By Isaac Edwards:
This could be a little tricky to predict considering the off-season has yet to come, but I believe I can predict , or at least get a little bit of it right. The main thing that Boston needs to get via either trade or signing a Free Agent is a top 6 forward who can score 25-30 goals a season. If they had that this past season, I believe they would've qualified for the playoffs. Their lines were mixed all season long, but near the end of the year, they seemed to have fairly consistent lines which produced decent numbers. Some of my predictions aren't going to include some players who are currently on their roster, just because I believe they won't be come September.
Reilly Smith-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand
This lines been together for most of the time that Reilly Smith's been in Boston. It was originally suppose to be Loui Eriksson on a line with Bergeron and Marchand, but in the 2013-14 season, Eriksson was injured, and that's when they figured out that Smith worked well with them. Usually, the Bruins' Head Coach Claude Julian has Milan Lucic and David Krejci on the first line, but unless they can get a goal scorer who fits on that line, Smith-Bergeron-Marchand should be on top.
David Pastrnak-David Krejci-Milan Lucic
I had to think this one through a lot. At first it was "Should David Krejci be on the third line, and then have Pastrnak-Spooner-Lucic on the second", but I thought about how Claude trusts his veteran players more then the younger ones. So I dropped Ryan Spooner to the third line, and put Krejci with Looch and Pasta. Lucic and Krejci have always been together, either with Nathan Horton or Jarome Iginla. At least that was the case before Krejci caught the injury bug and missed a lot of the season. If the Bruins do in fact get a goal scorer (Jordan Eberle for example) then you can expect to see David Pastrnak drop a line in order to make space for the new player. Also, if the Bruins get a player like Eberle, you can expect to see this line take the top spot over Smith-Bergeron-Marchand
Alex Khokhlachev-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson have been great together in the two years that they've been with the Bruins, and you can expect to see them on the same line, unless either Soderberg Isn't re-signed by Boston, or any of them are traded (which is a possibility). Alex "Coco" Khokhlachev is a wild card to me, just because there's a few rookies who could be in the position. He's never cracked the Bruins' starting roster, so it could be hard to say. I have him on the third line, because it makes more since then putting him on the fourth line. Chris Kelly has always been on Boston's third line, but I believe he will be involved in a trade that will bring in a goal scorer that the Bruins need so badly. They'll be getting rid of a good chunk of change, and will be gaining more then they'll be losing. A possible trade could be for a guy like Jordan Eberle, because Boston also has draft picks they'd be willing to part with, along with a young goaltender with great potential like Malcolm Subban.
Brett Connolly-Ryan Spooner-Max Talbot
This line was the hardest for me to predict, just because like the third line, all of them could be involved in a trade, so I don't know if this will be a for sure thing. One of the hardest things about it though was putting Connolly on the fourth line, and have Coco on the third, because Connolly has much more experience over Khokhlachev. The reason I did it though was because Connolly's a RW, and both Spooner and Talbot are natural centers. Again, I'm sure this line won't be a thing for very long, if it even is.
Dougie Hamilton-Zdeno Chara
This is a classic veteran player placed with a younger player scenario. This combination has worked greatly over these past few seasons. They're both big guys, play great hockey, and Chara is always there to help Dougie whenever he needs it. Hamilton's an RFA come July 1st, but you can certainly count on him being re-signed. You'll see this combo almost every single night.
Torey Krug-Dennis Seidenberg
These are both players that people mention in trade talks, and personally, I'd trade Seidenberg over Krug. But aside from that, if they're both on the Bruins' roster at the beginning of the season, you can count on them being on the same line. Krug is a great offensive defensemen, while Seidenberg is the opposite, and plays solid defense.
Kevan Miller-Zach Trotman
Like Boston's fourth line, this is a tough one. Adam McQuaid is a long time D-man for Boston and is a UFA, but I think he's not going to be re-signed by Boston just because he's been so prone to injury. I'd love to see him back in the Black and Gold, but I just don't think he will be. Another thing that I found tough was do I choose Trotman or Joe Morrow? I ended up going with Trotman mainly because he has some experience, and a blistering shot. I think that they'll keep Miller just because if they get rid of McQuaid, they're going to need some toughness, and that's right up Miller's ally.
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
Obviously Tuukka Rask will be starting between the pipes for Boston, and it doesn't really need much of an explanation. But Zane McIntyre's a name not very many people recognize. He's had tremendous success with the University of North Dakota for the past three seasons, and has proved that he's ready to see some time in the NHL. As I said before, Malcolm Subban could be used a great trade bait, and that's why I don't have him as the backup.
