for many years, as brilliant defensively as they are offensively. Dominating on both special teams, along with Zdeno Chara, they led the leagues third best penalty kill (83.7%) – and can strike given an opportunity - Marchand boasts 23 career shorthanded goals – the most of any player since he entered the league. They rank first, second and third in the NHL in plus/minus since the 2010-11 season (Marchand +185, Bergeron (+166), Chara (+157). Bergeron was second in the league in CF% (56.8). The power play finished fourth in the league (23.5%) and they tied for 5^th in overtime wins (12) led by Marchand tying a league record for OT goals (5).

The need for secondary scoring after the top line was a concern heading into the season, but they received surprising rookie support. They had eight players who scored their first NHL goal leading the NHL by a wide margin with 58 goals coming from rookies (21.6% of the team’s goals). Danton Heinen and Jake Debrusk were fifth and seventh in team scoring, each scoring 16 goals in 77 and 70 games respectively. Debrusk would add another six in the playoffs in 12 games. Charlie McAvoy would have been in the Calder conversation if injury had not cut his season short and was on a 42-point pace over 82 games. Grelczyk on the back end played 16:44 a night in 61 games on the blueline while Kuraly held down a fourth line role with 12:15 per game and earning a regular spot in the line-up.

The kids are alright – They will be adding further youth to the forward group in exciting prospect and goal scorer Ryan Donato, who could be a Calder candidate next season. He contributed five goals and nine points in 12 games with the big club after scoring 26 goals in 29 games in his final season at Harvard. He has the potential to be an important top six contributor and was paired largely with David Krejci. The two along with DeBrusk, another frequent linemate of Krejci, should form an effective second line. Krejci looked rejuvenated last season and played at a high level.

Another candidate for a scoring role will be Anders Bjork, who was a promising scorer in college hockey and appeared in 30 games. He will be given every opportunity to earn a spot in the middle six. The departure of Rick Nash opens an opportunity on right wing for one of the youngsters which will also include his 3:18 time per game on the power play.

Towering Defense - The defense is led by stalwart ageless giant 42-year-old Zdeno Chara and offensive dynamo Torey Krug. Krug delivered points and 37 points in his final 39 games while Chara led the team with 22:54 minutes per game and was third in the league with 3:39 shorthanded ice time. Chara and dynamic sophomore McAvoy now form the team’s top pairing and Krug was simply one of the top offensive defensemen in the league from November on. He was paired with 21-year-old sophomore Brandon Carlo giving the Bruins an impressive top four that features two players under 21 (McAvoy is 20). It is a solid group in front of Tuukka Rask that finished fourth in the league in goals against last season.

Rask played in 54 games, the lowest since 2012-13, hadn’t played less that 64 games prior. The goal was to keep him fresh at 32 for the stretch run and playoffs. In the offseason they added Jaroslav Halak, who appeared in 54 games last season as the back up and should also appear in good number of games and some security in case of injury.

Outlook - The team is solid in all three areas, forward, defense and goal. The challenge will be emerging from a very tough Atlantic Division that includes the team that eliminated them last time, Tampa Bay, and Toronto who added John Tavares to a team that took the Bruins seven games to beat in last seasons playoffs.

Boston – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 20:21:44 +0000

In May 2015, Don Sweeney was named as the new General Manager of the Boston Bruins, a promotion from his previous role as the Assistant General Manager under the recently fired Peter Chiarelli. Among his first acts was preparing for the upcoming NHL draft. Slated to pick 14th overall, he made a positive first impression, showing creativity by trading for both picks 13 and 15 on the day of the draft. There were rumors that Sweeney wanted to bundle those consecutive picks for one of the first handful of picks in what is already proving to be a stacked draft class, but in the end, he used all of those picks internally.

His second impression was immediately met with derision and scorn. Not able to trade up (assuming that was the plan) the Bruins used those picks on, respectively, Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn. Solid prospects all, but many were shocked that that the team passed up on more highly touted prospects including Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, and Thomas Chabot, who, not coincidentally, were taken with the next three picks.

