Preview: Bruins Line Combinations And Defensive Pairings For 2015-16
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Bruins roster had a partial overhaul in the offseason, as the team jettisoned three key players from last year's roster and added several new faces, in addition to a fresh crop of first-round draft picks. So as expected, the B's line combinations enter the 2015-16 season with almost a completely different look.
Lending credence to the theory that the Bruins are rebuilding on the fly, several core players remain: David Krejci is healthy and ready to return as the team's No.1 center, while Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand remain the team's most stable, reliable linemates.
The biggest departures for the Bruins were, of course, Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton, who were both traded before the 2015 draft. Both were moved partially for financial reasons, as the team didn't have (or want to use) the cap space necessary to sign either of them to long-term extensions - but Hamilton is rumored to have also been moved for off-ice reasons. The team also sent Reilly Smith to the Florida Panthers for new third-line winger Jimmy Hayes.
With Hamilton departing from the blue line, the Bruins enter the season with a young and inexperienced group. Their only two defensemen over age 28 are already battling injuries: Dennis Seidenberg will miss several weeks to start the season after back surgery, while 38-year-old captain Zdeno Chara could start the season on injured reserve. The defense will be tested heavily this season, especially if Chara has to miss any time - but the Bruins may have landed a blue-chip prospect in 22-year-old Colin Miller, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Lucic trade.
Here's a brief preview of each of the projected lines for the Bruins to start the season.
Can David Pastrnak take another step forward in his sophomore season? (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
First Line: LW Matt Beleskey, C David Krejci, RW David Pastrnak
After several years with Lucic flanking him on the left wing, Krejci enters this season with free agent acquisition Beleskey, who is coming off a career-best season from the Anaheim Ducks. The 27-year-old netted 22 goals in just 65 games for the Ducks last season, while mostly playing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Bruins hope Beleskey can somewhat replicate Lucic's physical presence in front of the net and in the corners, even though he lacks Lucic's size. Krejci's playmaking ability could spur Beleskey to post 20+ goals for the second straight season.
Pastrnak, meanwhile, has the most offensive upside of any Bruins winger and will be heavily depended on for offense. He and Krejci have flashed good chemistry playing with each other, which they hope will carry into 2015-16. Pastrnak is a great skater with a legit scoring touch, but lacks the size to consistently hang physically with many of the big defensemen he will face on a nightly basis. If he wants to avoid the sophomore slump, Pastrnak will have to use his speed and skill to his advantage - and eventually bulk up to handle an 82-game grind.
Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand will be relied upon for their chemistry and two-way play. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Second Line: LW Brad Marchand, C Patrice Bergeron, RW Loui Eriksson
Bergeron and Marchand have played together longer than any other Bruins linemates. They will once again be depended on for their reliability and consistency at both ends of the ice, and Marchand will need to once again threaten 30 goals for the Bruins to contend.
Eriksson has been something of a poor man's Bergeron on the wing over his career, and always seemed like a good fit on this line. But Eriksson has not lived up to expectations to be a high-end two-way winger for the Bruins, and has also battled injuries. He may not bring the physicality or intensity typical of the Bruins identity, but Eriksson still has the potential to score 25-30 goals with strong defensive play - if he can stay healthy.
Ryan Spooner looks to build upon a promising stint with the Bruins last year. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Third Line: LW Jimmy Hayes, C Ryan Spooner, RW Brett Connolly
The bottom-six is where the Bruins line combos see the most changes entering the season. The third line in particular has undergone a complete makeover, transitioning to a more skill-oriented group than the grinders of the past. At the forefront of this line is Spooner, who made the most of his brief stint in Boston last season with 8 goals and 18 points in 29 games. He will look to build on that and hit the 20-goal mark in his first full season in the NHL.
New acquisitions Hayes and Connolly, meanwhile, have untapped potential that the Bruins hope can be realized in their first full seasons in Boston. Connolly needs to prove he has the scoring touch that made him a top-10 draft pick, while Dorchester native Hayes brings tremendous size and the kind of two-way play that Claude Julien loves.
Chris Kelly enters the final year of his contract on the fourth line. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Fourth Line: LW Chris Kelly, C Joonas Kemppainen, RW Tyler Randell
Despite new faces, the Bruins fourth line remains a group of two-way grinders. Pending unrestricted free agent Kelly enters the final year of his contract and could find himself on the trading block during the season, although the return for the 34-year-old Kelly's $3,000,000 cap hit would be negligible. Randell looks to have earned a roster spot as a replacement for Max Talbot, who cleared waivers on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Randell has made a strong impression in camp with his intensity and toughness. Kemppainen, signed from the Finnish league Liiga in the offseason, also brings size and toughness and plays a good all-round game. This line is clearly set to retain the physicality that the Bruins are known for.
The odd man out here could be Zac Rinaldo, whom the Bruins acquired for a third-round draft pick from the Philadelphia Flyers. Whether or not Rinaldo makes the team, the trade was an overpayment - but Rinaldo's inability to safely secure a consistent spot on a line has to be concerning. Rinaldo plays a very physical and intense game, but has earned a reputation as a dirty player. He hopes to reverse that perception with the Bruins.
Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug will have to carry the load on the blue line for the Bruins. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Defensive pairings: Zdeno Chara - Zach Trotman, Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid, Colin Miller - Kevan Miller
Assuming Chara is healthy for the start of the season, he will once again lead the back end for the Bruins - and perhaps with more responsibility than ever. Trotman will have to step up and replicate the injured Seidenberg's slap shot and strong defensive play. Krug is easily the team's best offensive defenseman right now and will need to pick up the slack of scoring lost from Hamilton. McQuaid still brings the "Big, Bad" portion of the Bruins' game, but could be exposed having to play top-four defenseman minutes.
Colin Miller looks like a future top-two defenseman and brings legitimate offensive skills to the lineup, but will need to be more consistent in his own end and show more of the physicality he's flashed at times in order to earn more ice time. The other Miller, Kevan, is healthy after battling a shoulder injury last season and hopes to contribute the same decent physicality and puck-moving ability he has shown in his first two seasons with the team.
Also battling for spots on the blue line are 22-year-old offensive-minded Joe Morrow, one of the last remaining pieces from the Tyler Seguin trade, and free agent acquisition Matt Irwin. With the lack of depth behind Chara, the situation with the rest of the Bruins defense is fluid and the pairings could be mixed & matched throughout the season. This is by far the hardest part of the roster to predict.
Thoughts?
Give me your own suggestions for Bruins lines in the comments. Which line are you most excited about entering the season?
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com and projects as a 14th-line left winger. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
