On Saturday morning at Boston Bruins training camp at the Warrior Ice Arena, the team skated an interesting line.

The newly re-signed David Pastrnak, the overpaid veteran David Krejci, and the unknown rookie in Jake DeBrusk all skated together in practice on Saturday.

This is an expected move with the main goal over the next several weeks to build chemistry within the trio.

Of course, this isn’t the only new lineup that Bruce Cassidy is trying out. On the top line, the B’s are skating Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Anders Bjork. Following this logic, the third line center as of right now is veteran David Backes who failed to work out successfully as a wing last season. Backes, of course, could fly out on the wing with JFK centering which is something Boston has worked on in practice.

DeBrusk, like Bjork, will be in a battle for this top 6 role with other players like a Backes or a Frank Vatrano vying for those same spots. Boston’s forward group projects to be younger this year than any other season in recent memory. Aside from DeBrusk and Bjork there are other rookies who will likely find themselves on the Boston Bruins roster to start the season.

Jakob Forsbecka Karlson and Danton Heinen are two other names that come to mind when talking about this young forward group. Their roles with the 2017-18 Bruins is unclear at the moment. But as camp develops their role and potential for this season should start to clarify. But as it currently sits, here is what my forward group lines would look like as of right now based on what Cassidy is rolling in camp.

Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork

Pastrnak-Krejci-DeBrusk

Vatrano-JFK-Backes

Nash-Spooner-Acciari

Spooner on the fourth is a tough move, but it provides for a solid fourth line that can match up with other teams 3rd liners. This is an early look at the potential lines which will likely change as camp develops and exhibition games get underway.

On the outside looking in for now are players like Austin Czarnik, Tim Schaller, and Heinen.

Boston Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara is now 40-years-old, but he remains the center of the Black and Gold defense. This is true because even with younger talented players coming in, Chara is the player they look up to for guidance as they start their road to becoming NHL stars.

Chara’s long-term contract comes to an end after this season, but the Boston Bruins are interested in keeping this veteran leader around despite his advanced age.

“I’ve had talks with Zee, our indications are, as he has indicated, he would like to continue to play hockey,” said Sweeney. “We would like to continue to have him as a part of the Boston Bruins. So we will monitor that as we go through camp and as we go through the start of the season and have continuous talks.

“It’s important for him to understand that we are in his court in that regard.”

Chara confirmed that he had talked to Sweeney and also reiterates his interest in continuing his career with the B’s/

“We reached out and had brief talks,” Chara confirmed. “The interest is on both sides.”

Chara is the second oldest player in the NHL at the moment with Jagr still unsigned. Visually he looked solid last season and even seemed better than he had the previous season. In 2017 he scored 10 goals and 29 points in 75 games for Boston. He averaged 23:19 ATOI which is the lowest he has actually recorded as a member of the Boston Bruins.

He will enter his 12th season with the Bruins this upcoming season and will likely remain option A for the Bruins coaching staff. He will play top minutes once again and be a mentor to Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo.

Chara turns 41 in March and signing him would mean having a player on the roster at age 42 in the following season. But if he is still effective it makes sense to extend him as a veteran leader.

In terms of a timetable, there is none when discussing a contract extension.

“There’s no timetable to have those discussions,” Sweeney, who just wrapped up an exhausting and lengthy contract negotiation with restricted free agent David Pastrnak, offered. “I think he wants to play, he can do it, he’s an impactful player, and hopefully we can look forward to having him while he monitors how long he wants to play.”

With fans getting excited for rookie Anders Bjork, the craze surrounding the forward has picked up even more. Bjrok’s impact or role on this years squad hasn’t been truly clear heading into camp, but two-days in and it appears a top 6 role is in his future.

Boston Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy, believes that Bjork will fit right into a top line featuring Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. While that seems like a tall task, Cassidy believes that Bjork has the skill to be there.

“He’s got a history of scoring at the collegiate level,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked why he believes Bjork can be a fit with the Bergeron-Marchand combination. “He’s got pace to his game. Those are two things right off the bat.”

B’s camp just started this past Thursday. That means there is still a ton of time for things to develop. But Cassidy believes that Bjork is the type of player that is open to fitting the Bergeron-Marchand playstyle.

“Getting to know him as a person, I think he’s receptive to two those type of players,” Cassidy continued. “We’re hoping he can keep his identity as a player with what he’s developed so far in his young career, and do the things he needs to do to be successful, but also work with those guys and respect what they’re trying to do.”

If Cassidy is penciling in Bjork with Bergeron and Marchand. That likely means David Pastrnak, David Krejci, and David Backes will be the line right behind them. That, of course, follows the logic of using Backes as a wing instead of the third line center position.

With Bjork though, he still has a lot to prove to the team and will have to earn a spot on the roster let alone the prestigious first line with two all-star caliber players.