Two years later, Sweeney remains the butt of jokes for his draft maneuverings in 2015, and for good reason. While Zboril, DeBrusk, and Senyshyn are all fine as prospects, none have elevated themselves to elite status. A number of players taken later in that round have already established themselves in the NHL (Travis Konecny, Anthony Beauvilier) or have much higher prospect stock today, and have had from almost day one (Barzal, Connor, Chabot, Joel Eriksson Ek, Colin White, Ilya Samsonov, Brock Boeser, etc.). Ironically, there is a good case to be made that the Bruins made out better with their three 2015 second round picks (Brandon Carlo, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, and Jeremy Lauzon) than they did with the first round trio.

Despite the opprobrium, Sweeney has quietly drafted and signed enough prospects that the Bruins currently have one of the deepest and richest prospect pools in the league. The aforementioned Carlo is already a full-fledged NHLer, but the other five drafted in the first two rounds in 2015 are only part of a deep system with future contributors at every position. Although the Bruins have sputtered along at the NHL level since his promotion, with only one playoff appearance in three years, they have been added valuable assets, some of whom will be key contributors now (we expect at least to graduate to the NHL this year) and for the next truly competitive Bruins teams.

While it would be less than fair to judge Sweeney on the basis of his 2015 draft shenanigans alone, it would also be unfair to judge him solely on the system as it stands today. A number of the organization’s best prospects, including top names like Bjork and Heinan, predate his promotion. Further, the Bruins’ 2017 draft class appears light – especially after their first rounder - based on information currently available.

Charlie McAvoy (73) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 Charles McAvoy – Already an NCAA as a 17 year old, McAvoy only got better in his first post draft year. Not only was he a first team All-American for BU, but he was arguably the top player on the Gold Medal winning Team USA at the WJC. Signed to an ELC at the tail end of the season, he made his NHL debut in the playoffs and was immediately an impact player again. Very few defensemen, at any level, have his puck skills. He is simply a dynamic player who will have an impact with Boston on par with what Zach Werenski did last year with Columbus.

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA - APRIL 24: Finland's Urho Vaakanainen #7 celebrating with the championship trophy 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)

2 Urho Vaakanainen – A plus skater with an intriguing shot, Vaakanainen reminded the hockey world that he has more offensive potential that he let on during an understated Liiga season with a powerful performance in the WU18 tournament. A very mature player who has spent 1.5 season in the top Finnish league before he became eligible for the NHL draft, there are some who see a potential top pairing blueliner in the not-too-distant future. Expect an increased offensive role in his third Liiga season.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish right wing Anders Bjork (10) (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

3 Anders Bjork – A 5th round steal from 2014, Bjork had matured into one of the most exciting forwards in NCAA hockey by his junior season. It was no surprise that the Bruins worked hard to convince him to give up his final year of college eligibility to sign this offseason, which he began with a cameo for Team USA in the World Championships. He has dangerous speed, a hard shot and fantastic inner drive. Hearkening back to his USNTDP days, he is also extremely responsible in his own end. NHL ready.

4 Trent Frederic – Somewhat of a surprise selection at the tail end of the first round in 2016, Frederic, who was more of a two-way player for the USNTDP program, emerged as more of an offensive force as a freshman with Wisconsin. He reads plays very well, accurately judging when to use his teammates and when to go it alone. His hockey IQ on both sides of the puck is near elite. Puck skills are also high end, while his skating and shot are merely above average. He should be a shoe-in for Team USA at the 2017 WJC.

5 Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson – JFK showed a bit more goal scoring acumen in his sophomore season at BU. A very smart hockey player who has now spent four seasons playing in North America, he is always in the right place to generate a positive effect on the flow of the game. He can finish a net drive with deft stickhandling, a strong one-timer or a whippy wrist shot. He signed an ELC after BU’s season ended and should have a relatively brief AHL apprenticeship before seeing steady NHL ice time.

