The Boston Bruins rookie trio: The kids are alright (so far)

2 of 4

BOSTON – OCTOBER 19: Boston Bruins’ Anders Bjork is congratulated by teammate Brad Marchand after his first goal of the first period. The Boston Bruins host the Vancouver Canucks in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden in Boston on Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Anders Bjork’s first seven games in the NHL are probably the best example of how important Patrice Bergeron is to the Bruins. The two showed incredible chemistry in the preseason on a line together with Brad Marchand. The rookie from the University of Notre Dame was looking poised for a stellar season if he made the team.

In his first 5 games, Bjork bounced around a bit in the lineup. He found himself playing with multiple centers and left wingers. Bjork was regularly playing top-6 forward minutes, but wasn’t producing like a top-6 forward. In those games, he had 1 goal and 1 assist, a -4 rating, and only had 4 shots on goal.

In the two games since Bergeron has returned to center Bjork and Marchand, the winger has 2 goals, 2 assists, a +2 rating, and 5 shots on goal. He is a markedly better player when he has Bergeron to lean on. That all comes from chemistry, and this line has it.

It’s only been 7 games, but Bjork has 3 goals and 3 assists. Will be average close to a point per game for the entire season? Likely not. But with Marchand on his line, and his sights set on a point per game season, the sky is the limit.

Home/Bruins News