One reason each NHL team should be excited for the 2019 season

Boston Bruins – The Best Line In Hockey

The Boston Bruins nearly won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19. Even with a steadily aging roster, they’ll be contenders again. Tuukka Rask, one of the league’s most underrated goalies, is a huge reason why. But ultimately, the Bruins are going to be great simply because they have the best line in the NHL.

The Bruins are getting older. But as long as Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak are healthy, they’ve got a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup.

Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak destroyed the competition last season. Each member of the vaunted trio finished in the top 15 among forwards in WAR/82 (wins above replacement per 82 games).

Even though they had a bad season in terms of outscoring their opposition, their history together suggests some positive regression back to the mean. The Bruins couldn’t buy a five-on-five goal last season. Expect that to change, at least with Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak.

What makes them so lethal is they don’t have to score to be extremely effective. Fewer trios tilt the ice more in their team’s favor than the Bruins top forward line. They’re asked to play against elite competition and it’s rare to see them come out in the red.

The Bruins are getting older. But as long as Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak are healthy, they’ve got a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup. Especially if the Bruins finally give them some scoring help.