6 Jake DeBrusk – Former first rounder Jake DeBrusk, son of retired NHL policeman Louie DeBrusk, had a strong, if at times uneven, rookie pro season. A strong skater who is effective playing both an East-West as well as North-South game, he has above average top speed and very good agility and body control. When he enters the offensive zone with momentum, can be very dangerous, particularly when combined with his puckhandling skills. Could use another half season or more of AHL development time.

7 Zachary Senyshyn – One of the fastest players in the OHL, Senyshyn, another product of Don Sweeney’s infamous 2015 first round, ended his OHL career with his highest points-per-game average yet. A gifted goal scorer, he can commonly be found blazing down the wing and cutting in towards the net. Needs to fill out his lanky frame to have similar success as a pro. He has decent hands, but rarely tries fancy puck play as his speed has been able to beat most OHL defenders on its own.

8 Danton Heinen – Heinen upped the ante after a strong AHL rookie season with a fantastic, point-per-game playoff run. Although his first, abbreviated, NHL run was non-descript, he is still a strong prospect. He owns a solid slap shot, but is even better as a playmaker. He shows good vision in the offensive zone when carrying the puck and makes sharp and clever passes to open teammates. One of several mid-round success stories from recent Boston drafts.

9 Jeremy Lauzon – Although his final junior year was marred by injury, Lauzon turned heads with a strong WJC performance and ended on a high-note with a very good postseason performance for Rouyn-Noranda. Has a solid point shot that can be dangerous whether slapped or wristed and packs a big force into his checks. Foot speed is not an area of strength, but he has enough to stay relevant. Overall, a very polished young defenseman.

10 Jakub Zboril – Finally turning pro after a solid QMJHL season with Saint John, Zboril will no longer have to hear that he is not as good as Thomas Chabot. Of course, in the pros, he will have other good players to be compared to. He is a physical player whose tools have not improved much since he was drafted in 2015. Too easily drawn out of position. Possesses a strong shot and can execute passes from the blueline all over the zone, but his hands are stiff and his offensive upside may be limited.

11 Ryan Donato – A skilled puck player, Donato, whose father Ted Donato played for a number of years with Boston and is currently coaching his son at Harvard, nearly doubled his point production as a sophomore. He plays an exciting offensive game, with tenacity on both sides of the puck. A solid skater and shooter, his best attribute is clearly his plus stickhandling. Still not done filling out.

12 Malcolm Subban – Now four years deep into an AHL career, the former first round pick has put up team leading save percentages in only two of those years, with last year’s average numbers falling well short of the work of crease-mate Zane McIntyre. Subban still gets the nod in this list largely due to his athleticism portending the ability to improve over time. He can make highlight reel saves due to his lateral agility, but he needs to get his happy feet under control.

13 Matt Grzelcyk – After a storied college career at BU, Grzelcyk got his pro career off on the right foot with Providence. He will need to prove himself at each step due to his diminutive stature (think Torey Krug), but his offensive gifts are evident. He has very good vision and a plus wrist shot. He does not hesitate to pinch in very deep in the opposing zone and gives solid effort away from the puck.

14 Ryan Lindgren – Despite being selected to represent the USA at last year’s WJC, Ryan Lindgren’s first post draft year served as a reminder that the jump up from USHL play to college hockey is sometimes very difficult. In addition to struggling getting his offensive game going, he committed a plethora of unforced errors and averaged over two penalty minutes per game for the Golden Gophers. He should be able to play hard without spending so much time in the penalty box.

15 Jack Studnicka – A high IQ forward, Studnicka can also contribute as a secondary offensive threat, thanks largely to his plus wrist shot and solid puck skills. He still has a lot of room for physical growth, but he plays an effective physical game at the OHL level. His production in the playoffs far surpassed his regular season scoring pace and he could see a big increase in his role as an offensive producer in his post draft season.

