With So Much Youth In The System Here Are A Few Players To Look Out For This Year

The Summer is coming to an end it means that football season is right around to corner. Football means hockey is just that much closer. It may only be 3 months since the Bruins last played but it feels much longer. Luckily the wait is almost over, though while we wait, the Bruins will be starting camp soon. In that camp, there are many young guys trying to grab a roster spot. Now with a spot open on the second line, it will be an all-out battle for who will take it.

Anders Bjork is a guy who will be looking to make a statement. He had some bad luck last season. He was off to a hot start and then ran into injury problems. Bjork brings speed and skill to a Bruins team who has been moving towards this style of play. He is not just a scorer he has great hockey IQ and that is why he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker while playing for the University of Notre Dame. He is also looking to show that his pre-injury hot start was not a fluke. Bjork will be showing he is ready for the Show. He is not the only one with something to prove though.

Bjork will have some competition in Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson who had a great year in Providence and was a guy that was on the bubble of the roster last year and was beat out by both Bjork and Jake Debrusk. JFK is a natural center although that has never stopped the Bruins from putting them on a wing. He is a guy that can play both sides of the puck and could even draw some comparisons to Patrice Bergeron.

Even with JFK’s great year, it seems that Bjork’s biggest competition is going to be Ryan Donato. Donato who grabbed a roster spot straight out of Harvard after the Bruins ran into injury problems. In his few games he played 12 to be exact he showed that he does have what it takes to play at the NHL level. The question is can he be out Bjork for an initial roster spot. Donato will no doubt be on the NHL team it is just how many games will he play.

Then Charlie McAvoy who had a fantastic first year will be looking to cement himself as the teams top 2 D man. Mcavoy showed spurts of his ability to be that guy but at only 19 and only one season under his belt, this year will be the deciding season for him. Will he be a very good defenseman and make the transition to top Defenseman in the league. Even with some experience under his belt, McAvoy will have some competition this year.

Who To Watch In The Coming Years.

Some guys will not make the roster this year but are guys to still keep an eye for the next year or the year after. Many have shown spurts of potential to play at the NHL level and just are not yet there:

Jeremy Lauzon

Urho Vakeninen

Jakub Zboril

Zach Senyshyn

This is going to be a fun season to watch.

Boston Bruins Were Busy This Past July 1st

Boston Bruins joined in on the free agent frenzy that is July 1st. Along with that, the whole world was waiting for John Tavares to pick a team. Boston was on his list. Throughout the day the Bruins made some signings that many people are asking why and who is that guy. They decided to stay quiet after all and not go too hard after big-time free agent, with the exception of Tavares.  Don Sweeney has decided to stick with the youth movement and just sign some depth forwards.

With free agency Boston had some in-house players to either let go or resign. Backup goaltender Anton Khudobin was one of those names. Many expected him to be back although in the end, the two parties did not come to terms and he ended up signing with Dallas. Along with Khudobin Tim Schaler will not be returning. Also, Riley Nash who had a career year and helped the Bruins get to the Eastern Conference Semifinals signed a deal with the Colombus Blu Jackets. With that, the Bruins now had a need for a backup goalie and a fourth line replacement for Schaller and a depth forward (center) for Nash.

Some household names will be returning as Anton Blidh and Sean Kurarly have signed a one-year. a two-way contract worth $650,00 and a three-year worth $1.275 million respectively. Blidh and Kurarly are the only returning free agents from last season, although Rick Nash‘s career is in question as he ponders retirement due to health.

Sweney found his guys, they are not household names but they should fit the Boston mold well. With Khudobin gone Boston signed Jaroslav Halak. Halak spent last season with the Islanders. He played in 54 games and posted a 3.19 goals against. Halak should be a solid backup. In an interview, he said that he looks forward to playing with an “elite goaltender” in Tuukka Rask, and will look to help the team win. One guy will fit right in and that is Chris Wagner as he is a native of Walpole. He spent most of last season with the New York Islanders, then played another 15 games with the Anaheim Ducks. He is your typical fourth line grinder that will bring energy and be a reliable penalty kill guy.

Also singing with the team is former Carolina Hurricanes forward Joakim Nordstrom. This is presumably Riley Nash’s replacement. Nordstrom is nowhere near what Nash was as he only had 7 points in 75 games. He has one 20 point season and that was back in the 2015-16 season. This is a questionable signing but hopefully will pan out. Look for him to play on both the third and fourth line.