***Final Lines***
Reilly Smith-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand
David Pastrnak-David Krejci-Milan Lucic
Alex Khokhlachev-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Brett Connolly-Ryan Spooner-Max Talbot
Dougie Hamilton-Zdeno Chara
Torey Krug-Dennis Seidenberg
Kevan Miller-Zach Trotman
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
This could be a little tricky to predict considering the off-season has yet to come, but I believe I can predict , or at least get a little bit of it right. The main thing that Boston needs to get via either trade or signing a Free Agent is a top 6 forward who can score 25-30 goals a season. If they had that this past season, I believe they would've qualified for the playoffs. Their lines were mixed all season long, but near the end of the year, they seemed to have fairly consistent lines which produced decent numbers. Some of my predictions aren't going to include some players who are currently on their roster, just because I believe they won't be come September.
Reilly Smith-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand
This lines been together for most of the time that Reilly Smith's been in Boston. It was originally suppose to be Loui Eriksson on a line with Bergeron and Marchand, but in the 2013-14 season, Eriksson was injured, and that's when they figured out that Smith worked well with them. Usually, the Bruins' Head Coach Claude Julian has Milan Lucic and David Krejci on the first line, but unless they can get a goal scorer who fits on that line, Smith-Bergeron-Marchand should be on top.
David Pastrnak-David Krejci-Milan Lucic
I had to think this one through a lot. At first it was "Should David Krejci be on the third line, and then have Pastrnak-Spooner-Lucic on the second", but I thought about how Claude trusts his veteran players more then the younger ones. So I dropped Ryan Spooner to the third line, and put Krejci with Looch and Pasta. Lucic and Krejci have always been together, either with Nathan Horton or Jarome Iginla. At least that was the case before Krejci caught the injury bug and missed a lot of the season. If the Bruins do in fact get a goal scorer (Jordan Eberle for example) then you can expect to see David Pastrnak drop a line in order to make space for the new player. Also, if the Bruins get a player like Eberle, you can expect to see this line take the top spot over Smith-Bergeron-Marchand
Alex Khokhlachev-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson have been great together in the two years that they've been with the Bruins, and you can expect to see them on the same line, unless either Soderberg Isn't re-signed by Boston, or any of them are traded (which is a possibility). Alex "Coco" Khokhlachev is a wild card to me, just because there's a few rookies who could be in the position. He's never cracked the Bruins' starting roster, so it could be hard to say. I have him on the third line, because it makes more since then putting him on the fourth line. Chris Kelly has always been on Boston's third line, but I believe he will be involved in a trade that will bring in a goal scorer that the Bruins need so badly. They'll be getting rid of a good chunk of change, and will be gaining more then they'll be losing. A possible trade could be for a guy like Jordan Eberle, because Boston also has draft picks they'd be willing to part with, along with a young goaltender with great potential like Malcolm Subban.
Brett Connolly-Ryan Spooner-Max Talbot
This line was the hardest for me to predict, just because like the third line, all of them could be involved in a trade, so I don't know if this will be a for sure thing. One of the hardest things about it though was putting Connolly on the fourth line, and have Coco on the third, because Connolly has much more experience over Khokhlachev. The reason I did it though was because Connolly's a RW, and both Spooner and Talbot are natural centers. Again, I'm sure this line won't be a thing for very long, if it even is.
Dougie Hamilton-Zdeno Chara
This is a classic veteran player placed with a younger player scenario. This combination has worked greatly over these past few seasons. They're both big guys, play great hockey, and Chara is always there to help Dougie whenever he needs it. Hamilton's an RFA come July 1st, but you can certainly count on him being re-signed. You'll see this combo almost every single night.
Torey Krug-Dennis Seidenberg
These are both players that people mention in trade talks, and personally, I'd trade Seidenberg over Krug. But aside from that, if they're both on the Bruins' roster at the beginning of the season, you can count on them being on the same line. Krug is a great offensive defensemen, while Seidenberg is the opposite, and plays solid defense.
Kevan Miller-Zach Trotman
Like Boston's fourth line, this is a tough one. Adam McQuaid is a long time D-man for Boston and is a UFA, but I think he's not going to be re-signed by Boston just because he's been so prone to injury. I'd love to see him back in the Black and Gold, but I just don't think he will be. Another thing that I found tough was do I choose Trotman or Joe Morrow? I ended up going with Trotman mainly because he has some experience, and a blistering shot. I think that they'll keep Miller just because if they get rid of McQuaid, they're going to need some toughness, and that's right up Miller's ally.
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
Obviously Tuukka Rask will be starting between the pipes for Boston, and it doesn't really need much of an explanation. But Zane McIntyre's a name not very many people recognize. He's had tremendous success with the University of North Dakota for the past three seasons, and has proved that he's ready to see some time in the NHL. As I said before, Malcolm Subban could be used a great trade bait, and that's why I don't have him as the backup.
***Final Lines***
Reilly Smith-Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand
David Pastrnak-David Krejci-Milan Lucic
Alex Khokhlachev-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Brett Connolly-Ryan Spooner-Max Talbot
Dougie Hamilton-Zdeno Chara
Torey Krug-Dennis Seidenberg
Kevan Miller-Zach Trotman
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
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