16 Cameron Hughes – The sixth round pick from 2015, at the time a little-used freshman with Wisconsin, has been a scouting find for the Bruins. He is still underappreciated in prospect circles, but his hands are among the best at the collegiate level. He is extremely creative and can create magic with the puck on his stick. He is not higher up this list as he cannot do it alone. He needs a playmaker to put him in the clear, giving the slight Hughes the space he needs to operate.

17 Peter Cehlarik – A Slovakian forward drafted out of Sweden in 2013, Cehlarik finally came over to North America last year and impressed in his first North American season. A natural goal scorer with above average puck play, he is best when he has a teammate who can set him up. He still needs to improve his quickness to continue to be able to find soft spots in coverage from which to capitalize, but if he is still prospect eligible next year, he will most likely be higher up this list.

18 Kenny Agostino – Once the key part of the return for Jarome Iginla, Agostino has matured into an absolute beast at the AHL level, winning the league’s MVP award as its top scorer. It is an open question whether he can translate some of his AHL prowess into the NHL, but the minor league free agent signing is a good skater with very quick hands and plus finishing skills. The Bruins will give him a chance.

19 Jesse Gabrielle – A very physical player with a heavy shot, Gabrielle has had a somewhat disappointing finish to an otherwise solid WHL career. Despite playing on a suddenly strong Prince George team, the former fourth rounder’s production stagnated. He is a decent enough skater with a battler’s mentality that may find life on a professional energy line perfectly suited to his skills and style.

20 Emil Johansson – Fitting to end this list with another late round pick making good. Johansson, a puck moving two-way defenseman, took big steps forward last season while playing big minutes with Djurgardens in SHL, establishing career highs in both goals and assists. A solid skater with a decent shot, he made Sweden’ national Men’s team at age 21 and was given an ELC during the off-season.

In addition to the twenty prospects listed above, the Bruins had a few more who would have fit in very nicely in the top twenty of other organizations. Players like Noel Acciari, Ryan Fitzgerald, Sean Kuraly, Zane McIntyre, Daniel Vladar, Joona Koppanen, and more. With this type of system depth, the Bruins should never need to use NHL free agency to fill out the back half of the roster.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Boston Bruins

Grant McCagg — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 18:24:27 +0000

04 June 2015: NHL Combine participant, center Trent Frederic (108) works out during the Fitness testing at the 2016 NHL Scouting Combines at the Harbor Center in Buffalo, NY. (Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

There may have been some issues with the Bruins first-round picks in last year’s draft, but the selection of Charlie McAvoy at 14^th overall raised no eyebrows this time around as he’s a solid bet to develop into a top-four defenceman at the very least. McAvoy’s skating ability, strength and competitiveness will facilitate his ascension to the NHL ranks, perhaps within the next two seasons. Frederic was a bit of a reach in the first round given his limited offensive abilities, but if the Bruins think he can develop into a two-way third-line center he certainly brings some value…he’ll have to keep working on his quickness and puck skills.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	14	12	Charles McAvoy	D	USA	6-0/210	Boston University (HE)
1	29	61	Trent Frederic	C	USA	6-2/200	NTDP (USA)
2	49	46	Ryan Lindgren	D	USA	5-11/200	NTDP (USA)
5	135	NR	Joona Koppanen	LW	CAN	6-4/195	Ilves Tampere (Fin)
5	136	NR	Cameron Clarke	D	USA	6-2/180	Lone Star (NAHL)
6	165	NR	Oskar Steen	C	SWE	5-9/190	Farjestads (Swe)

Ryan Lindgren

Lindgren is a solid pick at 49…he may not be the biggest or the fastest blueliner, but his smarts and poise are among the best in the draft…he rarely makes a mistake. Joona Koppanen and Cameron Clarke are NHL longshots, but that’s usually the case once you’re picking in the 130-rang. Koppanen had some moments in U-18 games this season…he needs more consistency. Steen certainly had the speed/skill to be chosen higher than the sixth round, but concerns with his size and ability to handle physical play dropped his stock.

