The Boston Bruins finished the 2024-25 season on a down note and didn’t meet expectations. Now that the dust has settled at TD Garden, general manager Don Sweeney has a big job ahead of him: getting the team back in contention. ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton recently outlined the “keys to the offseason” for Boston and here’s the roadmap to fix the franchise.
Finding Stability Behind the Bench
First things first, who will be behind the bench? Joe Sacco has been the interim head coach since Jim Montgomery left the team earlier in the season but that needs to be clarified.
“Sweeney could remove the interim tag from Sacco or explore other options in the coaching market,” Clark and Shilton wrote. Whoever gets the job will be huge in the rebuild especially with the NHL Draft coming up.
Making the Most of a High Draft Pick
Boston has a top pick in the upcoming draft and two in the second round. With the state of their prospect pool, that’s even more valuable. The Bruins don’t have the depth of young talent many contenders have, so these picks are crucial for long-term success.
“Now it’s about determining which of Boston’s young players are ready to make the jump to the NHL,” Clark and Shilton said. Players recalled from Providence in the second half of the season will factor into those decisions, but the organization has to balance developing youth with adding veteran leadership through free agency.
Building Around the Core
Despite the challenges, the Bruins still have a solid base to build on. Stars like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Jeremy Swayman are under contract, so there’s stability as the team enters the next phase.
“If (Hampus) Lindholm and McAvoy are healthy and Swayman can get back to being a game-changer in net, the Bruins will be a fun team to watch – if not one that makes the playoffs after a one-year absence,” ESPN said. The roster isn’t starting from scratch, but there’s a lot of work to be done to surround those core pieces with complementary players.
Leadership and RFA Negotiations
Another big decision for Sweeney is naming a new captain to replace Brad Marchand who was traded at the deadline. This will set the tone for the locker room culture going forward.
Also Sweeney has to navigate RFA negotiations with Morgan Geekie and other arbitration eligible players. By July 5th, arbitration eligible players like Geekie have to decide whether to go to a hearing or continue talking to the team.
“Hopefully for the Bruins Geekie feels the offer from the front office is close enough that he decides to keep talking instead of letting a third party decide,” Clark and Shilton said. Keeping RFA’s like Geekie will be key to being competitive.
Rebuild in Full Swing
Several veterans were moved at the deadline and a bunch of prospects are being evaluated so the rebuild is officially underway. Drafting well, developing young players and adding veterans through free agency will determine how quickly the team can get back to the playoffs.
“It’s not like they’re starting from scratch” ESPN said. But the path back to glory won’t be easy it will require smart decision making and patience from everyone involved.
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