It doesn’t take a dedicated hockey fan to know that the 2024-25 season was a disappointment for the Boston Bruins. After ending as one of many higher groups within the Jap Convention in the course of the 2023-24 marketing campaign with 109 factors, Boston fell nicely wanting the postseason final 12 months with a 33-point distinction within the standings.
The reset button was first hit eventually 12 months’s commerce deadline, when the Bruins traded Trent Frederic, Max Jones, Justin Brazeau, Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, and Brandon Carlo for a set of prospects and draft capital. By buying and selling away a number of position gamers and their captain, Boston opened itself as much as a change in management and tradition.
To some, there hasn’t been sufficient change to the Bruins’ identification with Cam Neely and Don Sweeney remaining of their management positions after a disastrous marketing campaign. Nonetheless, we already know that David Pastrňák and Charlie McAvoy will lead the modifications, and hopefully a renaissance, on the ice.
Marco Sturm, the brand new head coach, understands the modifications wanted for the Bruins to return to competition, as he talked about in his introductory press convention. Sturm plans to attract inspiration from Boston’s tradition throughout his enjoying days within the group within the late 2000s and early 2010s.
When requested concerning the transition from the outdated guard, Sturm was quoted as saying, “We’ve obtained to reestablish the entire thing as a result of these guys will not be right here anymore. So, now it’s going to be as much as us and the brand new group to guide this group to a brand new period.”
Equally, Sweeney spoke about Boston’s means to be tougher to play in opposition to this season, saying, “I believe we’ve all the time been a crew, since I’ve been right here, that prides ourself in that. That’s the defensive construction I talked about. At instances final 12 months, even once we had our group, we had been a simple out. I can’t stand for that. So, we’re going to reestablish that.”
Sturm gained’t have essentially the most gifted locker room at his disposal. Boston largely added across the fringes this offseason, including Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Viktor Arvidsson, Michael Eyssimont, and Jordan Harris. The summer time additions have made the Bruins a extra full crew, although they aren’t essentially higher.
There’s little doubt that Boston has loads of work to do of their quest again towards competition. It seemingly gained’t come this 12 months in arguably the hardest division within the league. Nonetheless, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how Sturm’s new system and cultural affect are acquired within the locker room all through the common season.