Grade – B - : Would have been higher if IMO they didn’t reach for Frederic...could have traded down and still got him.

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Best Defensive Defenceman

Grant McCagg — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 18:08:10 +0000

BEST DEFENSIVE DEFENCEMAN

The days of the hulking, plodding, bone-crushing blueliner being considered the prototypical defensive defenceman are becoming a thing of the past.

"Juolevi is not going to jump out at you with his physical attributes," said a scout. "He's not going to put a guy through the boards or win a fastest skater contest... what he will do is make the smart defensive play 95 per cent of the time with his instincts, agility, poise and puck skills."

OLLI JUOLEVI
CHARLES MCAVOY
DANTE FABBRO
RYAN LINDGREN
LOGAN STANLEY

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Mar-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:56:34 +0000

History is about to repeat itself at this summer's NHL Draft.

Every six years, as it goes, there has been a heated neck-and-neck race between the top two prospects to grab the coveted first-overall spot.

At the 2010 NHL Draft, it was the Taylor-Tyler derby (Hall-Seguin) which went right down to the wire.

Roll back six years prior to the Russian invasion of 2004 with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin - the '1A / 1B' year.

The race of 1998 pitted QMJHL star Vincent Lecavalier against young American hotshot David Legwand whom, as an aside, I recall delivering a scorching performance down at the old St. Mike's Arena in `97 en route to a 54-goal, 105-point rookie season for the Plymouth Whalers. Lecavalier was the consensus choice that year, however Legwand's performance at least made it a race.

The phenomenon continues this year with two teenage sensations in Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine waging a fierce battle to reach the finish line ahead. The contest has been nothing short of breathtaking to watch this season as the pair have jockeyed back and forth at the top of the McKeen's ranking board.

It could ultimately come down to a toss-up decision by the time June rolls around, with the best 'litmus test' being the World Senior Championships in May.

Auston Matthews has dazzled with Zurich of the Swiss NLA; his combination of elite hands and skating ability fully on display in what has turned out to be the 'ideal' platform for him. He can wheel and deal and pick apart a league which is light on physical play, full of open space, and all too accommodating.

It's not a knock against Matthews but instead a situation that may perhaps lead to developing some 'bad habits'. His defensive play and intensity away from the puck has been noticeable in between the sparkling moments. Like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel this season, he will have to make certain adjustments upon arriving in the NHL next fall.

Matthews is a 'clear-cut' No. 1 pick is many circles, however the staff here at McKeen's feel that the rocket-like development of Patrik Laine this season has muddied the waters.

Laine made a number of new NHL believers playing recently in his international debut with the senior Finnish national team. "He was exceptional with the national team last week. Plays very well with good players," said one top NHL scout.

Upon watching Laine's masterful showing at the U20 World Juniors, another head scout suggested that Laine "reminded him of a young Mario."

Those fortunate enough to have experienced the NHL career of Magnificant Mario Lemieux will no doubt see certain similarities in the style of Laine. His ability to dangle the puck anywhere within his body range, front, back, and side - combined with an innate sense for where the puck can be protected - is a bit eerily reminiscent of Lemieux.

The following video - his first hat trick in the SM-liiga - is a small peek into Laine's incredible talents (#29/White):

Another video featuring Laine's stickhandling wizardry :

This year's race is much closer than it might seem - and we likely won't know the outcome until the Edmonton Oilers (cough!!) reach the podium in June and announce the No. 1 selection - again.

Let's hope not.

THE REST OF THE FIRST ROUND

Among the other participants in the field, Matthew Tkachuk (London), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton) Clayton Keller (USA), and Luke Kunin (Wisconsin) were among the big movers on the list.

