The Boston Bruins are in for a long summer. The Bruins have continued to falter and it looks like they may not reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. While they had personnel losses after last season, this current roster is not getting it done. The problem is not just one or two players, it is the entire roster underachieving.
Brad Marchand
Captain Brad Marchand usually plays a physical, and sometimes controversial, style but is still offensively productive. However, this season, he has fell in line with the others and is struggling. He currently has 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 59 games, which is not bad but off in his averages throughout his career. He also holds a -7 plus-minus. With the trade deadline approaching, is he one of the players who may see a new team by seasons end? Or will he try to come back next season to rectify what this season was and compete for another Stanley Cup?
Jeremy Swayman
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman has also struggled mightily. He held out of training camp due to contract issues but eventually signed an 8-year, $66 million contract. With the time lost during the holdout, he cost himself valuable time on the ice and never fully recovered. His play has been average at best and he does not look like the same goaltender who has surpassed expectations since his NHL debut. On the season, he is 18-18 with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. All stats are those of a backup goaltender, not one making close to $9 million per season.
These are the two most notable players struggling but the roster has not helped out at all. 13 players who have played half of the season or more have 30 points or less on the season. They lack depth scoring, defensive depth, and scoring period. The trade deadline is coming up but every team in the league needs something and the Bruins may not get help anytime soon with their current roster.
Since the end of last season, Boston has lost Jake Debrusk, Matt Grzelcyk, Danton Heinen, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Linus Ullmark. Debrusk could have helped with both of the scoring and depth issues, and Ullmark was a star between the pipes. The rest of the players listed played a key role at one point or another.
The Bruins are 23rd in goals scored (163), 8th in goals given up (189), 30th in power play percentage (15.4 percent), and 25th in penalty kill percentage (75.5 percent).
The time to fix this team is in the offseason. No trade now is going to help this team get back on track this season as there are too many holes to fill. If they want to become sellers, that is fine so they can build for the future. It makes no sense to become buyers now. No player brought in is going to make that big of an impact and bring this team back into playoff contention. The season is almost over so the best thing the Bruins can do now is play out the season and rebuild this team over the summer.