Boston Bruins First Line Prediction
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2015-16 season getting closer, NHL teams are preparing to look at what they have in terms of players and roster-bubble players to form their best possible lines to start the season. The Boston Bruins are going to look far different from the team they deployed last season, and have a few options for pairings. The first line is pretty much a lock to hold the dynamic-duo of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, and the right wing spot on that roster remains open. With players like Brett Connolly, Loui Eriksson, Jimmy Hayes, and David Pastrnak all vying for the same position, it will come down to finding the best fits for every line collectively. With that being said, the first line should be Brad Marchand on the left wing, Patrice Bergeron at center, and Jimmy Hayes at right wing to start the season.
Brad Marchand put up 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points last season for the Boston Bruins. His combination of speed, grit, and scoring ability, as well as his defensive-awareness, make him a very valuable commodity for the Bruins. Marchand is the type of player that can be deployed on the power play, the penalty kill, or five-on-five, and still be just as effective in each of those roles. His experience and chemistry with Patrice Bergeron makes him the obvious choice for the first line left wing.
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Patrice Bergeron put up 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points last season with Boston, and is coming off of another Selke Trophy win. Bergeron is the most valuable player the Bruins have with his combination of scoring, face-off ability, defensive ability, and has come through in clutch moments for the Bruins multiple times in his tenure with Boston. Bergeron will be the first line center this year, and although his linemates might be shifted, it’s safe to say that whatever line Bergeron is on is by default the first line, or 1A, even if the Krejci line is considered line 1B.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Hayes is the most arguable member of this line, and although anything can happen in training camp, and while the decision is ultimately Claude Julien‘s, Hayes seems like the best fit with Patrice Bergeron. Hayes scored 19 goals and added 16 assists for 35 points last season. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Hayes has the size and scoring ability to be a very dangerous weapon for the Bruins. Hayes has said multiple times that playing for the Bruins is a dream come true for him, and the Massachusetts native will have the opportunity to flank Patrice Bergeron on the first line, he just needs to work hard and grab the role.
As mentioned, the line options are seemingly endless for the Bruins to start the season, and any prediction can be debunked. With that being said, who do YOU think should be on the first line?
Next up: Second line