The composition of the top 26 players remained intact this month as there is a group of players clustered quite tightly in the 25-to-45 range, which projects for another intriguing second round this summer.

Three players debut in the top 30 this month, that being Everett goalie Carter Hart (No. 27), strong-skating Saint John blueliner Luke Green (29), and Kelowna rearguard Lucas Johansen holding down the final place - for now. Johansen, the younger brother of Nashville Predators' forward Ryan Johansen, is gradually winning over NHL scouts with his steady growth this season.

SO WHY ISN'T LOGAN STANLEY IN THE TOP 30?

From veteran OHL watchers to NHL scouts, not many are buying into the Logan Stanley hype that the towering Windsor defenceman is a sure-fire first-rounder. Undeniably, Stanley has made impressive strides this season, yet the scouts are wary of his skating and specifically his pivots, agility, and backwards mobility. (Check out OHL expert David Burstyn's scouting take on Stanley published earlier this week).

The evolution of NHL blueliners is not trending in his favour. As one NHL scout put it, "we need to be careful, there will never be a 'next Chara' - the game is changing."

McKeen's Chief of Draft Scouting Grant McCagg adds, "how are the mammoth first round d-men picked in the past few drafts doing? Oleksiak, Tinordi, McIlrath, Morin, Cowen... the evidence is piling."

Let's not forget there is still plenty of hockey to be played before the final lists are compiled in May. Plenty of opportunity for Stanley and other first-round hopefuls to entice NHL teams with a strong stretch run and playoff performance.

Final impressions count.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	36-24-22-46
2	Patrik Laine	LW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	43-17-16-33
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	49-12-15-27
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	50-19-37-56
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	48-7-27-34
6	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	48-23-70-93
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	57-10-35-45
8	Alexander Nylander	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	52-28-46-72
9	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	57-37-50-87
10	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	61-22-37-59
11	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	59-14-33-47
12	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	32-3-16-19
13	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	46-40-13-53
14	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	46-28-54-82
15	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	48-42-62-104
16	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	54-22-20-42
17	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	51-16-46-62
18	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	47-39-25-64
19	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	29-15-11-26
20	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	25-47-31-78
21	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	60-3-22-25
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	45-14-53-67
23	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	28-12-14-26
24	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	34-13-18-31
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	43-4-8-12
26	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	64-22-42-64
27	Carter Hart	G	Everett (WHL)	6-0/180	13-Aug-98	34W, 2.12, .919
28	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	46-7-9-16
29	Luke Green	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/190	12-Jan-98	53-9-23-32
30	Lucas Johansen	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	16-Nov-97	60-9-32-41

McKeen’s 2016 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Jan-2016)

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 23:56:18 +0000

McKeen's top ranked prospect isn't the "consensus" number one for the 2016 NHL draft, a distinction that has been bestowed upon Auston Matthews for the past year or more, yet Finland's Patrik Laine has served notice to the scouting world that the decision on who goes first overall will not be an easy one, and that he is in the discussion.

"He's the first prospect that reminds me of Mario (Lemieux) since Mario," noted one senior NHL scout who was blown away by Laine's performance at the WJC over the holidays, where the 6-4 left winger compiled seven goals and six assists in seven games while leading Finland to a Gold Medal victory at home.

"It's ballsy to have him rated number one, but can't say I disagree... he could be a home run."

Laine is six months younger, three inches taller, and has outscored Matthews 29 goals to 19 in international play over the past three years. Up until now, Matthews had been considered the better prospect, but that wasn't the case at the WJC, where Laine quite simply was the dominant offensive force from tournament start to finish along with linemate and fellow draft prospect Jesse Puljujarvi (ranked third overall).

His size, strength, puck skills, shot and smarts were evident in every game, and as the world juniors went on Laine became more willing to throw his body around as well.

"He competed hard in the big games," noted one scout. "His point totals slowed down, but his willingness to compete defensively grew as they got closer to winning."

