David Pastrnak
Here’s a thought: what if Cassidy broke up the first line to spread the offense around?
The Bruins top line again starts the season as one of the best in hockey. Brad Marchand already has four games in five games, and David Pastrnak has six total points. With Patrice Bergeron in the middle, this line can be unstoppable.
This line can carry the Bruins through the regular season and win a lot of games. That said, as we saw last year, Boston needs secondary scoring at some point.
If Cassidy put Pastrnak with Krejci and DeBrusk, the top line’s production would drop only a little. Bergeron and Marchand would still be a dynamic duo out there, so any right wing could step in and look solid.
The second line, however, would definitely see a bump in production. Pastrnak has elite talent, so he can score with anybody. He’d instantly become the best pure scorer with whom Krejci has ever played.
Plus, Pastrnak’s presence should draw defenders, and this could open up things for DeBrusk. Right now, without a reliable scorer on the ice with him, DeBrusk has to create space on his own.
Look, it’s certainly not an easy decision to break up the best line in hockey. Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak single-handedly win a lot of games.
Nonetheless, the Bruins don’t want to win games; they want to win a championship. To get there, they need reliable production from their other forwards. Cassidy has to at the very least consider putting Pastrnak with Krejci and DeBrusk.