Canadian Press
CausewayCrowd Staff Writer, Christopher Bokum
Here are my top three scorers for the Bruins in the 2015-16 season, followed by my projected goals total for each.
3 – Patrice Bergeron (24 goals)
Last season, Bergeron finished with 23 goals and 32 assists (55 pts.). I think he’ll have a decent season next year in the goals-scored department, likely playing with Brad Marchand again on the left wing. I expect Bergeron will be centering the second line next year, and predict that he’ll have another 20-plus goal season. Who will be flanking Bergeron on the right side is up in the air right currently, but if it ends up being Brett Connolly, look for his game to advance and finally reach the level it’s expected to be at.
2 – Brett Connolly (25 goals)
Last year was just another slumping year for Connolly, who struggled to assimilate with the potent offense of Tampa Bay. I think in the five games we saw the right winger last season in Boston after being traded at the deadline, he looked relaxed. He posted 2 points in his five games, both assists. I feel strongly that Connolly will produce next year with the potential of playing alongside Bergeron on the second line. Connolly is playing for a team that needs snipers. He’s a textbook sniper, and this could be the year his NHL game takes a positive turn.
1 – Matt Beleskey (29 goals)
The newly acquired Beleskey netted 22 goals last season in Anaheim playing with those two big, goal-scoring names: Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. He added 10 assits to finish with 32 points. Beleskey may see first line minutes next season, or possibly third due to Marchand on the second line with Bergeron. I think Beleskey has the play-making abilities that will bode well for him in Boston with a team that doesn’t have big names like Getzlaf and Perry. Though he’s viewed as more of a power forward, I think his goal-scoring will climax for a career-high 29 goals this season due to his heightened importance in a new market and because he has the potential of playing with centerman like David Krejci and Ryan Spooner, who helped both Milan Lucic and David Pastrnak produce last year. If Beleskey were to score 30 goals next year, it would be an impressive feat for a player of his caliber.
When we look at this team offensively, no drastic changes happened. Sure Beleskey and Jimmy Hayes were added, but they aren’t pure goal scorers. This is a team who’s top goal scorer last year was Marchand with 24. Thus, anyone of these forward can surprise us.