The Bruins’ top line—Pastrnak, Lindholm and Geekie—really showed up for the second game in a row on Sunday night. Lindholm and Geekie scored in the first period. Pastrnak set up Casey Mittelstadt for that power-play goal in the second.
But that was about it for the rest of the lineup. And that’s been the problem since the trade deadline. The Bruins fell 6-3 to the Buffalo Sabres. That defeat laid bare just how much work this team still needs to do.
Top Line Carries the Load, But It’s Not Enough
That top line has been a beacon of hope. Pastrnak in particular has been playing at an elite level. He’s kept the Bruins in games—literally—scoring or setting up 13 of Boston’s last 15 goals over six games. That’s a franchise record. And largely because of him, the Bruins have been competitive.
But one line isn’t sustainable. Outside of Pastrnak and his wingers, the Bruins have zero offense. In their last three games every goal has involved Pastrnak. This lack of depth is a major problem for the future.
Mittelstadt’s struggles show second line issues
The Bruins are counting on Mittelstadt to be their second line center next season but his recent play hasn’t inspired confidence. Before scoring Sunday’s tap in goal from Pastrnak’s pass, Mittelstadt had gone six games without a point.
Playing with Pavel Zacha, the duo has shown no chemistry. Over the weekend the Bruins were outshot 19-5 with Mittelstadt and Zacha on the ice. If this combination is going to work it will require a significant wing upgrade.
Free agency offers some options like Mitch Marner but he’ll cost upwards of $14 million a year. It’s a lot to pay but without a top six addition the Bruins are stuck in the middle.
Prospects Show Promise, But Not Ready Yet
The Bruins’ young guns have some promise, but none of them are quite ready to step into those top-nine roles just yet.
Take Marat Khusnutdinov, Matt Poitras and Fraser Minten. You know Khusnutdinov for his speed and tenacity, but he’s only got one point in his last 10 games. Poitras, who was sent to Providence earlier this month, hadn’t scored a goal in 23 games before that. Minten, with his size and two-way smarts, has zero points in his last 12 NHL games.
These prospects may develop into impact players, but they’re not the solution for next season.
The fourth line is another area of uncertainty. Mark Kastelic might be the only lock to return next season. As for the others—Johnny Beecher, Cole Koepke and Jakub Lauko—they’re all pending free agents. The Bruins could decide to move on from all three. Even if they bring one or two back, it’ll likely be to fill out the bottom of the roster.
A Forward Group in Need of Major Rebuilding
That leaves you wondering how many forwards are locks to make the Bruins’ opening night roster next season. Assuming they re-sign Geekie, the answer is six—at best, barely half a forward group. Defense will get a boost with Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm returning, but the Bruins desperately need upgrades up front. They need at least one top-six forward who can really deliver. Two or three reliable top-nine contributors wouldn’t hurt either. Ideally, a future No. 1 center through the draft would be a nice bonus.
GM Don Sweeney has his work cut out for him this offseason. Free agency, trades and prospect development will all play critical roles in reshaping this roster. And that’s just the beginning.