Another year, and another bitterly disappointing early playoff exit for the aging Bruins core. But this time, it feels as though the Stanley Cup window for this Bruins’ team is just about over.
It has been 11 years since the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in one the most entertaining Stanley Cup Finals ever played in hockey history. But that is now a distant memory. Now, the only memory this Bruin’s team has is constant playoff disappointment.
The Bruins core’s best chance for another Stanely Cup was 3 years ago against the St. Louis Blues. The Bruins were one of the best teams in the league at the time and were far superior in almost every area of the ice. And yet, the Bruins lost 3/4 home games to lose the series in a disastrous Game 7 blowout loss AT HOME.
That was the last chance for the Bruins’ core to win. Now, whoever is left is nothing more than battered down image of their former selves. On that 2019 team, 5 players from their 2011 championship win played in the Stanley Cup Final.
Now, not even one of those players looks likely to be in the Bruins starting lineup come opening night.
David Krejci and Tuukka Rask have already retired, while Zdeno Chara has all but retired as well (and if he does not, he will be suiting up for the Islanders next year, not Boston).
Brad Marchand has undergone hip surgery that will keep him out until around the All-Star Break, while the newly 6-time crowned Selke Winner Patrice Bergeron looks increasingly more likely he will retire too.
So, how does that leave the Bruins with their starting players come next year? Well, it doesn’t look great. They currently have no recognized 1st-line center or 2nd-line center (Erik Haula did okay in the role this year, but he is not consistent enough to be a 2nd-line center on a contending team).
They are also without Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk on defense for the opening months of the season. And they just fired one of their all-time winningest coaches in Bruce Cassidy.
Oh, to just add one last piece of context, they currently have just $2.4 million in cap space, with David Pasternak, Craig Smith, Matt Grzelcyk, Derek Forbert, Mike Reilly, Erik Haula, and Nick Foligno all up for an extension next year.
Yeah, it looks really bad for the future in Boston. What makes the future look even worse is who is still in charge above the ice. Don Sweeney and Cam Neely really shouldn’t be in a job right now (at least Don Sweeney). They have made free agent signing errors over and over and over again (i.e.: Nick Richie, Matt Beleskey, David Backes, Nick Foligno, and John Moore).
Plus, they looted the Bruins draft capital bare with silly, short term trades that have failed to get them anywhere in the playoffs (i.e.: the Ondrej Kase trade, the Marcus Johansson trade, and the Rick Nash trade).
Also, these two were the guys in charge of the 2015 First Round Draft debacle. What is that you ask? Don Sweeney and Cam Neely picked Jakub Zboril (13th overall), Jake Debrusk (14th overall), and Zachary Senyshyn (15th overall). The next three pick IN A ROW were Matt Barzal (16th overall: NYI), Kyle Conner (17th overall: WPG), and Thomas Chabot (18th overall: OTT).
Yes, the Bruins overlooked three All-Star caliber players, each of whom were selected the next three picks after their own. It is that type of horrible scouting and decision making that has plagued the Bruins’ future with stagnant mediocrity.
Anyway, with little cap space, delusional upper management, an aging, brittle core, and a thin pool of prospects, the prospect of a 7th Stanley Cup in Beantown looks very far down the road now.
If you want to see more of Don Sweeney and Cam Nealy’s trades and signings as GM and President, respectively, then you should check out the Cap Friendly website. They have an extremely thorough rundown of all the trade moves, signings, contracts, retirements, etc. of all NHL teams. I left a link to the Bruins’ Signings and Trade and Contracts pages below.
Images Source:
Other Sources: Boston Bruins’ Signings (Cap Friendly) (Don Sweeney Staff History, Signings, and Coach Contracts – CapFriendly – NHL Salary Caps)
Boston Bruin’s Trade And Contracts (Cap Friendly) (Boston Bruins Salary Cap, Draft Picks, and Player Contracts – CapFriendly – NHL Salary Caps)
