Bruins 32 in 32: [Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Can the Bruins revisit their past glories?
Two big names signed with the Bruins on Aug. 8, names that should be very familiar to Bruins (and NHL) fans. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci each signed a one-year contract, Bergeron for $2.5 million with $2.5 million in performance-based bonuses and Krejci for $1 million with $2 million in performance-based bonuses.
The centers, who likely will anchor the Bruins' top two lines, clearly are chasing another run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, perhaps another championship after winning one together in 2011 and playing in the Final in 2013 and 2019.
The question, then, is whether the returns of Bergeron and Krejci will be enough for another deep run. Bergeron is 37 but won the Selke Trophy last season as the best defensive forward in the NHL for a record fifth time. He also had 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 73 games, which team president Cam Neely called "a pretty darn
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Marchand (both hips) and McAvoy (left shoulder) had an expected recovery timeline of six months, putting their return in December. Grzelcyk (right shoulder) is expected to be out until November.
"With the injuries, I think there is a heck of an opportunity for somebody to emerge and create internal competition," Sweeney said July 13.
Of course, it also will mean that the Bruins will have to at least tread water over the first 2-3 months of the season to keep their chances of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs alive. A rough start could sink their hopes by the time their stars return.