Matthews, much like fellow American Jack Eichel last season, would be a sterling consolation prize if he went second overall thanks to his first-line center potential.

"He's a can't-miss prospect...he does everything well," said one scout. "Size, puck skills, vision, skating..if he doesn't go number one, he'll be the next guy chosen. He'll play in the NHL next season."

Puljujarvi didn't hurt his draft status at the WJC either after leading the WJC in scoring and being named the tournament MVP. The two Finnish forwards moved ahead of Michael McLeod in the rankings in large part because of their eye opening offensive performance at the WJC.

"Puljujarvi may be the more complete of the two Finns at this time," said one scout. "He's certainly not afraid to go in the corners and muck it up."

The player whose stock rose the most at the tournament was Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi due mainly to his steady, all-around game, natural skating ability and tremendous hockey smarts. He chipped in nine assists and made the all tournament team for the Gold Medal champions while playing in all situations.

"He was wonderful in that tournament...he may have been the best defenceman" said one scout. "His hockey sense and poise are tremendous."

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Patrik Laine	RW	Tappara (Fin)	6-4/210	19-Apr-98	26-8-9-17
2	Auston Matthews	C	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-1/195	17-Sep-97	25-18-12-30
3	Jesse Puljujarvi	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-4/205	7-May-98	34-6-8-14
4	Michael McLeod	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-2/190	3-Feb-98	40-17-29-46
5	Olli Juolevi	D	London (OHL)	6-2/185	5-May-98	30-4-20-24
6	Alexander Nylander	C	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/180	2-Mar-98	35-23-28-51
7	Jakob Chychrun	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/215	31-Mar-98	37-6-19-25
8	Matthew Tkachuk	LW	London (OHL)	6-1/195	11-Dec-97	32-15-47-62
9	Mikhail Sergachev	D	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/205	25-Jun-98	42-11-18-29
10	Charles McAvoy	D	Boston University (HE)	6-0/205	21-Dec-97	20-1-11-12
11	Tyson Jost	C	Penticton (BCHL)	5-11/190	14-Mar-98	34-26-41-67
12	Jake Bean	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/175	6-Sep-98	43-15-25-40
13	Pierre-Luc Dubois	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	24-Jun-98	41-26-35-61
14	Logan Brown	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-6/225	5-Mar-98	34-6-30-36
15	Julien Gauthier	RW	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-3/225	15-Oct-97	31-30-8-38
16	German Rubtsov	C	Team Russia U18 (Rus)	6-2/180	27-Jun-98	20-9-11-20
17	Kieffer Bellows	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	10-Jun-98	34-26-18-44
18	Max Jones	LW	London (OHL)	6-3/205	17-Feb-98	36-19-17-36
19	Libor Hajek	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Feb-98	44-3-15-18
20	Tage Thompson	C	Connecticut (HE)	6-5/185	30-Oct-97	22-9-9-18
21	Clayton Keller	C	NTDP (USA)	5-9/170	29-Jul-98	33-21-43-64
22	Dante Fabbro	D	Penticton (BCHL)	6-0/190	20-Jun-98	30-10-36-46
23	Riley Tufte	LW	Blaine (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	10-Apr-98	12-22-15-37
24	Sam Steel	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/180	3-Feb-98	45-15-27-42
25	Rasmus Asplund	C	Farjestads (Swe)	5-11/175	3-Dec-97	29-4-2-6
26	William Bitten	C	Flint (OHL)	5-10/170	10-Jul-98	41-20-23-43
27	Luke Kunin	C	Wisconsin (B1G)	6-0/195	4-Dec-97	19-8-9-17
28	Tyler Benson	LW	Vancouver (WHL)	6-0/200	15-Mar-98	28-8-18-26
29	Markus Niemelainen	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-5/190	8-Jun-98	41-1-21-22
30	Carl Grundstrom	RW	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/195	1-Dec-97	30-3-5-8