What seems to be the teams biggest signing for the team is the signing of Defenseman John Moore from the New Jersey Devils. Boston and Moore agreed to a 5-year contract with an AAV of $2.75 million. Moore helped the Devils back to the playoffs last year and managed 1 point in the 5 games the team played. This is an odd signing as the Bruins are fairly deep at the defensive position. This could mean a couple things, either it is a depth signing but the 5-year deal most likely means that he is taking someone’s spot. With that said Boston could be looking to move one of their bottom three defensemen in Kevan Miller, Adam McQuaid, and Torey Krug. I expect to see Krug or Miller moved.

Bruins overall Free Agent Day Grade: C+

Sweeney did not make any big name signings but was able to fill in holes that were left in the roster after the depart of many players. None of the signings are head-turning but should do the trick in helping the team get back to the playoffs.

Boston Bruins may be looking to take the Loud Route This Offseason

The Boston Bruins have had a quiet offseason until recently when talks of them trying to sign Ilya Kovalchuk. The Bruins also signed Matt Grzelcyk to a two-year contract for an AAV of $1.5 million. Sweeney also signed Martin Bakos to a 1-year 2-way contract for an AAV of $700,000. Earlier in the month the team also signed 2017 1st round pick Urho Vaakanainen to a 3-year entry level deal.

The Vaalanainen and Grzelcyk signings make sense as the Bruins are trying to promote youth into their lineup, and Grz proved himself last season. With the signing of Grz do not be shocked if Toey Krug is moved, as they have very similar play styles. Urho is an unknown as not much is known about him. He is also ad-man so this might mean even more moves will be made mabye Adam McQuaid or Kevin Miller will be moved.

Now on to the big name Ilya Kovalchuk. This is a guy who quit on the New Jersey Devils to leave and go to play in Russia. Now he wants back for his shot at the Cup. He has not played in the NHL since the 2013-14 season. Kovalchuk has 816 points in 816 games in the NHL.  With that said he has been amazing over in the KHL. This past season he had 31 goals and 63 points in 53 games. The big question is can this guy still play in the NHL. Four teams seem to think so.

As of today the Bruins, Sharks, Knights, and Kings had made an offer to Kovalchuk. He has expressed interest in playing for all four teams. So now it is a waiting game to see where he goes. Nothing can be official until Free Agency starts on July 1st.

Bruins Announce 2018 Regular Season Schedule

As usual, there are those couple of circles that go on the Calander. First one is Oct. 3 at Washington. This will be banner night for the Capitals’. Next is the home opener which is a bit odd this year. It will be Oct. 8th against Ottowa. The odd part is that it is Colombus day and it is a day game home opener. All-time arch-rivals Montreal will come to town Oct. 27th. November 11th marks the date that Vegas comes to town. And Dec 6th is the first time the B’s will face the Lightning since being eliminated by the bolts this past season.

The full schedule can be seen below

OCTOBER:

Wednesday, October 3 @ Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 4 @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Monday, October 8 vs. Ottawa, 1 p.m.

Thursday, October 11 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 13 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 17 @ Calgary, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 18 @ Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 20 @ Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 23 @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 25 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 27 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 30 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER:

Saturday, November 3 @ Nashville, 7 p.m.

Monday, November 5 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 8 vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 10 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 11 vs. Las Vegas, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 14 @ Colorado, 8 p.m.

Friday, November 16 @ Dallas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 17 @ Arizona, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, November 21 @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 23 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 24 @ Montreal, 7 p.m.

Monday, November 26 @ Toronto, 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 29 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER:

Saturday, December 1 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, December 4 @ Florida, 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 6 @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 8 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 9 @ Ottawa, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 11 vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.

Friday, December 14 @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 16 vs. Buffalo, 5 p.m.

Monday, December 17 @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 20 vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 22 vs. Nashville, 1 p.m.

Sunday, December 23 @ Carolina, 5 p.m.

Thursday, December 27 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 29 @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.

JANUARY:

Tuesday, January 1 @ Chicago, 1 p.m.

Thursday, January 3 vs. Calgary, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 5 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 8 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 10 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 12 @ Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, January 14 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 16 @ Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 17 vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 19 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 29 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 31 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY:

Sunday, February 3 @ Washington, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 5 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 6 @ N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 9 vs. Los Angeles, 1 p.m.

Sunday, February 10 vs. Colorado, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, February 12 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.

Friday, February 15 @ Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 16 @ Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, February 18 @ San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 20 @ Vegas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 23 @ St. Louis, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, February 26 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 28 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

MARCH:

Saturday, March 2 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5 vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 7 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 10 @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12 @ Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 14 @ Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 16 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19 @ N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 21 @ New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 23 @ Florida, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 25 @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 27 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 30 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 31 @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL:

Tuesday, April 2 @ Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 4 @ Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 6 vs. Tampa Bay, 12:30 p.m.