The wait is almost over. October 10th will be the first time we get to watch the Boston Bruins since May. And after a drama-filled offseason and a promising-looking preseason, Bruins fans are feeling optimistic. Well, at least I am.
Offseason Recap
The Boston Bruins’s offseason started off in a somewhat negative fashion for the team. No one knew if Patrice Bergeron would return, and Bruce Cassidy was shown the door. For a few months, Bruins fans were left wondering if this was it for the current Bruins core. However, the Bruins’ front office made their point clear this was not the end.
Picking up Jim Montgomery as their new shot caller, the Bruins got to work on building their 2022-23 team. And they did so all in one day, which I fondly remember. Patrice Bergeron was brought back, Pavel Zacha, who they had traded for, was signed, and the Bruins even managed to bring back David Krejci. And if the preseason is anything to go by, Krejci did not miss a beat after playing in Czechia last season.
Some Preseason Fun
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The Boston Bruins finished the preseason with three wins and three losses. But it’s the preseason, so the record isn’t what’s important. What was important was how the team looked on the ice. And the consensus seems to be that the Bruins looked like a good hockey team. And a hockey team with some great young talent at that.
The highlight of the preseason for me was easily the play of the Bruins, who spend most of their time in Providence. I had been pretty apprehensive about Boston’s prospect pool as of late. This preseason showed that the Bruins may not have too much to worry about in the future. The only issue I had with the Bruins this preseason was that not every young guy can stay with the big team, but that’s a good problem to have.
What To Expect
I generally do not like making predictions on how the season will go. Mainly because if I get them wrong, I look stupid. Expectations, though, are (kinda) not predictions. And right now, I’d say my expectations for the Bruins are high. Not Stanley Cup champions high, but I’m willing to say that the Bruins are competitors’ year.
The Bruins are going to be without Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy for the first two months of the season. But the Bruins currently have the most depth I’ve seen in a while. Taylor Hall and Hampus Lindholm are not bad fill-ins for two of Boston’s stars. Thanks to this, I believe we’ll see the Bruins competing with the top brass of the Atlantic this year.
Hi, I’m RJ Oakley, the Bruins beat writer here at Belly Up Sports. Check back here and follow me on Twitter for news and discussion on the Bs. Be sure to follow Belly Up Hockey for all your NHL needs!
