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Could the Boston Bruins experiment with two forwards and three defencemen?

By Jack Long

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins reacts during the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 26: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins reacts during the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 26, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Could the Boston Bruins experiment with a two forward three defencemen system this upcoming season?

This past Saturday, Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star wrote an opinion article on the possibility the Toronto Maple Leafs experiment with a two forward and three defencemen system. This certainly caused some discussion in hockey circles on what teams could benefit from such a strategy. Could the Boston Bruins be one of those teams?

The foundation of the article is Feschuk’s dialogue with Jack Han. An experienced NHL and AHL writer and coach who recently finished a three-year run behind the Toronto Marlies bench as an assistant coach. In a recent edition of Han’s Hockey Tactics Newsletter he discussed this unconventional strategy we are talking about today.

Han points back to soccer when at first it was thought that pushing more players to the front would lead to more scoring only to discover that putting more players in the middle or back was more efficient in controlling play.

Han argues that Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe would be more inclined to experiment with such a method as the Leafs are well known as being a top-heavy team forward wise while having a less capable defensive core.

Would this strategy make sense for the Boston Bruins?

Han points out that it doesn’t make sense for a lot of organizations to roll out the 2F3D strategy as lots of teams don’t have a stable of skilled and mobile defencemen that can join the rush but are also sound defensively.

The Bruins have a fairly mobile D-corps that got a lot less skilled with the loss of Torey Krug this offseason.  Saying that, they have some young guys on the way that coach Bruce Cassidy may be more inclined to put into the lineup if they had the three defencemen cushion on the back end.

On the offensive side, the Boston Bruins would rid themselves of some depth problems on the wing by implementing this system.

Boston Bruins 2F3D Lineup

 LW Brad Marchand –  C Patrice Bergeron

C David Krejci – RW David Pastrnak 

 LW Jake DeBrusk –  C Charlie Coyle

 C Sean Kuraly –  RW Ondrej Kase 

 LD Matt Grzelcyk – LD Zdeno Chara* – RD Charlie McAvoy

LD Jeremy Lauzon – RD Brandon Carlo – RD Connor Clifton 

LD Urho Vaakanainen – LD Moore – RD Steve Kampfer

*still unsigned

That is honestly a really solid lineup.

The first two forward lines would easily compete for the best top four combinations in the league. The bottom two forward lines are really solid depth lines that have much more skill than would usually be in those positions.

On the defensive side, each pairing has a really solid defensive stalwart in the middle flanked by more mobile and skilled skaters.

One thing pointed out in the article is the cap implications of this sort of lineup. The money that would be saved on forwards would be massive considering you’re cutting four from your lineup. That money can be used on improving your forward core to higher quality players or strengthening your D-corps.

Next. 7 UFA's the Bruins should target. dark

It isn’t likely that any organization will do a full 180 turn to this method of play but it is definitely a strategy worth exploring. The Bruins have the pieces to try out such an experiment and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Cassidy and the coaching staff give it a shot throughout next season.

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