Boston Bruins Second Line Prediction

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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 should be Patrice Bergeron at center flanked by Brad Marchand and Jimmy Hayes at the wing positions. The second line, or line 1B, has to start with David Krejci. Assuming the Bruins attempt to remake the line(s) of Lucic, Krejci, and Horton/Iginla, it would make sense to place Matt Beleskey and Brett Connolly on the wings.

Matt Beleskey put up 22 goals and 10 assists for 32 points last season. The biggest concern going into the offseason for teams interested in Matt Beleskey was the fact that he had only hit 11 goals once before in his career, and his career high in points was 24 before last season. Matt Beleskey is a big body at 6’0″ and 204lbs, and he isn’t afraid to use that size to his advantage. Beleskey signed a relatively reasonable deal five-year deal with a $3.8 million AAV. Beleskey will almost certainly get the first look at left wing beside David Krejci this season, although he could be moved up and down the lineup with Loui Eriksson still in the mix.

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David Krejci has been one of, if not the best play-makers on the Boston Bruins for the last few years. Krejci posted 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points in an injury-riddled 47 games last season with the Bruins. Due to the emergence of Ryan Spooner and having Carl Soderberg locked in at the center position on the third line, Krejci finished off the year with the majority of his appearances at the right wing position beside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. With Soderberg being shipped to, and subsequently signing a long-term extension with the Colorado Avalanche, Krejci will resume his natural role at centre. Barring injury, Krejci should return to form as one of the most dynamic players on the Bruins.

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Brett Connolly put up 12 goals and 5 assists for 17 points in 55 games last season split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. While the numbers aren’t strikingly impressive in themselves, it should be known that Connolly had a 14.5% shooting percentage last season, and scored 1.13 goals-per-60-minutes at 5-on-5. Having played in Tampa Bay for his entire career split between the AHL, and depth forward NHL duties, Connolly has yet to prove himself as the top-tier sniper he was touted as after being selected 6th overall in the 2010 draft, although the opportunity never really presented itself with the Lighting’s deep lineup. Connolly should be able to replicate the role that was left by Horton and Iginla in the Bruins lineup, and should be given the first shot at the 2nd line centre job next to Krejci.

The line combinations in Boston can go any-which-way, and any prediction can easily be debunked. With that being said, who do YOU think should be on the first line?

Check out the first line prediction here if you haven’t already seen it!

Next up: Third line

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